The full suite is now available for just $500. The difference here is that it's specifically only for OS X, and only available through the Mac App store. Another benefit to the App store is that a dongle is no longer necessary to run the software — you'll simply use an Apple ID attached to the software to run it on different systems:
Now available on the Mac App Store for only USD$499, customers have more flexibility than ever before because the software downloaded from the App Store features built in security and does not require a hardware dongle to run. That means customers that purchase DaVinci Resolve 12 Studio from the Mac App Store can run it on multiple personal Macs, like their laptop and desktop computers, simply by using their Apple ID.
Here's the big question that still remains, it seems like the only version available to buy with the dongle that will work for both Windows and Mac is still $1,000. I'm trying to find out from Blackmagic what their plans are with this, and if there will ever be a $500 dongle version that works on Windows, but we'll have to wait and see. [Update: Have confirmed this is only for new purchases, and you'll still need to get the $1,000 version if you want it to work on Windows.] I also may just not be looking in the right place, but it seems like the only full version of Resolve you can buy right now is 11 — but obviously that can be upgraded for free to 12.
Some may find this workflow more cumbersome without the dongle, but being able to run it on multiple systems with just your password seems pretty handy. For anyone who has purchased a Blackmagic Cinema Camera or higher, you'll continue to get free updates to future versions of Resolve for free, but it's unclear if you'll ever be given access to this app store version even though you technically already own the software. [Update: Have also confirmed that those who have the dongle version will not be able to go to the software-only version]. The free version is also available to download through the app store.
Resolve Software Update 12.2
Blackmagic has also released a free update for Resolve 12, which contains the following:
- Decode support for HEVC/H.265 QuickTime video in DaVinci Resolve Studio on OS X
- Support for HDR Hybrid Log Gamma using Resolve Color Management
- Inclusion of Hybrid Log Gamma conversion LUTs
- Updated ST 2084 HDR color science
- ACES IDTs for Canon C300 MkII clips
- Import support for NewBlue Titler Pro titles using Media Composer AAF sequences
- Reveal in Media Storage now supports mattes
- ProRes 4444 with alpha channel now defaults to straight mode
- Power Window opacity and invert settings are now retained when converting to Power Curve Windows
- Improved QuickTime render performance on Linux
As always, you can find the updates over on the Blackmagic support page.
Blackmagic Fusion 8 Studio Beta
In other post news for Blackmagic, they've released the Beta for Fusion 8 Studio. While a beta for the free version of Fusion 8 was released back in August, this version has some added features, and it's only available for those who have purchased Fusion 7. Here's a rundown from Blackmagic on the differences, which include the ability to render projects at resolutions higher than UHD:
The new Fusion 8 Studio public beta builds upon all of the tools in the free version and adds advanced optical flow tools for retiming, image repair, color smoothing and morphing between different images, along with the ability to render at resolutions larger than Ultra HD. The Fusion 8 Studio public beta also adds advanced stereoscopic tools for converting 2D shows to 3D, support for 3rd party plugins, remote scripting, and Avid Connect, a plug-in that allows customers to use Fusion directly from Media Composer timelines.
Projects created with the free version of Fusion can be opened and finished in Fusion 8 Studio, regardless of which platform they were created on. Fusion 8 Studio also includes Generation, multi user studio software for managing assets, tracking versions, and doing shot-based review and approval.
In addition, Fusion 8 Studio public beta also includes render node software that lets customers install an unlimited number of Fusion render nodes on additional computers for free, saving them thousands of dollars in licensing fees. That means customers working on high end film and television projects in large multi user studios can now accelerate their workflow by distributing render jobs across an unlimited number of systems on their network.
You can find more info and some download links here.
