Smoke 2013 is an all-in-one editing and effects super app

In recent years, disruptive technology like the RED ONE, the Canon 5D Mark II, and all-in-one NLE suites have made it fairly easy to create a professional looking project. As a result, budgets have shrunk – especially in post – and editors have been asked to perform brand new tasks, including titling, color correction and sometimes even visual effects.

When you think of Autodesk Smoke, you usually think of a very high-end finishing system that costs a bundle (approx. $15,000) and is not accessible for the indie filmmaker. Also, that the program is not very intuitive to work with, especially if you’re not a trained visual effects artist.

But things have changed in our new democratized environment. At NAB 2012, Autodesk announced the new Smoke – an all-in-one editing and effects super app.

In the past year, Autodesk commissioned a survey of film and video professionals, and learned that because of their limited budgets, new complex file management systems, as well as tight deadlines, they were looking for a program that could work seamlessly with the latest high-resolution formats. They were also looking for an all-in-one package to streamline their workflow so they wouldn’t have to send shots and/or sequences to different programs.

Dubbed Smoke 2013, the new Smoke will help editors simplify their workflow, centrally manage their media, work interactively with high-res media throughout their projects and deliver high-end content. Oh, did I mention price? Smoke 2013 will be priced at an astounding $3,495.

Here are some of the key features of Smoke 2013:

• The Smoke User Interface (UI): An intuitive all-in-one creative workflow that combines track-based editorial, industry-standard editing conventions and proven Autodesk creative tools.
• ConnectFX: Powerful node-based compositing inside the timeline for high-end effects and advanced compositing without leaving the editorial environment.
• Creative Tools: A robust toolset with proven high-end finishing tools, Action for true 3D compositing, the Colour Warper for professional grading and color matching, the Master Keyer for one-click chroma keying and stereoscopic 3D editing and effects.
• MediaHub: A modern approach to working natively with the most common formats that facilitates managing all project media from ingest to edit to effects and archiving.
• Lower System Requirements: Runs on the most recent generation of Apple iMac and MacBook Pro systems using high-bandwidth Thunderbolt storage and IO bringing true high-end video effects to flexible desktop and mobile workflows.

The new Smoke will help editors simplify their workflow.

Autodesk Smoke 2013 will be available in the fall. For more info, please visit http://usa.autodesk.com/smoke-for-mac/.