We sort of hit the ground running as 2006 started out, and have been very busy installing a number of new systems and preparing for NAB in April. Here's what's been going on:

New mSoft video management website:

Some of you know that mSoft has a video asset management system called VisionClip, but not all of you have seen it in action. We have just created a new web demo of the system that you can try out at http://207.47.106.115, but you will need to send me a request at doug@msoftinc.com for your password to use the system.

VisionClip 2.0 is a digital asset management server system for managing any type of video or graphics media. Any video footage can be aggregated for online search via a standard browser interface, replacing archived DVDs, film, tape, etc. Searchable metadata can be ingested from many standard file formats, or even be created via speech to text technology or capturing of close captioning. VisionClip is an intuitive and easy to use low cost solution for the growing problem of video archiving, search, and retrieval.

What can you use it for? Well, pretty much any kind of video management you can think of:

• Entertainment Content Creators and Providers
• Broadcast Companies and Networks
• Advertising Agencies
• News, Sporting, and Special Interest Organizations
• Museums and Libraries
• Internet Content Resellers
• Government Agencies
• Educational Institutions

If you have an existing mSoft MusicCue or ServerSound system, your system can be upgraded to add VisionClip - call us for more details!

NAB 2006 Preview:

Music Library "Booth Buddies": This year at NAB, we're in the central hall in booth C1242. We will continue our "booth buddy" program for the third year at NAB 2006 and play host to eight music libraries. Each library will have its own "corner store" in the corners of our booth where you can meet their representatives and take their music for a "test drive" off of the booths' mSoft server. This year's list of participating music libraries include Amygdala Music , Manpower Music, MasterSource, MusicBox, North Star Media, Position Music, and Sensory Overload Music.

Booth Cocktail Party Monday & Tuesday 4-6PM: mSoft and it's booth buddies will have a special "in booth cocktail party" on Monday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 25, from 4-6 pm. Come by and you'll get your choice of frozen margaritas or banana daiquiris and assorted appetizers - all served to you by some classic Las Vegas cigarette girls! As if that isn't enough, we'll also have drawings for cool give-aways from us and our "booth buddies," so you won't want to miss this!

Click here and get a free mSoft PASS to NAB 2006!

1. Select Registration
2. Click VIP Exhibits Pass
3. Enter Code: RC1400

New in MusicCue 4.0 at NAB:

All new MusicCue systems that have shipped this month have a feature that will show a library's logo to the right of a track's description. The library logo buttons are a great way to know at a glance what library you're listening to.

We told you last month that we have a brand new version of our mSoftPlayer interface for PC users that plays both audio and video, and will spot directly into the Pro Tools XP timeline and audio bin. The posting to the Pro Tools XP timeline is supported both by the platform specific mSoftPlayer PC player and the new mSoftPlayer cross platform version. This is still a free upgrade to all existing clients under support, so if you haven't already done so, just call or email us to request it and you'll get it.

NASCAR Images Shifts Into High Gear With An mSoft Server!

Glenn Vasko of NASCAR Images recently ordered a 5 TB mSoft server to manage their music and SFX libraries. NASCAR Images is "a full service one stop marketing, production and entertainment company" that regularly produces racing shows for SPEED, FSN, Biography Channel, CMT, and others. Glenn had an urgent need to get a server system to satisfy a tight deadline for the Daytona 500, and needed a system very quickly. mSoft obliged by building and shipping the system one week from receiving their rush order, a first for us in terms of a turnaround time. The NASCAR Images system is the first mSoft broadcast installation in North Carolina, and is part of a growing trend of orders outside of major production markets.

For more on NASCAR Images, go to: http://www.nascarimages.com

Lifetime Entertainment Upgrades System

Lifetime Entertainment, who just installed an mSoft server a few months ago, has placed a storage and audio loading services order that will double the size of their existing system. We're glad to see that Lifetime has seen fit to expand it so soon after installation. The company operates three women-oriented cable TV networks offering original movies, talk shows, and sports (including the Women's National Basketball). A Hearst holding, Lifetime Entertainment's programming offerings have now grown to include the Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Television, Lifetime Radio for Women, and Lifetime Real Women.

For more info on Lifetime Entertainment, go to: http://www.lifetimetv.com

LAST NEWSLETTER'S TRIVIA ANSWERS / NEW CONTEST QUESTIONS:

Last month's questions were hard ones - basically, nobody got answers to both questions, so no winner this month, but there should be better luck for all THIS month! Here are the questions AND correct answers from last time:

Q: Elvis Presley once said that this guitarist was the one person that could take his "King Of Rock 'N Roll" title from him - who was it?

A: I got lots of Chuck Berry and Duane Eddy and Buddy Holly and I know that's what you would think, but no - believe it or not, it was Eddie Cochran. Cochran was the guy that did "Summer Time Blues" as well as lots of great "teenage swoon ballads," and had just as dreamy of hair as Elvis, too (see pix below, maybe the King DID have something to worry about...). Here's a great site if you want to know more: http://www.eddiecochran.info.

Q: Jimi Hendrix was once asked "How does it feel to be the best guitarist in the world?" His answer was "I don't know, go ask…" - Who did he say?

A: Nope, it's not Chet Atkins or Eric Clapton or Andres Segovia like some people said (but THERE'S a pretty wide spread of players for you) - it's Phil Keaggy! Phil lost the middle finger on his right hand that the rumor in the 60's said was the result of losing a guitar "head cutting contest" with Hendrix, but obviously Jimi hadn't felt that he had won that imaginary duel or he wouldn't have said what he said. At the time, Phil was in a band called "Glass Harp," but he's still a VERY burning player, and has some free downloads at his site if you want to hear what Jimi was talking about ("Beyond Nature" is one of the best acoustic guitar recordings you'll ever hear and there are a few tracks from that included as well - as well as a live Glass Harp track from the 70's): http://philkeaggy.com/music/downloads.html.

THIS MONTH'S CONTEST:

OK - this is my attempt at playing fair by grading "on a curve." You only need a 25% to win - the first 4 people that can answer any two of these questions have got themselves an mSoft t-shirt:

1. Who did the original version of "I Love Rock 'n Roll?"
2. What was the former profession of Andrea True who sang the disco hit "More, More, More?"
3. Before his career took off, Jackson Browne joined what unlikely band for two weeks?
4. What do the bands Triumph, BTO and The Guess Who all have in common?
5. Who sang backup on Carly Simon's hit "You're So Vain?"
6. How much did the guy make who did the duck voice on "Disco Duck?"
7. Who was the only female solo artist to have a #1 hit single without releasing an album?
8. Which two members of *N SYNC were "mouseketeers" on the NEW Mickey Mouse Club?