At this week’s National Association of Broadcasters expo, Blackmagic Design (http://www.blackmagic-design.com) announced DaVinci Resolve 9, a software update with a completely overhauled user interface and optimized workflow.

Over the last few years Blackmagic Design has added multiple new technologies such as automatic 3D eye matching, multi layer timelines, XML support and more camera and file type support. This software update addresses the workflow changes required to harness all this new technology in a much faster way, according to Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty.

The new user interface has been designed to be extremely fast to use and to eliminate unnecessary clicks and settings to get working fast, he adds. A job can be up and running in three clicks: one to log in, one to drop media into the project and the next to grade.

New user interface improvements include a new streamlined project import, export and selection workflow, scrubbable media thumbnails to speed up shot selection, production metadata fields for entering on set shot notes and larger color control palettes to give faster access to grading tools. There are new, clear graphical palettes for control of power windows, keys, sizing, tracking and stabilization, camera raw and data burn ins. The Gallery now includes resizable stills displayed in user named albums and 48 “prebuilt looks” for fast grade selection.

Other new features in DaVinci Resolve 9 include “Log grading” in every corrector node, audio playback support up to 16 tracks per source clip and audio renders in both QuickTime and MXF, automatic “Audio Sync,” clip data burn ins and batch rendering for dailies, additional and faster automatic stereo 3D image alignment tool, plus new stereoscopic 3D floating windows and new 3D monitoring options.

The free DaVinci Resolve Lite 9 will be available in July for download, while the full DaVinci Resolve 9 will also be available in July for US$995 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide. All current Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve customers will be able to download this update free of charge.