Sony Catalyst Updates

On Friday Sony announced updates to Catalyst Prepare and Catalyst Edit, its two media management and editing software that make up the Catalyst Production collection.

Catalyst Prepare 2.1

Prepare’s revamped interface allows a tree-view navigation of all devices, recorders and hard disks, and the contents can be organized into libraries by simply dragging and dropping them on the screen.

Media management has been simplified so that all files can be easily placed, renamed, deleted, corrected or transcoded. For the latter function, different codecs are supported, including AVC, XAVC, XDCAM, ProRes or DNxHD.

Another improvement is in the integration with various systems, since it is now possible to export EDLs compatible with Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Media Composer or Sony Vegas.

Finally, two additional new features are the ability to view metadata and content before importing, being able to set the in and out points of several clips; and the VCR mode, with which it is possible to play groups of files.

Catalyst Edit 1.1

This editing tool is ready to work with HD, RAW and XAVC 4K files. The new version adds general timeline improvements, for example to reprogram tracks, select all clips, display muted tracks or create nested timelines.

Support for ACES 1.0 and OFX plugins has also been included, as well as the following features:

• Loop playback
• Enhanced playback of Sony RAW material
• J and L cut
• Roll
• Audio and video fades
• File Relink
• Renderings of partial or complete projects
• Playback speed control
• Image overlay control
• Zoom control
• Remapping of audio channels in rendering