ANNOUNCEMENT - Excalibur 3.0 now available!

GaryKleiner wrote on 8/23/2004, 1:19 PM
Introducing Excalibur 3.0 – Featuring The Multi-Cam Wizard

Edward Troxel and Gary Kleiner are excited to announce the latest version of their Excalibur software for Vegas.

In addition to an expanded interface, several important enhancements have been made, especially to its Multi-Camera editing capabilities.

Excalibur’s Sync Wizard, Multi-Cam Wizard, and the new Tally Light System work together to provide a workflow unmatched in the world of computer-based video editing.

Here are some of the new features:

>Sync Wizard can now automatically create a Picture-in-Picture matrix of all camera views, along with a numbered overlay so you can have an easy reference to all your footage.

>Typing in marker names to set your edit points has been replaced by a simple click of toolbar buttons and/or keyboard presses.

>With the new Tally Light System, as you switch from camera to camera, your Picture-In-Picture matrix updates to highlight the currently selected camera, making it much easier to keep track of the last camera selected.

>Multi-Cam Wizard now checks for consecutive edits to the same camera, catching potential problems before the final edit is assembled.

>Vegas’ powerful takes feature is now taken advantage of by allowing you to have each camera added as a take throughout the project, making it quick and easy to replace one camera view with another should you change your mind about your edit.

Excalibur 3.0 runs on Vegas 5.0b or higher.

Pricing: Excalibur 3.0 by email (pdf manual) $75
Excalibur 3.0 on CD (pdf and printed manual) $95
Upgrade from 2.0 by email $30
Upgrade from 2.0 on CD $40
Upgrade from 1.x by email $60
Upgrade from 1.x on CD $80

Excalibur 2.0 will remain available for Vegas 4 users at $65 (email version only).

Free upgrades from Excalibur 2.0 will be emailed to those who purchased Excalibur 2.0 since July 1, 2004. Please realize that no matter what day was chosen as the cutoff, some purchasers are going to fall right before that date. We must stick to the July 1st date, so please do not ask for exceptions.

To order or to download a trial version, please go to www.VegasTrainingAndTools.com

Thanks,
Gary


Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 8/23/2004, 1:36 PM
I've been playing with it today, looks pretty smooth. I like the new icons at the top, they save a lot of stopping and starting.
Congrats on the new version!
ken c wrote on 8/23/2004, 2:28 PM
Nice to hear it Gary -- hey I really like your (and Spot's!) DVDs, they're all "must gets", and have saved me a ton of time in learning the ins and outs of Vegas. Looking forward to trying the Excalibur/Neon plugins.

And, thanks to you both for adding significantly to the Vegas training/education scene. You guys are both quality resources - thx a a lot. Really.

It would've been very difficult to figure out all the details on my own fiddling around with Vegas/DVDA, having all the videos from both of you gents made all the difference. I've got 6 videos in production now, which is a record.

Ken
Luxo wrote on 8/23/2004, 9:38 PM
I'm sure I could download the demo to see for myself, but am I correct in understanding that Excalibur 3 has functionality similar to the multicam editor in development here? I've read your description and visited the site, and I'm still uncertain.
jetdv wrote on 8/24/2004, 6:09 AM
Similar, maybe, but with many advantages:

1) It works directly on the Vegas timeline - not as an imported EDL.
2) It can handle more than 4 cameras (with presets up to 25).
3) It can handle cuts, crossfades, or other transitions.
4) It can also switch between cameras at the touch of a button. You DO have to pause playback to set the camera but if you have a ShuttlePro V2, that could also be programmed into the same button.
5) It now includes a tally indicator so you can, see the currently selected camera anywhere on the timeline.
6) It's available NOW.

I would be happy to answer any specific questions about it. I have mine set up now so that I can do a complete mix without touching the keyboard. Instead I pause playback with my ShuttlePro (NOT V2), maybe finetune the positioning, then use the button assigned to the camera script, and resume playback.

For more details about Excalibur 3, either ask or read my latest newsletter.
Grazie wrote on 8/24/2004, 7:41 AM
I've been using Excalibur ever since it arrived. I like having tools I can call up. The New Improved Excalibur3 is showing me that it is moving along in the right direction. This is important for me to stay with a piece of software.

In Version3 it has become clean and well laid-out. I always felt that XCAL2 was too "long" on the screen . . . When I get to need to do Multi cam work again, it will be my s/w of choice. I wish this had been available when I was doing Multcam stuff earlier this year! Hey ho! The development of MultiCam in using the multiscreen will make things simpler for me. PLUS a tally again will provide me with the right amount of info. Problem for me is that I might have to hire another bloke so I can use this software! ! ! I could always lock-off another cammie. Must talk to the client . . . .

I like the Tabs - this will assist me in having the scripts grouped logically - so I don't forget! - a valuable enhancement. I can see there is extra space along the top of the menu. It's good to see the lads are
planning for the future. What else have they got in mind? What I really like about the development of these Vegas Tools is that the programmers are always ready to listen to and if possible act upon what I've suggested - sometimes my ideas are a bit "Grazie-ish".

Well done lads!

It's on my Toolbar, nudging up against Neon and Tsunami!

Grazie
GaryKleiner wrote on 8/24/2004, 8:18 AM
Luxo,

Besides what Edward has mentioned, Excalibur has LOTS of other tools besides the Multi-Cam features.

Gary
Spot|DSE wrote on 8/24/2004, 8:28 AM
Has the display problem for high resolution screens been fixed? I've not installed it to my laptop or main systems, just on the testing system, which isn't high rez.