Split X Celebration / Split X Celebration HDV

- New M2H Title: "New Age Piano"

Trevon Broad and the Students of Woodward Academy

As you are likely very aware, the weakness of the US Dollar has affected our economy in many ways, from the historical prices at the gas pump to the real estate market to profit drops by foreign car manufacturers and so on.  With this ongoing weak US Dollar we are also forced to increase our pricing on Casablanca products.

The silver lining in this situation is that we have been able to negotiate a price freeze for those orders already placed for the forthcoming Casablanca S-4000 and S-4000 PRO, and we are holding current pricing on all Casablanca product orders received by May 31, 2008.

1. If you have already placed an order for an S-4000 or S-4000 PRO, either new purchase, trade-in, or Loyalty purchase - those prices remain the same.

2. If you have not yet placed an order for these products - you can still take advantage of current pricing as long as we receive your order in our office by end of business on May 31, 2008.

Here is the new pricing for Casablanca S4000 and S4000-PRO models.

This increased pricing is in effect for any order placed with us after May 31st, 2008.

New Purchase

Casablanca S4000                       

Current List Price $ 3,399.            

New List Price $ 3,799.

Casablanca S4000-PRO           

Current List Price $ 3,999.            

New List Price $ 4,499.

               

Loyalty Purchase Pricing

Casablanca Loyalty S4000               

Current List Price $2,899.     

New List Price $ 3,299.

Casablanca Loyalty S4000-PRO           

Current List Price  $ 3,399.           

New List Price $ 3,899.

Add Blu-ray DVD Drive (price remains the same)         

List Price $ 500.

Trade In Discounts

Casablanca S4000 and Casablanca S4000-PRO Trade In discounts remain the same.

(You trade-in your current unit and receive a software exchange for all those software products you already own on the Casablanca you are trading in)          

From Avio DVD, Kron, or Kron Plus

$500.00 Credit towards purchase of S-4000 or S-4000 Pro

From Prestige or Renommee      

$750.00 Credit towards purchase of S-4000 or S-4000 Pro        

From Solitaire or Renommee Plus or Solitaire Plus      

$1,000.00 Credit towards purchase of S-4000 or S-4000 Pro

*All pricing is subject to change.

There remains no set or announced pricing on future Casablanca products, from the Ultra Card Upgrade to the S-2000 or any of the previously announced future portable models.

Due to the aforementioned economic conditions, there will also be a price increase for Casablanca software effective June 1, 2008. You can view the prices for specific software products here:

- New Software Pricing PDF

These new prices are effective June 1, 2008.  If you wish to take advantage of the current lower software prices, please place your order prior to May 31, 2008

NOTE: We were able to negotiate to keep the All Software Bundle pricing the same - this remains a particularly valuable item for those customers whose needs fit this package.

The weather here in the 'Front Range' of the Rocky Mountains is in full spring mode, and it looks like it will be another beautiful summer.  We are  so looking forward to hosting folks at our Casablanca University sessions this July!

As you may know, we have revamped Casablanca University, our hands-on Casablanca training held in Boulder, Colorado.  In addition to the revised curriculum (noted below) you will also have the full opportunity to see the brand new Casablanca S-4000 PRO running the amazing new Bogart SE Operating System.

The first two days are for Beginners/Review taught by Casablanca expert Justin Philpott while the Wednesday-Friday session is a newly developed Intermediate/Advanced session taught by Chet Davis.  Both these gentlemen have received high marks from Casablanca enthusiasts for their knowledge and their teaching abilities.

In the new Intermediate/Advanced session you will be coached with real footage to create useful effects and sequences you can put to use back in your edit studio.

We'll start by learning all the benefits of Smart Edit 7 and move through Photo Studio 2, PIP Studio 3D, Deluxe Titler 3D, Candy Factory, Columbus 2, BlueBox World, Audio Effects Pack and finish with an intensive session on DVD Authoring with Arabesk 4.  You will complete several complete sequences of a video project using high quality footage.

To see the specifics of what you'll be learning - check out the new agenda on our website here:

-Cassie U Beginners/Review Session info

-Cassie U - Intermediate/Advanced Session info

-Cassie U - 2008 Schedule/Details

- Download Cassie U info in PDF Format

We have two sessions set for this summer: July 7-11 and July 28 - August 1, 2008.

These sessions are limited to the first 20 participants and we expect them to fill up (especially the late July session which is more than 3/4 full).  Register today by telephoning our Boulder office at (303) 801-1031.

For additional travel & lodging info/suggestions please see our website here: Travel & lodging in Boulder

The deadline for entries in this year's Casablanca FutureVision Video Editing Festival is almost here! Don't miss out on your chance to win hundreds of dollars worth of software for your Casablanca editor! Grand prize is $1000 worth of software, and its a great way to showcase your editing skills.

All entries must be postmarked before June 1st, 2008.

Click on the following link to download the rules/entry form:

- 2008 Rules and Entry Form PDF

We have a brand new Casablanca software package to announce:  SplitX Celebration and its HD version, Split-X Celebration HDV are the latest in the series of SplitX graphics packages. Both versions are available now.

The programs each contain 100 different themed graphics. Some of the themes are: Eastern, Christmas, New Years, Halloween, Birthday, etc. as well as various graphics for a wide range of celebrations: Gift wrapping paper, balloons, cups, champagne glasses, ribbons and so on.

With the alpha channel support, the images can be used in combination with an image processing effect and placed on top of a scene, either covering it completely or partially. You can use these new images to embellish intros or credits or use them to create an interesting title screen. Additional options are: Position, translucency, color.

SplitX Celebration is available in SD (4:3) or in HDV/Widescreen resolution (16:9). The HDV package graphics are upscaled and can thus also be used in SD projects for those producers working in the 16:9 aspect ratio.  The graphics have been created by "GOGrafiX".

Split-X Celebration            

List Price $119.00

Split-X Celebration HDV        

List Price $129.00

Here are the links for the new all software CD's.  These include the two new programs of Split X Celebration and Split X Celebration HD as well as three updated "X" HDV Mask programs:

HD Mix, Split X Wedding HD, and Border X2 HD.  All three of these products have had their  software name changed from "HDV" to "HD" and also now have operator translations for Swedish, French and Czech. Because of the file size, all of these programs are only available via the software CD.

- All software CD download link #1

- All software CD download mirror link

- New M2H Title: "New Age Piano"

The Music 2 Hues CD collections offer the most affordable and well- rounded buy-out audio packages on the market today. The various CD collections feature completely royalty- free music (rock, jazz, swing, acoustic, island, country, etc.) and sound effects for videographers.

For the remainder of May, Buy 2 and get 1 Free when you pick from the individual Flagship CD's (Normal Retail is $49 each).

-Click here to listen to samples

Music 2 Hues' newest Flagship CD title: "New Age Piano" is now shipping.  This release is a CD full  of soft acoustic piano beds, for visual and multimedia support.

Click here to listen to Sample #1

Click here to listen to Sample #2

Click here to listen to Sample #3

For the month of May 2008, you can take advantage of a special price on any volume of the Home Movie Essentials series (DVD Only). You can select from any of the three available Home Movies Essentials themes - Volume 1: Travel & Theater, Volume 2: Holidays, and Volume 3: Events.

Samples from Volume 1: Travel & theater

Samples from Volume 2: Holidays

Samples from Volume 3: Events

In May, each Volume is only $89.00 (usually a $119.00 list price.)

We have a new, less expensive Echo 1-to-3 Value Edition DVD/CD duplicator. This unit does not include an internal hard drive, but has a list price of only $449!

This duplicator is a great way for your customers to make multiple copies of finished projects while allowing them to continue other project/work on their Casablanca editor.

Trevon Broad and the Students of Woodward Academy

Trevon Broad, and the students of Woodward Academy are living proof: a passion for editing that is nurtured early on can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment.

Since its founding in 1900, Woodward Academy has embraced a philosophy of education that asserts the importance and uniqueness of the individual student. Over the years, the Academy has provided the student many special avenues of success in a structured and caring environment.

The school motto "Excellence, Character, Opportunity" expresses the long-standing commitment that enables Woodward Academy to make a positive difference in each student's education.

Woodward is the largest independent school in the continental United States, with almost 2,900 students who come from 24 metro Atlanta counties in a 50-mile radius of the Main Campus in College Park. Their student body is incredibly diverse, bringing together students from many different ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths.

Trevon Broad is the Director of Woodward Television, and has been for the past 11 years. His curriculum focuses on editing techniques and live multi-camera production. He is married and has 2 daughters.  "I have been teaching since 1993 and I am a Woodward alumnus.  I now work in the studio and run the video production program that I was a member of as a middle school and high school student. "

"Being the largest private school within the continental U.S. Woodward provides us with the opportunity to do a great variety of different types of video production styles.  The Atlanta Metro Area also gives us the opportunity to produce corporate videos and pieces for public broadcast."

Trevon attended Woodward Academy himself. Even then, he was interested in video and editing. "I was very active in Middle school and high school with video production as a student.  I have been editing for 20 years. I love video production, especially video editing, but I also like working with high school students.  I am fortunate to have found a job where I can do both."

His instruction has been paying off.he students have done very well over the past few years.  His students have repeatedly won in various categories of Casablanca FutureVision video Festival. "They like that the student category not only includes H.S. students but college students as well.  Every year they like to find software that we don't have that they feel would help their projects and the department.  It makes the competition more motivating to them knowing that if we place or win we can receive software they feel would best help everyone."

Many alums from the program work in the South East and the Atlanta Area after college and work in the video and entertainment field for many major corporations.

"In the past my department focused more on short films, but over the past year we have become more active producing segments for our closed-circuit television station.  Next year we plan to do more advertisements, wrap-ups, and E.N.G. style projects."

"I really enjoy the creativity that my students bring to the class and teaching the theories behind video production to develop their ideas into a finished product. I enjoy editing most when I am able to tell a story more effectively and concisely though good video production techniques and reliable software."

Trevon has been working with Casablanca for 8 years. He bought first machine in June 2000.

"Our Casablanca Editors are my most essential equipment!  They are so easy to use and to teach my students how to edit. Our favorite Casablanca software package is definitely the Digital Perfect Package.  The effects look very professional and run so much smoother than the regular quickmotion and slowmotion.  We use length adjust for so many different reasons.  One tip is that if a pan or tilt isn't as smooth as you had hoped - you can add a few extra seconds using "length adjust" and it helps to smooth out the uneven motion. "

Trevons department shoots with Panasonic GS 130 cameras. "They are small, and more importantly, they take a fair amount of consistent abuse form high school students. It's a very reliable 3 chip camera."

Every May Trevon's department and produces a DVD set of all of the graduation events for the parents and seniors.  "Last year I inadvertently deleted the senior speech given at the commencement ceremony.  Over one-hundred DVD's had already been duplicated when it was noticed.  It was gone from the project window and when the HD backup had been performed - the clip had already been deleted. 

Somehow in my panic I recalled that while the crew was tearing down the 5 camera system in our amphitheater I had run a DVD backup.  I found that unlabeled DVD and all was saved!  So thanks to Casablanca for producing a system that lets you back up multiple ways!  And my advice to all Casablanca editors is to back-up your back-ups!  You just might wish you had one day!"

Click below to learn more about the Woodward Academy:

        - the Woodward Academy