Two of our favourite brands - The Cargo Cult (Spanner, Slapper, Conformalizer) and Non-Lethal Applications (Video Slave) have simultaneously released major updates.

Non-Lethal Applications have released Video Slave 3.3, which includes a raft of improvements and fixes along with a brand new integration with The Cargo Cult's new Spanner 3, bringing a really cool "heads-up" style display of pan data alongside the already super-reliable video playback.

New Features 

• Added support for audio only export from movies in either WAV or M4A formats
• Added stereo mixdown functionality when exporting clips
• Added import Pro Tools Session Info text files feature. Video Slave can extract character/char prefix/actor/text.
• Trigger Flutter events through MIDI
• Video Slave now displays all attached Blackmagic/AJA devices and letʼs you choose which one to use 
• Frame-accurate looping with Pro Tools in Video Slave 3 Dub

Heads Up

One of the major issues when trying to match panning to movements on screen is not being able to look in two places at once, especially when working in surround formats. Although we have two eyes, it's not particularly easy to keep one eye on your panner and the other on the screen.

Video Slave 3.3 works with Spanner 3 to superimpose coloured bands on the video, which represent the channels and panners available in Spanner.

This will prove extremely handy in the world of reversioning. Quite often, especially on animation, we do not receive the original Pro Tools session and have to reverse engineer the new language to have the same panning as the original. This integration of Spanner into Video Slave will make this task an awful lot easier.

Import Pro Tools Session Text Files

When using my clip groups method for marking up ADR, I usually go through third party software like Microsoft Excel or Pete Gate's PG PT Session to sort the text file into a CSV file that Video Slave could read, but now Video Slave can bypass those and import directly from Pro Tools.

Fixes

As well as the new features, Non-Lethal Applications have been busy improving Video Slave 3 -

• Fixed OpenGL related crashes
• CSV export fixes
• Performance improvements when dubbing including fixes for a stall
• Better "editability" of character names in Playlist Settings window, made sure there cannot be duplicate character names
• Fixed a bug where VS wouldn't display the selected character in the dropdown menu if it was the last in the list
• Fixed a bug with wrong relations when selecting actors for cues in the event list or DAW settings window
• Fixed bug causing noise when exporting audio tracks not starting at clip start
• Fixed bug when importing CSV with double line feeds
• Fixed a bug causing a crash when exporting movies

Promotional 20% Discount

Non-Lethal Applications are running a promotion until 16th July 2017. Simply enter the coupon code "VS3SPANNER" when purchasing in the checkout section and you'll receive a 20% discount.

Visit the Non-Lethal Applications website for more information.

Brand New Version Of Spanner

As Mike Thornton revealed in his Pro Tools 12.8 article, there is a brand new, ground-up rebuild of Spanner. As well as bringing integration with Video Slave 3.3, this new version of Spanner by The Cargo Cult fully supports the new 7.0.2 and 7.1.2 formats available in Pro Tools 12.8.  

New Features And Fixes

In a major rebuild, The Cargo Cult have brought the following improvements:

• Z-Axis panning and 7.0.2 and 7.1.2 modes for Dolby Atmos.
• Added “balls to the wall" mode
• Rebuilt audio engine brings better sound quality, stability and CPU efficiency.
• New expanded faders section and text entry options.
• Collapsable faders view for reduced screen footprint
• Redesigned ergonomics in the UI.
• Improvements and fixes throughout the plugin making it easier to use and a lot more responsive.
• Redesigned meters
• Updated presets, allowing for new formats.
• Factory Presets have moved to avoid overwriting users' presets and clashing with older sets.
• New iLok license - “Spanner3”

We'll be bringing you a full review of the new Spanner 3 very soon. We understand that there will be special introductory pricing.

For more information please visit The Cargo Cult website.

Integration Is The Way Forward

We at Pro Tools Expert are really excited to see plug-in developers starting to collaborate, bringing forward enhanced features for users. It's something we'd love to see much more of, including closer collaboration between Avid and third-party developers. It's a win-win situation so long may it continue!