- Publisher: The Cargo Cult
- Product: Matchbox
- Release: R2R
- Version: 1.6.0
Matchbox is a state-of-the-art Change Management solution designed specifically for post-production professionals. Whether you’re a sound editor, VFX artist, or part of the editorial team, Matchbox helps you track, compare, and manage the differences between different versions of a reel or episode. From VFX tweaks to dialog updates, Matchbox ensures you can focus on the critical changes that impact your work, while automating the tedious process of tracking alterations across multiple versions.
Key Features of Matchbox
1. Seamless Comparison Across Multiple Formats
Matchbox supports an extensive range of formats and integration tools, allowing you to compare versions easily. Whether you receive AAF files, EDLs, XMLs, change notes, or video/audio reference files, just upload them into Matchbox and let it handle the differences. Matchbox works with various formats, including:
- Video Formats: DNx (wrapped as MXF), Broadcast WAV, and more.
- Audio & Video Formats: Multitrack AAF, XML, EDL, OpenTimelineIO.
- Custom Change Notes: Allows you to track specific changes that are important for your workflow.
2. Audible and Visible Diffing
Matchbox doesn’t just compare content; it also helps you quickly identify which areas of the project need your attention. The tool intelligently hunts for all the footage differences in the new reel, then zooms in on the smaller details, such as dialog or VFX changes.
- Audible Diffing: Hear the differences in the audio, so you can catch subtle sound changes.
- Visible Diffing: View the differences in video, from cut changes to visual effects tweaks, making it easier to track VFX shot updates and dialog slips.
3. Human-Friendly Summaries
After comparing the versions, Matchbox generates human-readable summaries of the differences, making it easy for you to quickly assess the impact of the changes. The tool also allows you to share these summaries via email, keeping your team informed of what has changed and what needs attention.
- Automatic Summaries: Receive detailed yet easy-to-understand reports that highlight the changes.
- Email Integration: Send the summary, markers, and Matchbox file to your team instantly.
4. Track Evolving VFX Shots
VFX shots often evolve over the course of a project, with lighting changes, effects tweaks, or added elements. Matchbox intelligently tracks evolving VFX shots, ensuring you don’t lose track of any updates. It even identifies which elements in the shot have changed and highlights them visually, saving you time when reviewing the new reel.
- VFX Shot Tracking: Detect updated shots and identify changes within the shot.
- Visual Delta and Overlay: Easily spot differences in VFX elements with visual overlays.
5. Powerful Marker System
For every change detected between two versions, Matchbox generates automated markers that describe the cut updates in plain language. These markers can be sent directly to tools like Pro Tools, Media Composer, or included in the Summary Email to communicate changes efficiently.
- Auto-Generated Markers: Quickly see cut changes with automatically created markers.
- Custom Markers: Add extra markers for specific changes or notes, such as new VFX elements.
6. Comprehensive Reconform Tools
Matchbox offers a powerful reconform feature that can retime your sound mix, compositing work, dialog scripts, closed captions, and other elements created to picture. It allows you to automatically retime clips in your Nuke/Hiero timelines and adjust the entire production to the updated version of the cut.
- Reconform for Nuke/Hiero: Automatically retime clips and effects to match the new cut.
- Flexible Department-Based Reconform: Tailor reconforms to specific departments, like dialog, music, or VFX editors, to simplify workflows.
7. Integration with Major Platforms
Matchbox is designed to integrate seamlessly with the most widely used post-production tools. You can export markers and diffs to applications like Media Composer, Pro Tools, and Nuke, ensuring that your team can work directly within their existing workflows.
- Pro Tools Integration: Support for Pro Tools v12.0 and greater, making it easier for sound editors to stay in sync with picture changes.
- Resolve/Fairlight Integration: The latest version adds support for Resolve/Fairlight for smoother integration with DaVinci Resolve.
8. Global Language Support
Matchbox is localized in multiple languages, including Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish, to cater to global post-production teams.
System Requirements
- Mac: OS10.12 or higher
- Windows: Win10 or higher
- For Pro Tools: Version 12.0 or greater
- For Hiero: Version 12 (v13 not yet supported)
- For Nuendo: Version 11 or greater
Recent Updates
Version 1.6.0
- Added Resolve/Fairlight integration for enhanced workflow flexibility.
Version 1.5.19
- Simplified audible diffs and improved clip matching logic.
- Removed iLok requirement for helper plugins.
- Fixed duplicate markers issue in Nuendo.
Version 1.5.15
- Added support for the latest OpenTimelineIO schema.
Why Choose Matchbox?
Matchbox is a game-changer for post-production teams, automating the tedious process of tracking, comparing, and managing changes across versions of a project. Whether you’re handling VFX tweaks, dialog updates, or cut changes, Matchbox gives you the tools to quickly identify and address the differences. With its powerful reconform capabilities and intuitive interface, Matchbox makes post-production smoother, more efficient, and less error-prone.
Start using Matchbox today to manage your change tracking effortlessly and keep your post-production team on the same page.
A witch says,* No iLok driver installation is required to run.
TEAM R2R
* Our release loads faster and uses less RAM than original.
