Re: Avid In Focus

[Chris Smith <chris(at)sugarfilmproduction.com>]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Good to hear you still respect the machine.  It's hard to flip through the manual thinking there's a doomsday scenario for DS.

  Man, if they just give me the ability to create custom UIs as a front end to custom node trees like Shake I won't complain myself at least for a few weeks ;)

If they do, I'll start creating all kinds of cool effects to pass around like I do with Shake.

Chris Smith

Partner/Film Director

Sugar Film Production

3699 McKinney #222

Dallas 75204

214.655.2662

http://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

On Sep 28, 2005, at 5:41 PM, Murphy, Paul wrote:

Hi Chris,

 

I've been with DS since V2.1 (back when it was Softimage).  Shortly thereafter (I'd say within 4 months) Avid bought it from Microsoft.  The software has been far and away superior to the plain old Media Composer I was on.

 

I expect that even if Avid abandons it (which I understand there are plans for software revision 8 and the capability of running on a 64bit system - demonstrated at NAB (just by AMD not Avid)), it would still be superior for what I need to get done. 

 

It is not cutting edge and there are many things it lacks which most Post-Houses take for granted (secondary color-correction and a proper 3D enironment as examples).

 

I don't think you need to be sorry about the investment.  You only need to ask whether this investment will pay for itself for you!  We don't have your clients or workload.  As you've already pointed out - it does much of what you hoped FCP/AE/Shake would do for you and probably faster.  I am frustrated with Avid and their lack of communication but I know that I can keep going for a number of years on DS even on V7.6 QFE3 (mid-October ;-) ) before I'll have to worry about doing something else.

 

Murf

---

From: owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Chris Smith
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 4:11 PM
To: DS(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: Re: Avid In Focus

Well, we just bought our DS 2 weeks ago.  Coming from FCP to AE/Shake to finish projects, the DS is a dream come true.  Every page I flip in the manual makes me giddy with the way the machine is designed compared to what I've been used to.  

Especially after I just paid tens of thousands of dollars for it, I hope everyone is just being dramatic or bitter about Avid support and not truly implying that my investment was for naught.  

I have a few complaints or requests about DS so far, but nothing critical to a complete workflow.  So being new to the DS game, is AVID really being that bad or are we just being catty?

I know when I felt Pinnacle did it's Cinéwave users wrong, I was the first to clearly complain online about Pinnacle whenever I could.  But in the end there were two truths:

1. Pinnacle really is a horrible company.

2. Despite my gripes I could still complete the work we needed with their product.

Really I guess was really matters is does it work for me.  I would use FCP and ask, "Why can't Apple let me click on a clip in the timeline and give me a Shake node tree for each one?".  That was my ultimate wish.  Apparently Apple just won't do it, so the DS is the answer to my prayers. (except I don't pray but that's another story).

Chris Smith

Partner/Film Director

Sugar Film Production

3699 McKinney #222

Dallas 75204

214.655.2662

http://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

On Sep 28, 2005, at 1:00 PM, Victor Wolansky wrote:

Are you sure is not a real conversation????

Victor Wolansky

DS VFX Artist

WEBsite

Demo Reel

815 Slaters Lane

Alexandria. VA.

443-797-3507

---

From: owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Serge Verreault
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 1:52 PM
To: DS(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: RE : Avid In Focus

Excepts from a Fictional Conversation between a Client and a Avid Rep:

REP:    Symphony Nitris is the real way to go, don’t waste your money on a DS.

Symphony Nitris is the ultimate conform Platform for serious Editing Facilities.

Symphony Nitris is the Future!

Uncompressed HD, Secondary Color Correction, Tracker you have all the tools to have a happy Life!

All that with a Media Composer Interface!

No need to re-learn anything!

Client:   But we bought a DS Nitris last year, why buy a Symphony?

REP:    We’re sorry for those who bought a DS, it was a mistake from our part to make you think that was the Future.

No hard feelings, Right?

We can give you a 5000$US discount/trade off If you buy a Symphony Nitris.

Interested?

I’m sending you a quote right now!

Client:   When is it going to be ready?

Rep:     Heu..well soon, very soon.

Client:   Is it buggy?

Rep:     You got to be kidding me right?

We have no bugs/issues whatsoever in any of our Avid Product Line, well not true, sorry, we have some bugs in the DS, but all the other products are fine!

But who cares about the DS, right?

It’s our black sheep, don’t even think about it, it’s a dead product anyway.

Done deal?

What’s the PO number?

P.S. Do I sound convincing? Could I be an Avid Rep?

            I honestly hope that anything in this conversation is close to the Truth…………………..

J

-----Message d'origine-----
De : owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM] De la part de Scott Roy
Envoyé : September 28, 2005 1:07 PM
À : DS(at)Softimage.COM
Objet : FW: Avid In Focus

Hi guys;

Just received the newest spam form avid....By the order of the line-up, seems symphony is at the TOP of the pile......Any indications of what's to come??

http://www.avid.com/products/nleFamily.asp?dm=InFocus0927a

//s

scott roy | editorial

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