Colorfront Transkoder 2023 | What's New?

Markers Track to Flag Dolby Vision Metadata Issues and Improved Validation
The new 'L6 Sanity' validation step flags MaxFALL and MaxCLL issues, including mismatches between CPL and Dolby XML.
Post-validation, a dedicated Dolby Vision Markers track shows 'False' and 'Offset' markers for easy brightness issue identification.

New Dolby Vision Processing Version
Transkoder now supports the new v4.0 with Cinema Trims processing version to include Level 9 and 11 Dolby Vision metadata, primarily relevant to cinema content. Cinema targets of 48 and 108 nits are highlighted in a distinct color within the DolbyVision node.

Create Filler Dolby Vision Metadata for Timeline Events
Experience advanced timeline editing by seamlessly creating and applying filler Dolby Vision metadata to selected events, perfect for integrating HDR metadata into clips that previously lacked it.

New Dolby Vision MXF Metadata Options for IMF
Choose between legacy ISXD RDD47 and standardized ST2067-202 specs for IMF Dolby Vision on the Encoder Tab of our Finalize Window.

Two ACES Pipeline Versions
On the Project Load Page, now you can choose between the standard ACES pipeline and the original version with CFE LMT color processing, which has been renamed from ACES toACES with CFE LMT. The newly introduced standard version is now simply referred to as ACES. You have the flexibility to switch between the two ACES options in the Pipeline Setup window.

Import ACES Looks
The File > Import Looks menu has two new options for importing various ACES looks:
- The Import Legacy ACESCCT as CLF option converts .cube to .CLF format, placing it in the aceslut folder within your project directory.
- The Import ACES CLF menu item imports the selected CLF file into the aceslut folder located under the installation home directory.

Framing Error Detection
Transkoder now features an Auto QC encoder on the Render Page, available in the new QC-related encoder group, which automatically detects framing errors like inconsistent mattes and black borders in images.

Framing Track on the Timeline
The timeline's new Framing track, created by the AutoQC encoder, utilizes markers to highlight framing value changes on the timeline. DPX and CSV files are generated to identify black pixels and frame details.

HDR Nomenclature Change and Improved HDR Report
The HDR nomenclature has been updated to align with industry standards, with the color space option renamed to PQ in the Analyzer. Our improved PDF HDR report now identifies any deviations in color and brightness.

Second Head Analyzer on macOS
The Second Head Analyzer, a powerful image analysis tool in Transkoder, is now integrated into macOS, expanding its availability from Windows to offer macOS users a seamless experience.

Invite Viewers to Stream Sessions from Menu
Transkoder now allows you to send invitations to stream sessions directly from the menu, using the new View » Stream Output menu option, and adding the email address(es) in the pop-up window.

Converting Cinema Atmos DCP to IAB IMF
You can now effortlessly convert Cinema Atmos DCP into an IAB Atmos IMF package via the Finalize Window, especially valuable for IMF Application 4 (Cinema Mezzanine) workflows designed for cinema archival purposes.

New HDR CPL Flag for DCI Package Generation
In the Finalize Window's Encode tab, a new option, DCI HDR1 within the HDR CPL Flag parameter, enables the flagging of HDR metadata within the CPL metadata of DCI packages.

Compare Video Inserts in VFs for QC
The latest Transkoder update streamlines QC for supplemental IMF or DCI packages with added video inserts. This feature lets you lift inserts from the timeline to compare them with the original clips.

Expanded Audio Layout Options for DCP
The Finalize Window’s Audio tab now offers a broader range of Layout options for DCP generation, including configurations such as 6to8ch 5.1 DCI, 8to16ch 7.1 SDDS DCI and 8to12ch 7.1 DS DCI.

New 5.1.4 Channel Preset in Audio Mixdown
Introducing the new 5.1.4 channel preset in our Audio Mixdown window, which enables Dolby Atmos channel mapping for the immersive surround sound format, providing optimized flexibility for your audio workflow.

Creating and Customizing Multichannel Audio
Transkoder now lets you create and edit multichannel audio, like 5.1 or 7.1.4, for an immersive sound experience. The Timeline menu offers new options to customize individual audio channels, easily replace dialogues, create new multichannel tracks or convert existing ones, giving you precise audio control to match your creative vision.

Web UI 2.4.3 Update
Colorfront's Web UI has been updated to version 2.4.3, introducing features such as favorite folders in the file browser, NexGuard watermarking in User Forms, or global settings for User Forms without authentication - all enhancing usability and functionality.

Image Preview for Background Rendering
Colorfront's Web UI elevates the background rendering experience, enabling users to visually monitor the progress of their rendering jobs as they advance, with regularly updated thumbnails of the footage.

Enhanced Probing
Transkoder's probing feature has been significantly upgraded, with expanded support for various file formats and the introduction of recursive probing. Users can now extract metadata more efficiently, with basic metadata displayed in blue, along with a separate file data dump for convenience.

Enhanced Font Editing within BurnIn Node
The latest update enhances the BurnIn node by offering improved font customization, including font selection, adjustable text sizing, customizable RGB font color, and the ability to control text rotation, giving users more flexibility and control over their burn-in text.

Global Controls in BurnIn Node
The BurnIn node's G tab (formerly M tab) introduces two global settings: HDR Brightness to adjust overlay brightness, and a Color Space selector for accurate color representation across various display formats, encompassing SDR, HDR, and specific color gamuts.

New Logo Tool on Node Page
This latest Transkoder version introduces a dedicated Logo node on the Node Page for timeline logos. It offers file selection, color space options, position adjustment, and various customization features, including logo appearance settings.

Improved Sharpening for ARRIRAW
The latest update for the ARRIRAW tool includes improved sharpening capabilities, allowing users to set the sharpness parameter within a range of -5.0 to 5.0 during footage downscaling, with 0.0 preserving the original sharpness of the footage, to provide greater control and precision in adjusting the sharpness of Arri RAW content.

DJI CinemaDNG Debayer Color Space Support
The DJI CinemaDNG debayer color space is now supported, ensuring smooth compatibility with DJI's high-quality raw footage format. Users can efficiently process these files using the CSC color conversion tool on the Render Page with specific curve and color space selections in the HUD.

Support for Third-Party OpenFx Plugins
A new OpenFx tool on the Node page now supports third-party OpenFx plugins. This tool, located in the "Other tools" category, includes a Plugins selector in the HUD for Windows OS. Whitelisting plugins is also possible via adjustments in the Startup.xml.

Multi-Mono Audio Option for AS-11
We have added the MULTI TRACK option to the AS11 AVC-I 100 encoder in Broadcast H.264 encoders, which can be activated on the Render Page. When enabled, and sameAsSource is selected in the MIX field, each audio track on the timeline will be rendered as separate audio deliverables.

Automatic Frame.io Upload
There is a new Auto Upload Renders setting in the Cloud Storage settings in Transkoder, which allows for enabling/disabling the automatic upload of deliverables from Frame.io Web encoders.

New Metadata Pattern for Avid MXF Clipname
A new default option, $Scene$-$Take$_$MultiCam$$Selected$, has been introduced in the Avid section of the Settings Page for specifying MXF Clipname metadata written into Avid encoder MXF files. This option allows for configuring metadata injection using predefined patterns or by entering custom values

Optimized Import Above 30 Clips
Transkoder introduces two new Metadata settings to streamline the import process: "Optimized Import" enables more efficient import with deferred metadata parsing and asynchronous thumbnail generation, while "Optimized Import Limit" (default: 30) activates this enhanced import process based on the minimum number of clips.

Move Playhead Beyond Last Clip
The Timeline window has been improved so that the playhead can be moved not only to the end of the last event on the timeline, but also beyond. You can now add additional clips to specific timecodes without having to align to the end of the timeline.

Default Media Location for Master Bin
A new Default Bin Media Path parameter has been added to the User Settings to specify the folder path for saving various media assets. Any video, audio, or caption file saved in this folder will automatically load into the Master Bin by default.

Menu Selector to Show Active Hotkey Configuration
Transkoder introduces a User » Select hotkey layout menu, giving users a choice between two configurations: "Classic," the traditional layout, and "Modern," aligning with industry-standard editing and post-production applications for a streamlined workflow, allowing customization of your workspace.

Editing Custom Feet+Frames Burn-In
A new feature in Transkoder allows easy customization of Feet+Frames metadata. This metadata defines the $CustomFeet$ burn-in with an offset from the first frame, crucial in the film industry for measuring film footage (e.g., 1234+12). Edit this metadata by including CustomFeetStart in the Shots Table Header Items under Advanced Metadata Settings, add a BurnIn node in the Node Page, select Custom for Text1 and/or Text2 in the HUD, and enter $CustomFeet$ and/or $CustomFeetStart$ burn-ins. Editing the CustomFeetStart column in the Shots Table updates both burn-ins on the image.

Scrollable Audio Mixdown Window
The Audio Mixdown Window now includes a vertical or horizontal scrolling feature, allowing easy navigation through mixdowns with numerous source and output channels.

Importing Project Settings File
In this latest update, easily import configuration files to update project settings in Transkoder, by selecting File » Apply Project Settings File and choosing the JSON file with preferred configurations. Custom values will be automatically updated in the Settings.

Metadata Editing in Shots Table
Editing shot metadata is now more efficient with the editable Shots Table, eliminating the need for individual clip edits in the GUI. Users can easily customize metadata, like changing file names or creating burn-in texts, by double-clicking the desired table field.