Silicon Color demonstrated a pre release universal binary version of their colour correction product Final Touch HD at the IBC. Despite flaws in workflow and tiny market share FTHD was billed by many as a next generation colour tool.
Firstly because it harnesses the power of the graphic card for much of it´s processing power!
Secondly because of it´s integration of EDL´s (provided via XML.)
Check out there site for more information
Since the IBC they´ve been bought by Apple and it is currently unclear if this will ever be released. There is currently an information black out. But lots of speculation.
Here´s a brief break down of the options. Largely based on the discusion over at HDforIndies. All very speculative in nature.
One. They apple kill FTHD and use FTHD team and their code to improve the next Final Cut Pro Studio release. i.e. break it down for parts. Lots and lots of work before NAB 2007! Assuming that is that we will be seeing a FCP 6 at NAB 2007!
Two. Could rewrite FTHD as a plugin for Final Cut Pro. Would however be a very big plugin indeed!
Three. They tweak FTHD and call it some something like Apple Final Touch and release it as a stand alone colour correction tool as part of the next Final Cut Pro Studio Release.
Four. And this is pure speculation. They integrate it in a high end version of Final Cut Pro Extreme or similar. There have been rumors for some time that Apple want to release a high end version of there Studio Packet for big productions houses.
Five. They integrate FTHD and Shake (In it´s current form dead) and make a new even more kick ass high end compositing program!
If Apple can integrate elements of Shake and FTHD in a future version of Final Cut Studio as in either option four or five as suggested above they could offer a truly all round high end solution.
And last but not least let´s not forget that sexy interface from Final Touch HD.
http://www.siliconcolor.com/images/color_suite2k.jpg
The timing is critical because of the switch too Intel Processors. Apple have 12 to 18 months to get this right! All very interesting for big production houses but the lack of a clear road map from apple is a huge problem. It probably has more to do with prestige than anything else. Apple has succeeded in making a highly usable editing product for the masses. So much so that some people find it hard to take Apple seriously. My guess is that they´re now more interested in shifting the focus and being seen as a player with the big boys. The question remains how?Time will tell……
