NAB: Apple unveiled Final Cut Studio 2, a video editing suite which features:

• Final Cut Pro 6, which introduces Apple‚Äôs ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes and support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline;
• Motion 3 featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors;
• Soundtrack Pro 2 with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and conforming sound to picture;
• Compressor 3 delivering powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click; and
• DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring.
• Final Cut Studio 2 also introduces ‚ÄúColor,‚Äù a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks.

“Final Cut Studio 2 was specifically designed to enable the rapidly growing community of over 800,000 Final Cut editors worldwide to animate, mix, grade and deliver their work as a natural extension of the editorial process,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Final Cut Studio 2 is the most powerful production suite on the planet.”

“User-generated” podcasts and Internet media are one of the biggest threats to mainstream media, according to a survey of media and entertainment executives released today.

In its annual survey of senior executives in the media and entertainment industry, Accenture examined the growth strategies of companies across the landscape of advertising, film, music, publishing, radio, the Internet, videogames and television. More than half (57 percent) of the respondents identified the rapid growth of user-generated content, including amateur digital videos, podcasts, mobile phone photography, wikis and social-media blogs, as one of the top three challenges they face today.

“This is just the beginning for a rapidly changing landscape where the media content environment grows more fractious and the user gains more control and power,” said Gavin Mann, digital media lead for Accenture’s Media & Entertainment practice. “Traditional, established content providers will have to adapt and develop new business and monetization models in order to keep revenue streams flowing.”

Organizers have announced podcast nominees for the 11th Annual Webby Awards.

Nominees include:

• Guardian Unlimited
• NPR
• Scientific American
• Spout
• The Onion

A full list of all nominees in more than 100 categories can be found at the Webby Awards site. Winners will be announced on May 1st.

The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Vinton Cerf, R/GA’s Chief Bob Greenberg, “Simpson’s” creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington, and Harvey Weinstein.

Today, representatives of the SaveNetRadio coalition announced the launch of a campaign to fight increased fees for webcasters. The coalition of Internet radio listeners, music labels, artists, and webcasters was formed in response to a March 2nd ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board that raised the fees webcasters pay to play music online by 300-1200 percent and threatens to bankrupt many webcasters that use mainstream music.

The increased royalty rate, scheduled to take effect May 15th, will become the single largest operating expense for webcasters according to a recent J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. study, and many webcasters will not be able to generate enough advertising revenue to avoid bankruptcy. Because the CRB rates are retroactive to January 1, 2006, even if effective for only a single day, past due royalties alone will be enough to bankrupt many webcasters. According to The American Association of Independent Music, Net radio plays nearly four times as much independent music as terrestrial FM radio.

The jump in royalty rates highlights the risks of using traditionally-licensed major label music in Webcasts and podcasts.

“The CRB’s ill informed decision to increase royalty fees to this unjustifiable level will quite simply bankrupt most webcasters and destroy Internet radio,” Jake Ward, a spokesperson for the SaveNetRadio campaign said. “Radio on the Internet is not a passing fad or for a niche audience. It is an enormously popular medium that offers unprecedented diversity for its more than 70 million listeners and for artists. Particularly for independent artists, Internet radio has the ability to reach millions of fans across the country who would otherwise never hear their music. Net radio has changed the way people listen to, buy, promote and market music and we cannot afford to let it die.”

Blue Raven Technology today announced that they have a full line of iPod replacement battery kits for the 1st through 4th generation iPod, Video iPod and iPod Mini, available immediately. According to the company, the new batteries have increased capacity of up to 30%.

The batteries come with instructions and the tools necessary for DIY battery changing. Blue Raven also provides an online video tutorial to ensure consumers can change their own batteries.

“Changing your own iPod batteries is actually quite easy and inexpensive,” said Blue Raven’s President and COO, Glen Kashgegian. “With this new line we are empowering consumers to maintain their own devices to get more value and use out of their investments.”

Suggested retail price starts at $29.95.

Today at the 2007 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Silverlight, a new cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering media and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web.

Silverlight integrates with existing Web technologies to provide higher-quality experiences with lower costs for media delivery. The plug-in offers consistent experiences to both Macintosh and Windows users on a variety of browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.

The technology highlights the growing importance of Web media, especially the role of the Internet to the future of television and video.

Silverlight uses Windows Media Video (WMV), Microsoft’s implementation of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) VC-1 video standard, offering compatibility with the millions of hours of content already available on the Web, and adds support for interactive video experiences that scale from full-screen high-definition (HD) to mobile scenarios.

The International Podcasting Expo, an virtual expo being held online April 20-21, 2007, will offer over 35 audio/visual educational sessions led by podcasters from around the world.

Sessions include:

• introductions to recording, editing and mixing audio using free programs such as Audacity, Wavepad and Mixpad;
• an introduction to video production using Techsmith‚Äôs Camtasia; and
• information on podcasting technologies and services.

Other classes provide strategies for podcasting for profit, as well as for increased search engine ranking.Attendees will receive free recording, editing and mixing software, a lifetime license of Pamela Pro for Skype, a free multi-media Podcasting Handbook as well as door prizes and freebies.

Registration for the online event is $49.95. Groups of 10 or more can receive discounted tickets. In addition, three free audio/visual sessions will be offered, including:

• Step-By-Step Podcasting, by Podblog.dk‚Äôs Karin Hoegh;
• Promoting Your Podcast, by author Jason Van Orden
• Legally Using Music on Podcasts, by George Smyth of the Association of Music Podcasting.

Details are available at the International Podcasting Expo site.

Marshall Electronics has introduced the MXL USB.008, a low noise USB large gold diaphragm cardioid condenser mic for the broadcast industry.

The mic uses low noise electronics and the latest in enhanced digital conversion techniques for pristine audio quality. The mic uses MOGAMI cable for the internal analog wiring to bring out the maximum definition.

The MXL USB.008 ships with a rugged tote bag, a desktop mic stand, mic stand adaptor, a 10-foot USB cable, wind screen, owners manual and an applications guide. The MXL USB.008 carries an MSRP of $199.00 and is now shipping. A stereo version will also be available.

Nady Systems has introduced a new USB microphone—the USB-24M. The mic connects directly into any computer with a USB 2.0 (or higher) input port for plug-and-play operation with most DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software.

The USB-24M is designed for recording vocal tracks or voice-overs on your computer or for online communication. The mic features a dynamic neodymium element with cardioid pick-up, and the AD converter has 24-bit, 96KHz sampling rate. The mic features a heavy gauge mesh grill and sturdy construction.

The USB-24M is shipping now and lists for $69.95.

According to an AppleInsider report, the market for iPods is so large that the company will eclipse the 350 million Walkmans that Sony sold in the 80’s and 90’s to sell half a billion iPods.

“During Sony‚Äôs 15-year reign with the Walkman, the company sold over 350 million units, and we believe that Apple‚Äôs addressable market over time will exceed this number given the upgrade and replaceable nature of iPods as well as the overriding trend of consumers‚Äô increasing use of digital media,” said Ingrid Ebeling, an analyst at JMP Securities. “The net takeaway is that this is a product category that is far from saturated, and we believe well over 500 million units will be sold before the product category hits maturation.”