Smoke Mac vs IFX Ant?

[Dustin Cross]

Does anyone have experience with these two systems?

How do they compare?

These are comparable systems aren't they? Very little info about IFX, so it is a little hard to tell. What other finishing systems are there in the price range of Smoke on Mac?

Looking to add a entry level finishing system to our facility. Trying to get educated a little before seeing them at NAB.


Thanks,
Dusty

[Mathieu Marano]

Smoke is an online software that has been a standard for many years. It compatible with all the other Autodesk finishing products (Smoke, Flame, Lustre). It can also work natively with Avid and FCP medias or native camera media like RED and ARRIRAW.

It's made for rapid delivery and is extremely efficient when in client sessions for immediate feedback. It has complete broadcast IO specs for digitizing from DigiBeta to HDCAM SR.

It is backed by a solid company and developed with quality in mind.

[Hans von Sonntag]

Does anyone have experience with these two systems?

How do they compare?

These are comparable systems aren't they? Very little info about IFX, so it is a little hard to tell. What other finishing systems are there in the price range of Smoke on Mac?

Looking to add a entry level finishing system to our facility. Trying to get educated a little before seeing them at NAB.


Thanks,
Dusty

I'm unsure about IFX Ant. I just visited their website and looked at the specs. I cannot comment about Ant's ability. But I haven't heard about it until you mentioned it. Not that is a bad thing but it shows that it is not as much widespread as Smoke.

I use Smoke on Mac since a year now. All I can say is that it is in its realm a hardly to beat application. Think of it as an NLE on steroids including all imageable features you missed in your NLE. I never look back.

But don't expect it to be plug'n play. It has a very steep learning curve. No wonder if you consider the very complex tool set and the high standard of the projects it's meant for.

If you want more information either PM me or download the trial at http://area.autodesk.com/smoke.


Hans

[Charles Angus]

Am I crazy, or does Smoke on Mac not have the same playout capability as Smoke Advanced on Linux?

[Dustin Cross]

IFX guys are telling me Ant is faster than Smoke, only runs on Linux, and costs about half of what Smoke costs for 2D only version. 3D version is about same price as Smoke.

Nothing comparing features yet.


Dusty

[Hans von Sonntag]

IFX guys are telling me Ant is faster than Smoke, only runs on Linux, and costs about half of what Smoke costs for 2D only version. 3D version is about same price as Smoke.

Nothing comparing features yet.


Dusty

In which respect do they consider Ant to be faster than Smoke (sounds pretty silly when you don't know that we are talking about software packages)? Smoke's sound effects are the only effects that are RT. All other effects have to be rendered.

Since version 2011 Smoke is a stereo3D capable application. So, if you compare Smoke with Ant you have to look at the 3D version of Ant.

Download the Smoke trial and get a trial copy of Ant. I would like to know what you think.

Hans

[Hans von Sonntag]

Am I crazy, or does Smoke on Mac not have the same playout capability as Smoke Advanced on Linux?

Smoke on Mac cannot perform a tape archive.

Hans

[M Most]

Smoke on Mac cannot perform a tape archive.

Hans

True (and that limitation happens to be causing me some headaches at the moment...), and it also cannot do what Autodesk calls real time deliverables, which basically means a live simultaneous downconversion. But it does do real time play out and does do VTR control, so it can be used to create an HD videotape master.