Avid has just released Avid DS 11, the latest version of the company’s do-it-all finishing app. Some may still recall its earlier name: Avid DS Nitris. If you’re of a historical bent, you may further know that it’s origins as Digital Studio from one-time independent developer Softimage, later absorbed in part by Avid and Autodesk.
No real reason to know all of that except Digital Studio—okay, DS now–was set at its beginnings to be the one and only finishing program you need, i.e. it was to be a full-on editing, graphics creation, color correction, and compositing app. New features include hands-on color correction with Avid Artist Color integration, expanded file format and hardware support, 16 channels of embedded audio, total conform to Media Composer 6 and Symphony 6, and more.
Oh…cost? $10K, $5K if you’re upgrading. That’s not much for a pro shop, or wasn’t anyway in the buff years many houses saw over the past decade or so.
But as many of you may know, Autodesk is taking direct aim at DS with a redesigned Smoke some 18 months in the making. Smoke too is a do-it-all affair, with integrated editing tools and a node-based compositor the most apropos. Due out in September (you can download a free beta version until then), and running only on a Mac, Smoke 2012 will run you $3495.
Now I imagine a program like DS now in its 11th major iteration will have a depth and complexity not immediately matched by the redesigned Smoke. But is DS over $6K better than Smoke?
Not sure? Come to our upcoming In-Person Event on Tuesday, July 24th to see a first hand demo of Smoke. VFX Editor/Supervisor Tom Matheu of Click 3X New York will join Autodesk’s Marc Hamaker to present the new Smoke in context of commercial finishing.
To RSVP for this free event, please click on this link.
