Comments

Nat wrote on 4/17/2006, 2:41 PM
Interesting... It's weird though that they buy a plugin company that doesn't support Vegas at all.
Nat wrote on 4/17/2006, 2:45 PM
Hmm strange thing is that it was acquired over a year ago. Nice find.
BrianStanding wrote on 4/17/2006, 3:04 PM
Yeah, I know, it's over a year old. Strange that we never saw the reverse announcement from Sony. A year might be about the right amount of time to recode for Vegas (or Bauhaus Mirage)....

The other thing that's interesting is that Profound Effects is based in Verona, WI -- about 8 miles from Sony's Madison Media Software division. I'll bet the software engineers are drinking buddies.

Nat wrote on 4/17/2006, 3:48 PM
Perhaps Sony hired the engineers from Profound Effects full time to develop some filters and at the same time bought their company has part of the deal. There has been no news for over a year on their website so something tells me they are busy doing something else...
DavidMcKnight wrote on 4/17/2006, 5:40 PM
But, they were sold to Sony Digital Entertainment. As we've read in this forum they could be light years away from Madison Media Software. Anyone know?
BrianStanding wrote on 4/17/2006, 7:18 PM
The Vegas/Acid/Sound Forge division of Sony was part of the Digital Media Entertainment Division until "Madison Media Software" was formed. I may have the exact timing off, but I recall that was about a year ago, give or take a few months.

So, at the time this deal was made, I believe it was still part of the Digital Media division.
TShaw wrote on 4/17/2006, 10:14 PM
Brian, You should try posting something on this, on the Wis-Kino forum and see if anyone over there is using these plug-ins.
Just a thought.

Terry
twingo wrote on 4/18/2006, 5:50 AM
I still have my Useful Things plug-in for After Effects. To really tap the power you need to get familiar with the Python programming language.

I can't imagine this plug-in being all that popular with some of its quirks. Perhaps they are streamlining it?

Nat wrote on 4/18/2006, 7:47 AM
Python is really nice, I started learning it last week and finished porting some code I made in JavaScript last year and it's way easier ! Really fun language to code in.
Nat wrote on 4/18/2006, 8:08 AM
Nice article on Useful Things : http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/04_apr/reviews/04_07/usefulthings041303.htm

The more I read about it the more I want it in Vegas :)
BrianStanding wrote on 4/18/2006, 9:25 AM
ooooh.... KEWL!

As part of a new titler in Vegas 7, perhaps?
Or more...?

If it's java-compatible, it might work with Vegas' scripting abiilty.

Let's hope we hear more soon!

PS: It's interesting to me that none of the usual Sony beta-testers have commented on this post, yet. Are they under a NDA, perhaps? NAB's right around the corner... I can't wait!
Spot|DSE wrote on 4/18/2006, 10:07 AM
Comment: Note the date on the press release from Profound Effects. Also note you don't find that release on the Sony Media site.
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BrianStanding wrote on 4/18/2006, 10:32 AM
Cryptic, Doug, cryptic. Yeah, we noted both of those things, too. I figure it's one of two things:

1. Sony bought it to retweak it to work with Vegas and doesn't want to announce it until its recoded and working. Maybe it takes a year to recode and debug? A forthcoming NAB announcement perhaps? OR

2. Sony bought it to kill it because they don't want it competing with something else of theirs they've been working on.

Either way, I hope we find out soon!
Coursedesign wrote on 4/18/2006, 10:41 AM
Most likely Sony wanted their local talent. These guys should have made a very nice addition.
BrianStanding wrote on 4/18/2006, 10:45 AM
Then why not buy out the entire company? Why just the Useful Things plug-in?
twingo wrote on 4/19/2006, 8:32 AM
I think most of the company teaches at the Univ. I doubt they could work full-time. Their company also sells more profitable plug-ins such as Elastic Gasket.

I don't remember Useful Things being all that great. I think they had more luck selling Useful Assistants ( or something like that ). It had a ton of preset effects and didn't require much work to use.

Anyone know if that was also part of the purchase by Sony?