Blackmagic Design today announced a free Fusion 8.1 update that adds Fusion Connect for Avid as well as compatibility with the latest Avid Artist DNxIO video interface. The Fusion 8.1 update is available now for both Fusion 8 and Fusion Studio customers, and can be downloaded from the Blackmagic Design website.
Previously, Fusion Connect for Avid was only available in Fusion Studio on Windows for $995. Fusion 8.1 now adds Fusion Connect for Avid to the free version of Fusion, and is available to both Mac and Windows customers using Media Composer with the Avid Artist DNxIO video interface.
Fusion Connect for Avid is an AVX plugin that Avid editors can use to round trip single clips, sequences of clips, or even stacks of layers from Media Composer to Fusion for adding visual effects and motion graphics. Once Fusion Connect for Avid is applied to clips in the Media Composer timeline, it will create a Fusion composition with a node tree that is linked to the correct Media Composer sources.
Fusion Connect for Avid also supports versioning, making it easy to create and test multiple versions that can be played live and tested in the Media Composer timeline. The editor simply selects the Fusion Connect clip in the timeline and chooses the version to playback. That means editors don't have to stack up multiple clips in the timeline because Fusion Connect for Avid manages the versions for them.
Fusion Connect clips from Avid Media Composer can be processed in either 16-bit float or 32-bit float for the best possible image quality. Fusion is resolution independent, works with unlimited layers, has a massive toolset and features an uncompressed workflow with Avid that allows customers to create visual effects, add motion graphics, and enhance sequences.
Fusion Connect for Avid lets editors work on their own visual effects and motion graphics or, when they’re on shared storage, they can collaborate with a team of artists on the network. Shots can be sent from the timeline using Fusion Connect for Avid and can be picked up by visual effects artists that are on the same shared storage. This lets editing continue while VFX shots are being worked on in tandem. The Avid Media Composer timeline will show a Fusion connect clip, which can be refreshed at anytime so editors always see the most current version of the VFX shot as it is rendered.
“Fusion Studio is the other half of my editing tool set,” said Alan Edward Bell, A.C.E. editor known for his work on The Hunger Games trilogy, the Amazing Spider-Man, The Green Mile and more. “I use Fusion Studio all day, everyday and could not do the performance enhancing visual effects I am known for without its rich set of tools and functions! If you aren't using Fusion yet, I suggest downloading it now.”
“This new Fusion 8.1 update is exciting because now, for the first time, Media Composer editors on both Mac and Windows can seamlessly integrate Fusion into their workflow,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “This makes it easier than ever to build visual effects pipelines with Fusion, Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve!”