cineSync 5 – The next generation of media review is here

With cineSync 5, we wanted to build the foundations for an exciting new future for cineSync. By building a new infrastructure and backend, we have opened the door for more streamlined reviews, alongside features like OTIO support and frame/image sequence playback. We have also paved the way for many exciting new features as we continue to iterate on and evolve cineSync.

The new infrastructure also enabled us to build cineSync Play—a player that could function as a standalone review player, available on any desktop, and that could support all the latest formats and workflows.

However, creating a new infrastructure for cineSync 5 means that it is no longer compatible with cineSync 4 and all previous versions of cineSync. As such, cineSync 5 users cannot host review sessions with cineSync 4 users and vice versa.

To avoid any disruption this may cause to ongoing projects, we will continue supporting the existing iterations of cineSync (4.x) alongside this initial launch of cineSync 5. We expect the parallel rollout and transition to cineSync 5 to occur over the next six months. As such, our customers can keep current projects moving without disruption, then switch over to the new and improved cineSync 5 when they feel comfortable doing so.

We anticipate supporting cineSync 4 for at least the next six months. When we feel our customers are comfortable with the transition, cineSync 5 will become the primary version of cineSync. We will discontinue support for the older versions and infrastructure of cineSync, including cineSync 4. We will let customers know in good stead when changes are due to happen.

We would like to assure you that cineSync 5 and its new infrastructure will offer everything cineSync already offers, but with more features and an even better review experience. We will not drop cineSync 4.x until we are confident that we have fully achieved that goal.

Here are the significant new features of cineSync 5. You can see more detail in the table at the end of this blog.

• A new infrastructure designed for more streamlined reviews.
• A new local player, available via cineSync Play.
• OTIO support.
• OCIO v2.x (previous versions support OCIO v1).
• Full support for frame playback in multiple formats, including OpenEXR.
• Support for layers.
• New compare modes – wipe, top/bottom, A/B.
• Support for separate audio tracks.
• On-screen text tool.
• Localization/language support—the first version supports Chinese, with more languages to be added.

The majority of existing cineSync 4 Pro features will be available in cineSync 5 Pro, with some exceptions, which will be introduced into cineSync 5 Pro at a later date. Please see the table below for more information.

No, accessing cineSync 5 will not come with a price. cineSync 5 is available today as a free extension to existing paid cineSync Pro subscriptions. If you have an existing cineSync Pro account, you can use and explore cineSync 5 Pro for free while retaining cineSync 4 for current projects.

If you sign up for a cineSync trial, you’ll receive a cineSync Pro trial alongside the option of testing out cineSync 5. If you choose to convert from the trial to a paid Pro account, you’ll retain access to both cineSync 4 and cineSync 5.

cineSync Play is the downloadable app used to run cineSync 5. cineSync Play features the fully-enabled local player version of cineSync, with local-only, frame-accurate playback and review of high-res frame sequences, OTIO and OCIO support, and more—all without needing to sign up for a license.

cineSync Play also comes integrated with any ftrack Studio license, so you can browse media, notes, and information in cineSync Play and then add feedback into your production plan.

We’re also working towards functionality that will enable studios to easily integrate cineSync Play into their pipelines.

We will share more information about this in the coming months. Today, we can confirm that cineSync Play—the fully-enabled, local player for cineSync—will be free forever and won’t require a license. Users will need to upgrade to cineSync 5 Pro to access additional features, including synchronized reviews. We are still defining a basic cineSync offering for cineSync 5 and will work to ensure that existing basic cineSync customers can purchase a plan that works for them.