You knew it was coming, but it seems that subscription is going to be the way going forward for most software companies

It all started with Adobe and Creative Cloud which is $49.99 a month with a yearly subscription, and $79.99 for a per month basis. And with no other versions available, it means you need it if you need the latest and greatest.Now they have been great with rapid upgrades, and with the full suite so necessary for most video post work this is basically a necessity.Not sure how it will work for Media Composer with the same pricing. Most places buy a version and keep them on non-upgraded machines so they can just stick with the same version. Not only that, with Creative Cloud you get the full suite of apps, including Premiere Pro, and with Media Composer you just get Media Composer. Sure you get more options, like Symphony, NewBlue Titler Pro 2, Sorenson Squeeze Lite, and Boris Continuum Complete Lite, but it is still basically just an editing and finishing system, so seems like buying it is a better idea (at least while they still offer the ability to purchase) at least unless you just need it on a month to month basis and can bill a client for it.And now Smoke 2015 is getting it, though it is a $3500 program that is $195 a month or $1750 a year. Or $3500 every 2 years, which makes sense if they continue to do an upgrade every 2 years, which they have done once now.Still it is depressing for us independent post guys, as more monthly expenses does not seem like a good thing overall.

Chris Hocking at Late Nite Films on Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro CC and Avid Media Composer

Chris Hocking at Late Nite Films has an awesome article, where he goes into not only the best things about AVID and Premiere Pro, but also his first attempt at using FCP X. And his is the first article that makes me interested in taking a look again at FCP X, though maybe once they fix audio issues.And I still say that for graphics heavy projects, even longform (at least 28:30 Direct Response), I think Premiere Pro with a proper video card can easily outdo AVID, which is still archaic in how it deals with Alphas (and importing them) even if it is the king of media management. And those same projects would be a mess in FCP X without the ability to have tracks for organization.I mean my current sequence has 18 tracks of video going all organized into different layers.

Larry Jordan compares Apple Compressor 4.1 to Adobe Media Encorder CC

Larry Jordan did an extensive comparison of the latest Apple Compressor to Adobe Media Encoder.He ran the tests twice, as at first he used default settings and didn't check image quality, but his seconds test are more equivalent, and the results surprised me as I gave up on Compressor a long time ago.Basically it looks like for Single Pass encoding Compressor is faster, but for Multi-Pass (though it defaults to single pass) or resized compressing Media Encoder is faster, and it looks better at lower file sizes, though Compressor has more ability to customize settings.The article is certainly worth a read, especially for all those who do a lot of compression.

Mac Performance Guide on a month with his new Mac Pro

Mac Performance Guide now has a month into using his new model Mac Pro and has an article about speed increases over his old Mac Pro.Now he is mostly using Photoshop and not video programs, but isn't seeing too many speed increases, as most software can't use many cores and or don't have GPU acceleration for the new MacPros.

David Fincher has moved to Premiere Pro CC for his film GONE GIRL

Studio Daily is reporting that David Fincher's new film GONE GIRL is being edited on Premiere Pro CC. And we already know Saturday Night live is using it for it's pre-done segments.Lets hope this is moment like when Walter Murch used Final Cut Pro 3 to cut Cold Mountain. That really pushed Final Cut Pro more mainstream. And since I have seen so many big companies moving back to AVID of late, it is great to see something high profile like this, to push Premiere Pro, which I really prefer to AVID, especially for Graphics heavy projects, like Direct Response which I mostly cut of late.Not that Premiere doesn't have it's issues, but overall it is a very impressive program, and it's integration with After Effects really makes it even better.

Adobe has announced an upgrade to the Creative Cloud Video Suite for NAB

Rich Young a the ProVideo Coalition has the news on this exciting next release of Adobe's Creative Cloud Video Suite.Looks like Adobe is taking aim at the finishing power of AVID with the ability to add effects to Master Clips in Premiere, as well as edit Text from After Effects Projects within Premiere.Scott Simmons has a more extensive look at Premiere.And as for After Effects, the effects on a per mask basis is pretty exciting, as it will change the use of layers and adjustment layers within After Effects.Chris and Trish Meyer look deeper at After Effects.Looking forward to it. The fast update cycle is pretty awesome. I would like to see AVID come close.

RE:Vision Announces Twixtor 6

MacTech is reported that RE:Vision has announced a new version of their amazing slow motion plug in TWIXTOR. This includes GPU Support for NUKE and SCRATCH.Love this plug in. The most amazing slow motion plug in yet created. Well worth it if you need it, though not cheap!

Red Giant Releases Universe Plug In

Red Giant has released a new set of GPU accelerated plug ins called Universe. Right now you can try out the Free plan which includes 32 free plug ins, and you will be able to get Premium plug ins, or create your own. They are also updating many of their old plug ins to work GPU enhanced in universe. Supernova: Behind the Scenes of Red Giant Universe from Red Giant on Vimeo.There is the free membership, a $10 a month Premium Plan or a $99 per year plan, or a $399 Lifetime plan that does not expire!The Plugs include: Universe Free Tools Universe Blur (7 plugins) Universe Distort (8 plugins) Universe Generators (4 plugins) Universe Glow (3 plugins) Universe Transitions (9 plugins) Universe Premium Tools Universe Chromatic Glow Universe Holomatrix Universe Knoll Light Factory EZ Universe Noise Universe Premium Transitions Universe Prism Displacement Universe Retrograde Universe ToonitThis sounds very cool, and I have already installed and am looking forward to trying them out. Not sure about the monthly pricing unless they do add as many effects as they say they will, but the Lifetime is probably the best deal here, especially seeing things like Knoll Light Factory being added with GPU support.Also is an addition is called Red Giant Supernova, which allows you to program plug ins quickly using the Red Giant Universe Library. So it fairly easy to create your own plug ins. Supernova: Behind the Scenes of Red Giant Universe from Red Giant on Vimeo.