FS-5 Version 2 announced w/ VIDEO PLAYBACK!

[Gary Bettan]

Focus Enhancements Introduces Powerful Version 2.0 Upgrade for Popular FS-5 Direct To Edit™ Recorder

New proxy and thumbnail feature, metadata support for Avid users and extensive multicamera functionality enhance flagship Direct To Edit (DTE) recorder product

Campbell, CA. – March 31, 2009 -- Focus Enhancements Inc., a worldwide leader in media management and digital audio technology, today announced a powerful new firmware upgrade for its popular FS-5 DTE recorder. The Version 2.0 upgrade will add several new groundbreaking features including the ability to create MPEG-4 files post-recording for playback on the FS-5’s color LCD for field proxy preview. The MPEG-4 clips can easily be transferred to a host computer or to a video sharing website for collaboration, or distributed to mobile portable media devices such as Smartphones for preview. Clip thumbnails and descriptive details can be displayed on both the FS-5’s color LCD or as a webpage when FS-5 is connected via a wired or wireless network. Version 2.0 also includes the ability to wirelessly log clip metadata during recordings in a format compatible with Avid non-linear editing systems and offers enhanced control and metadatalogging capabilities for multiple camera shoots.

“Since its introduction at NAB last year, FS-5 has provided a simple solution for acquiring NLE compatible content and metadata in the field,” said Matt McEwen, director of product management for Focus Enhancements. “Unprecedented MPEG-4 encoding capabilities further shows our commitment to serious time-savings in the critical acquisition stage of the media production workflow.”

FS-5’s new proxy generation feature enables the user to create low-bandwidth MPEG-4 proxies of DV and HDV content after a recording is complete. Once a proxy has been created, it can be previewed on the FS-5 LCD, and audio can be monitored via an optional wired USB headset. Proxy clips are stored on the FS-5 disk drive and can be easily transferred to a computer for viewing or easy distribution to other compatible devices. The new thumbnail viewing option allows FS-5 users to locate and view media on their unit remotely. This feature is particularly useful for adding clip metadata post-recording both on the FS-5’s color LCD or utilizing FS-5’s web interface. When utilizing the web interface, a thumbnail frame of the video is displayed along with its associated metadata, which can be added or edited.

In addition to Apple Final Cut support, FS-5 2.0 adds enhanced metadata logging support for Avid users. While recording, metadata can be logged to clips in NLE native formats using the FS-5’s wireless network interface on any WiFi capable device. Metadata specific to the recorded content can then be viewed in compatible NLE systems. Version 2.0 also adds the ability to link multiple FS-5 units together and add the same metadata to all units simultaneously. In addition, it is now possible to sync multiple units together via WiFi and simultaneously control all units from a single web interface as well as sync timecode across all units.


Pricing and Availability
FS-5 version 2.0 is expected to be available in May 2009 and will be pre-loaded on all FS-5 units from that date forward. Version 2.0 will also be made available as a free upgrade to all customers who purchase their FS-5, from a Focus authorized reseller and register it, between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009. For people who purchased an FS-5 from a Focus authorized reseller and registered it with Focus Enhancements before December 31, 2008, version 2.0 will be made available for $39. If you purchased an FS-5 and would like to take advantage of one of the offers mentioned above please register it by June 30, 2009 at Focus Enhancements.

Videoguys' Focus FS-5 2.0 Update

Gary