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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1522076
Fast Lane to Slow Motion Blackmagic has always made a name for itself in field of control surfaces. They started out with the five- and six-figure Fairlight audio and DaVinci color boards commonly found in Hollywood production houses and scaled that down to more affordable controllers more in line with small shops and independents. Along with the ATEM Micro panel, Blackmagic announced two new control devices that will certainly have some impact on individuals and smaller shops. One of the most surprising introductions this spring is the Blackmagic Replay. Instant replay has for decades remained in the realm of high-end sports production trucks. It’s neither easy nor cheap to do. But Blackmagic had nearly all the major components needed ready. Between its HyperDeck recorders, DaVinci Resolve Cut Page, and its skill at designing control surfaces, the basic tools were almost there. Blackmagic Replay is the control surface that brings it all together. Looking something a Speed Editor with ego issues, it works with the DaVinci Resolve 19’s expanded Cut Page to access a variety of input sources, the HyperDecks recording iso feeds from cameras fed into Resolve and call up the different shot angles instantly. The box can switch between sources live, providing multiple angles one after another. The trick is by the idea of finding what Blackmagic calls a point of interest (POI) timecode virtual mark and immediately linking all the sources to that point. There’s a “but wait there’s more” angle to this, as well. Because they’re using Resolve to pull this all together, the replays wind up on a Timeline where stinger animated graphic transitions can be added and they are immediately available for upload to social media or commentary during breaks in the event. We should note that it can keep its ego under control and be used as a high-functioning control surface for Resolve editing, as well. Its price tag is a rather humble $495. It is well known that DaVinci Resolve has some of the best color management and grading tools in the business. But unless you have a lot of cash to invest in control surface hardware, you’re still accessing them through the software interface. When you get to know what you’re doing, it becomes something like trying to live switch a pro football game using ATEM Software Control on a laptop. The new DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel has come to the rescue. The centerpiece of the panel is three, pro-quality trackballs. They’re surrounded by knobs and buttons that give your direct and highly tactile access to the most common color controls that requre the most delicate fine tuning. Designed in collaboration with professional colorists who use the high-end panels, the Micro Color Panel has just what is needed to both speed up and refine your color workflow. It makes it much easier to experiment and discover the grades and corrections that give your work the Hollywood look without a Hollywood budget. Along the back of the unit is a slot that can act as a stand for an iPad. The Panel can connect via USB-C or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Priced at $495, it’s a great investment for any editor getting serious about color.