At NAB 2023, Blackmagic Design announced DaVinci Resolve 18.5, a major upgrade that adds four new AI tools and over 150 new features including Resolve FX relight, speech-to-text editing, automatic subtitling, AI audio classification and Universal Scene Description file support.
Editors can now transcribe audio within clips to search for media based on narrative content, or generate subtitles for timelines with the automatic speech-to-text feature. DaVinci Neural Engine AI can analyze and automatically sort audio clips based on classification. Fairlight page audio tracks can now be grouped for faster mix automation and editing.
Colorists can use the new Relight FX to add virtual lighting to a scene. VFX artists can collaborate with support for USD files and work faster with the multi-merge tool.
Editors can now enable remote monitoring in DaVinci Resolve and share code, without having to deal with IP addresses and port forwarding. Users can stream to multiple computers, iPads or iPhones at the same time.
Timelines can be exported to the Blackmagic Cloud using the new Presentations feature which is in public beta for customers with project libraries. With Presentations, multiple people can review their timeline, leave comments and share a live chat. Comments will appear as markers on the DaVinci Resolve timeline.
“This is a major new release with tools that have been specifically designed to speed up workflows,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “The AI tools such as Resolve FX relight which adds light source tools for colorists, Universal Scene Descriptor files for improved collaboration with VFX artists, AI audio classification for audio engineers and speech to text editing all speed up project workflows and allow customers more time to be creative.”
The company also announced the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K, a new Ultra HD switcher model of the ATEM Constellation family. It has 40 x 12G-SDI standards converted inputs with support for standards up to Ultra HD 2160p60.
This new 4K switcher has 24 x 12G-SDI aux outputs, 16 upstream ATEM advanced chroma keyers, four downstream keyers, four Ultra HD media players and two SuperSource processors. The ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K switcher will be available in June for $8995.
Also at NAB, the company introduced DeckLink IP, a new family of PCIe cards that capture and playback 10-bit uncompressed, broadcast quality video into 2110 IP based broadcast systems. DeckLink IP cards support multiple video channels plus each channel can capture and play back at the same time.
The company also announced the Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G, a new rack mount converter which converts 3G-SDI devices to 2110 IP broadcast systems. The 2110 IP Converter 3x3G features 10G Ethernet, which means it can support up to three separate 3G-SDI video channels at the same time.
Each channel has independent inputs and outputs, for connecting up to six different SDI devices. The converter includes a front panel with a color LCD for monitoring, menus and diagnostics. Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G will be available in June for $595.
Also announced was Blackmagic Camera 8.1 update, which adds support for vertical aspect ratio video to Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras. It allows users to create cinematic vertical video for platforms such as TikTok.
This update adds automatic rotation of the camera’s on-screen HUD and automatically tags files as vertical so they display correctly when imported for editing. This makes it easier to both shoot and edit vertical content. Blackmagic Camera 8.1 update is available for download now from the Blackmagic Design web site.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera has professional features allowing users to create the same “look” as feature films. The cameras include 4K, 6K G2 or 6K Pro models, large five-inch LCD, SD card and CFast media, external USB-C media disk recording and EF or MFT lens mounts. DaVinci Resolve Studio is also included for editing, color correction, audio post and video effects.
Also announced at the show was the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF, a new model of the advanced digital film camera which adds a high performance optical low pass filter to the 12K Super 35 image sensor.
The OLPF reduces artifacts such as moire and aliasing, while preserving color and critical image detail. The URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF is available for $6,385.
The new camera has a 12,288 x 6480 12K Super 35 sensor and 14 stops of dynamic range. The combination of 80 megapixels per frame, new color science and the flexibility of Blackmagic RAW makes working with 12K a reality.
Oversampling from 12K offers the best 8K and 4K images. Users can shoot at 60 fps in 12K, 120 fps in 8K and up to 240 fps in 4K Super 16. The URSA Mini Pro 12K features an interchangeable PL mount, as well as built in ND filters, dual CFast and UHS-II SD card recorders and a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port.
When shooting in virtual production environments, the high frequencies of the LED matrix in video walls can cause problems for ultra-sharp modern lenses and high-resolution sensors, creating interference patterns. Using an optical low pass filter minimizes that interference, which results in a reduction of moire and aliasing.
The URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF model adds a high performance, optical low pass filter that is precisely matched to the 12K sensor. The OLPF also incorporates updated IR filtering that improves far red color response which, when combined with Blackmagic RAW processing for the URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF, preserves color and critical image detail for new levels of image fidelity.
Beacham has served as a staff reporter and editor for United Press International, the Miami Herald, Gannett Newspapers and Post-Newsweek. His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, the Village Voice and The Oxford American.
Beacham’s books, Whitewash: A Southern Journey through Music, Mayhem & Murder and The Whole World Was Watching; My Life Under the Media
Microscope are currently in publication. Two of his stories are currently being developed for television.
In 1985, Beacham teamed with Orson Welles over a six month period to develop a one-man television special. Orson Welles Solo was canceled after Mr. Welles died on the day principal photography was to begin.
In 1999, Frank Beacham was executive producer of Tim Robbins’ Touchstone feature film, Cradle Will Rock. His play, Maverick, about video with Orson Welles, was staged off-Broadway in New York City in 2019.
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