Digital Video - July 2008 - (Page 20) IN REVIEW FxFACTORY PRO 2.0 Cut Studio bundle, it added the new FxPlug API. This came first to Motion and was later integrated into Final Cut Pro. FxPlug, like Core Image, takes advantage of the OpenGL graphics card performance to accelerate effects — often running up to real-time. When FxPlug made the move to FCP, Noise Industries made the move as well, with the release of FxFactory, making them at the time the first plug-in developer to take advantage of this new, native architecture. A single installation of FxFactory installs the same set of filters into both Motion and FCP, since both Apple applications integrate this common plug-in architecture. These run as native filters, transitions and generators in FCP and filters and generators in Motion. The Noise Industries effects groups can be found right in the Motion filters pulldown menu — no need to navigate to a “third-party filters” folder. The apps share these plug-ins, so there is consistency between the from Noise Industries and Apple. AWARD OF two and the customer benefits This is made possible by a free by not having to purchase two Apple developer application called Quartz Composer, which is EXCELLENCE sets of plug-ins. Noise Industries has recently released a tool for creating custom screen the FxFactory Pro 2.0.3 update. It is fully effects, like the screen ripple when a compatible with Tiger and Leopard, but widget is removed from the desktop. a few of the plug-ins depend on addiQuartz Composer is a simple, node-based tional Leopard-based technologies, so a application — not unlike a vastly simplismall handful of effects will not be fied version of Shake or Combustion — enabled on Macs running Tiger. that may be used to link together a series Like the Factory Tools AVX version, of effects nodes to create a new end FxFactory Pro is both an application to result. Noise Industries used this existing control and organize effects packages, as mechanism and wrote additional code to well as a series of effects. Since the AVX turn these new Quartz Compositions into and FxPlug architectures are not compatAVX-compliant Avid effects. Factory Tools ible, you need both Factory Tools and is actually two elements: 1) Factory Floor FxFactory and their effects packs if you — the overall software application, which intend to run both Media Composer and is used to organize, create and control Final Cut Studio on the same computer. various plug-in packages; and 2) the Programmers have the option of adding effects filters themselves. Factory Floor is ingredients to the effect that are missing also the conduit to Quartz Composer. from the application. For example, Factory You can own or create all the effects you Tool AVX effects include Photoshop-style like, but without Factory Floor, they won’t composite (blend) modes and geometry run as AVX effects. parameters (scale, position, rotation). FxFactory Pro effects don’t require these, ENTER FXFACTORY because composite modes and clip geomAs Apple advanced and improved its etry exist within Final Cut’s built-in tools. professional applications within the Final FACTORY FRESH NOISE INDUSTRIES’ FxFACTORY 2.0 PLUGS YOU INTO COOL NEW EFFECTS. BY OLIVER PETERS I n 2005, Avid made the move to Tiger with the Mac versions of Avid Media Composer and Xpress Pro, and Noise Industries was ready with its first product, Factory Tools — a unique set of sophisticated real-time effects built around Apple’s Core Image. Until then, these types of effects (blurs, color effects, convolutions, distortions, etc.) would have required extensive rendering time. More interesting, though, than a new set of plug-ins, was that for the first time, Noise Industries was offering Avid editors a way to modify and even create new, custom effects using the tools available DV SCORE FX FACTORY PRO 2 PROS: Growing family of plug-in developers contributing new and unusual filters. CONS: Restricted to Mac OS X's FxPlug and Avid AVX architecture at this time. BOTTOM LINE: One of the best values of all the advanced effects packages for FCP and Avid on the Mac. MSRP: FxFactory Pro 2.0 (134 plug-ins for Apple FxPlug) $399 CONTACT: www.noiseindustries.com 20 dv july 2008 www.dv.com http://www.noiseindustries.com http://www.dv.com
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