The Desk Top Video Handbook On Line ver 14.0
RT V : Videoguy's Real-Time Video Editing Software Review & Comparison 5

Videoguys' Real-Time NLE Q&A Real-Time isn't just a buzzword, it is a very important feature that will increase your productivity and make you a better video editor. The following Q&A is intended to help you better understadnd just wht Real-Time Non Linear Video Editing is all about and why we think it is so important. Here are just a few of the questions we answer: What is real-time and what are the various "flavors" of real-time? What are layers and why are they such an important real-time feature? What are Real-Time 3D FX and what is keyframing? more.....

System Requirements
Before we get into these hot new video editing software titles, lets talk about what you need to get the most out of them. All of these products have one crucial thing in common – they take full advantage of today's blazing fast computers. They are optimized for Hyperthreading, dual processors, the latest Direct X 3D graphics cards, fast Ram and even faster front side buses. The more power you give them, the more impressed you will be! Conversely, putting any of these apps in a sub-standard PC will leave you wondering what all the fuss is about. So I suggest you avoid using a system that barely meets the minimum recommended system requirements. Here are my recommended guidelines for a minimum system configuration that will leave you very satisfied without breaking the bank.

• 2.4 + Ghz Hyper-Threaded P4 processor or Dual 1.8 Ghz P4/ Athlon
• 512+ Megs of RAM
• A dedicated 7200 RPM drive for video (can be EIDE, FireWire, SCSI or Serial ATA)
• A decent 3D graphics card with 64+ Megs of RAM. (I recommend a dual head card - once you go dual you'll never go back)

Color Correction
Color Correction is a very important feature and one that I am happy to say all of the products featured in this article do exceptionally well. In fact, I'd say that the color correction tools offered go far beyond what many users need or would actually use.

And let me tell you – if you shoot video like I do, you are going to need color correction. I can't even begin to tell you how often I shoot video that has poor white balance, or is too dark, or back lit. In the past that footage would end up on the cutting room floor. With the color correction tools provided by these new apps you'll be able to clean up your bad footage and use it. That alone makes it worth upgrading for.

Adobe Premiere Pro
This is not the same Adobe Premiere many of you know and may or may not love. Premiere Pro is a complete re-write of the code, from the ground up. It looks different, it operates differently and it definitely performs differently. Gone are the days when you required 3rd party hardware in order to get productive results. Premiere Pro can now stand alone as a powerful and feature rich real-time NLE. That said, you can still gain additional features and real-time performance by adding hardware like the Matrox RTX100 Xtreme Pro or Canopus DV Storm 2.

Real-Time performance.
Premiere Pro gives you real-time previews on your VGA screen. You can also set it for real-time previews via FireWire output. Premiere Pro allows you to scale down the video quality in order to improve the real-time playback performance. For final output to tape (either DV or analog) you will need to render. Adding a DV Storm 2 or RTX100Xtreme Pro to Premiere Pro will give you Analog, DV and MPEG2 output from the timeline all in real-time.

New features I love about Premiere Pro

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1. Gone is the old fashioned A/B editing. Adobe has embraced the more professional method of editing. Gone is the transition track. Now you can place clips on any track and add a transition between them. Just make sure you leave a little extra footage called "a handle" to fill the video in while the transition is going.
2. The Audio tools are dramatically improved. This was one of the biggest weaknesses of older versions of Premiere. Now you get a full array of audio editing tools, equalization and filters.
3. New Motion Control & Keyframer. Adobe has done a great job here. I really hated the old Premiere 6.x motion control. Creating a simple Picture-In-Picture (PIP) effect took much too much work. The new keyframer has an excellent interface that lets you easily position and size your PIP. By setting up multiple keyframe points you can make your PIP fly all over the screen with ease. When you put together the real-time previews with this well designed interface it's easy to see that Adobe has done their homework.
4. Workflow with other Adobe Products. This is a BIG productivity boost. You can now work on the same project with Premiere Pro, After Effects, Encore DVD & Photoshop. When you save your work in one of the apps, the changes go with you into the other. As an example, let's say you've created a sequence in After Effects for your project. As you are editing you realize you need to make a change in the AE sequence. You open After Effects, make your changes and save. Go back into Premiere and the changes are there!
5. Third party plug-in and hardware support. As mentioned earlier, if you want real-time analog, DV or MPEG output you should get a DV Storm 2 or RTX100 Xtreme Pro. These cards also include a bunch of additional features, filters, transitions, and effects. Boris FX has just introduced Continuum Basics, which gives you 30 additional filters and effects to use inside Premiere Pro. United Media tells me it's Multicam utility will support Premiere Pro by the time you read this article.

1. While Premiere Pro supports AC3 encoding and 5.1 surround creation from the timeline, you only get a trial license for it. After three times you'll have to buy the full license for $299. That's pretty expensive if you are not doing surround sound and all you want is the AC3 encoder.
2. When importing footage captured from other apps or earlier versions of Premiere your audio will need to be conformed before you can edit the clips in real-time. This process can take quite a while with long format projects.

Sony Pictures Vegas 4+DVD
Vegas 4 has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the industry. I've been a big fan of Vegas since version 2.0. With 3.0 they added some cool real-time performance. With 4.0 they got it right. How right you ask? Good enough to get Sony's attention and have it be the cornerstone of a technology purchase from Sonic Foundry. At the time this article is being written, Sony has not yet unleashed the full power of its marketing muscle and brand name. By the time you read this it should be starting. The future for Vegas looks very bright indeed.

Real-Time performance
Vegas was the first application to give you real-time previews via FireWire output. The video is not full resolution, but let me tell you – it looks great. On a fast computer you'll have a hard time even noticing it, but you will have to render for final output. With a breakout box like the Canopus ADVC100 or new ACEDVIO hardware you'll be able to attach a TV monitor to preview while you edit.

New features I love about Vegas4+DVD

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1. Velocity Envelopes. Vegas does such a great job with this. Not only can you apply variable speed changes to a single clip and keyframe them, but it is incredibly easy to do. The best way to explain this is to think of a commercial for an SUV. The truck rides across the TV screen through a puddle. As it hits the puddle it slows down to super slow motion – you can see the individual drops of water hanging in air from the splash. Then, the video speeds up to full speed and then races out of the frame at double speed. Looks killer – and now you can do it too!
2. Vegas+DVD with AC3 encoding and 5.1 surround sound. You just can't come close to the value here. While DVD Architect isn't the best authoring application around, it's quite solid and delivers the features you want most. You can set your chapter points and create your 5.1 surround sound track within the Vegas timeline.
3. Photo Montages. Vegas is spectacular for this. You can create the “Ken Burns” effect of panning and zooming over a still photo with ease. Then, you can easily add transitions between photos or have them fly on and off the screen. Finally you can layer multiple images together. Put all these tools together and you'll be making photo montages that will blow your viewers away! Ideal for wedding videos and documentaries.
4. Audio tools. Many folks don't know it, but Vegas started out as a high-end audio application. It evolved over time to be one heck of an NLE. But the core audio tools and audio style of editing remain. As a result editors with any kind of an audio background will quickly fall in love with Vegas.
5. Web Video. Sure web video streaming isn't the red-hot technology of the future. That all ended when the Internet bubble burst. That said, we still end up putting a ton of video out on the web. Vegas is a great compression tool. It can export your video into any of the latest and greatest web streaming formats. Most importantly these compressed videos look great.

1. While Vegas has some very nice 2D and compositing capabilities I do find the 3D filters and effects limited. Boris FX is now shipping Boris RED 3GL as a 3D plug-in for Vegas, but it's pretty expensive. Unfortunately the list of plug-ins for Vegas is still quite limited. Here's hoping that either Vegas gains some additional cool 3D capabilities or more plug-in vendors jump in with them.
2. Sure the AC3 and 5.1 surround capabilities are nice, but it's just the beginning. I want fully integrated DVD authoring with Vegas. This one is a no-brainer and I fully expect to see it in future versions. Until then, Vegas+DVD still has the best AC3 encoding and 5.1 support in the industry.

Avid Xpress Pro with Avid Mojo
You knew it was just going to be a matter of time before Avid took the core feature set of Xpress DV and moved it upstream. With the introduction of Xpress Pro they have done just that. Not only have they added several new features that more professional Avid editors have been craving, but they've also added cool new tools that prosumer and home users will love. The new multi-camera support is sure to be a big hit with event videographers, and the automatic expert color correction insures your video will always look great – even if you can't take the time to color correct it yourself.

Real-Time performance.
Xpress Pro has all the real-time capabilities of Xpress DV and then some. You can easily create timelines with 4 or 5 layers in real-time with multiple filters applied. Xpress Pro adds Open GL support for 3D transitions so that you can add these in real-time as well.

The BIG improvement in real-time performance comes when you add the Avid Mojo NLE accelerator to Xpress Pro. Avid Mojo gives you analog and DV output direct from the timeline! This is not preview quality – it is full resolution output suitable for recording to tape. Even cooler, Avid Mojo is an external device – it attaches to your computer via FireWire. That means you get real-time output from a workstation and/or laptop. PC or Mac. Now that's cool!

New features I love about Xpress Pro

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1. Avid Xpress DV and Xpress Pro are simply the best pure editing interfaces around. I'm talking good old fashioned editing. You know logging clips, trimming and building your timeline. We have been calling this the “Avid” way of editing and once you learn it – you'll understand why. But hey, the proof is in the pudding here – every new NLE that ships is starting to imitate the Avid style of editing. If you're going to be editing almost every day, week in and week out then you want to edit on the real thing, not an imitation. You want to be an Avid editor, you need Avid Xpress Pro.
2. Fully customizable interface. When I first got to play with Xpress DV back at version 2.0 I immediately loved it - it is such an easy way to become a more productive editor. You can add icon shortcuts or customized keyboard shortcuts for just about every feature in Xpress DV and Xpress Pro. I don't know if Avid invented keyboard shortcuts for editing, but they definitely perfected it. Once you become experienced with the Avid way of editing and the keyboard shortcuts, your editing will fly!
3. 100% Cross Platform. Xpress Pro comes with both Mac and PC software in the box. This makes Avid the only cross platform editing interface available. We all have our platform preferences. Avid is the only solution that doesn't force you to choose one over the other. And, you can move your projects seamlessly across platforms. So you can start the project on your XP workstation in the office, then take it on the road with you and edit away on your G4 powerbook!
4. Avid Image Stabilizer, Filmmakers Toolkit and Illusion FX. This suite of added utilities was previously known as the PowerPack bundle. Now, they are included as part of Xpress Pro. The Image Stabilizer is the best I've seen so far. It lets you remove camera shake from your footage. If you have any interest in independent filmmaking or long format documentary videos, the Filmmakers Toolkit has all the tools you need to get the job done right. The Illusion FX are 29 cool filters that you can add to your productions.
5. Avid total conform. Total conform means that you can share your projects with any other Avid editing solutions including Composer and Symphony. Unlike other NLEs which provide an EDL, Avid total conform transfers everything over; your EDL, your filters, transitions, title and effects. Everything moves seamlessly. Xpress Pro supports Avid's 15:1 off-line editing standard so it can be used as an offline option for any Avid editing suite.

1. Make no mistake about it – I love the real-time power and performance of Xpress Pro & Mojo, I just want to see it do even more! I think Avid has launched the first volley in a revolutionary new product class –external NLE accelerators. My hope is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. How cool would it be if the future versions of Mojo could accelerate your rendering as well – or even cooler – give you real-time MPEG2 output! My sources inside Avid were pretty tight lipped about this, but boy did they have big smiles on their faces when I asked about it!
2. Better DVD integration. I think it's really great that Xpress Pro includes ReelDVD authoring software and Sorenson Squeeze for MPEG2 conversion. ReelDVD is my favorite authoring solution and it's got professional features and a proven track record as a stellar authoring tool. What I don't understand is why we can't even get simple chapter point export from the timeline. Avid gets high marks for including the best DVD software in the bundle, but I wish they had better overall DVD integration.

Avid Xpress DV v4

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Just when I think it's safe to post this article, Avid goes and releases Xpress DV 4. What makes this new NLE offering so great is the price. For under $700 you can own and edit with an Avid. This is nothing short of amazing. Xpress DV v4 has the same interface, tools and GUI as Xpress Pro.

Xpress DV v4 adds a few of new features from Xpress Pro that I really like: Automatic Expert Color Correction, JKL trim, title rolls & crawls, and real-time motion effects. In order to hit this price level they have also removed a couple of features such as Unity LAN share support, 3D effects and film support. Xpress DV v4 also does not support Mojo, so you can't get real-time NLE or analog output. You can still use a Matrox dual or triple head graphics card for TV previews.

More professional editors will easily see the added value of Xpress Pro and Mojo. Newer editors and those on a budget will find XDV4 more then meets their needs. XDV4 uses a new dongle that can't be upgraded to Xpress Pro, so you need to decide which one is right for you. (note: Down the road I'm sure Avid will offer some type of trade up program to Pro & Mojo. But as of today, there is no upgrade or trade-up path).

Click here for more info on Avid Xpress DV v4

Pinnacle Liquid Edition
Pinnacle Liquid Edition brings a set of new features and a new level of performance to software based NLEs. It also brings with it a new interface that looks like nothing you've ever seen before. Do not let this scare you. Once you get the hang of the icon driven interface, Liquid Edition becomes very intuitive to edit with and to use. And Oh, what editing you can do! Liquid Edition is LOADED with features and performance.

Real-Time Performance
Liquid Edition leverages both your CPU and the GPU (graphics card) for unprecedented levels of real-time performance. We're talking up to 5 layers of video with additional titles and graphics plus 3D filters and effects added on - all in real-time on your VGA screen. With the optional Edition Pro AGP hardware you can get real-time analog output as well. While you do need to render for DV output, Liquid Edition does this in the background as you are editing – you don't have to sit and wait. On a Hyperthreaded machine, I find Liquid Edition is as fast as I am, so I'm able to play back my work almost as fast as I can edit it! New features I love about Liquid Edition

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1. Background processing (or as I like to call it background rendering). This is perhaps the most important new feature in video editing and I predict that all of the other software in this review will eventually incorporate some version of it. Background rendering means that Liquid Edition renders in the background while you keep on working. You never have to stop what you are doing and stare at the hourglass.
2. Integrated DVD authoring. Being able to add chapter points in your timeline is nice, being able to author and burn directly from the timeline is AWESOME! This is a fantastic feature and it makes Liquid Edition my favorite product for DVD creation. You can pull still images and video clips from your project to use for your menus and buttons. You can add filters and effects to them as well.
3. Real-Time 3D filters & effects. You are not limited to PIPs and page peels here. You get the full suite of Hollywood FX animated transitions in real-time. I love using these, and when you can mess around with them in real-time, you can tweak and modify the effects to create some really cool sequences. Using the real-time 3D effects in Liquid Edition is so simple, you can easily get carried away. So try and remember to use them sparingly to get the most impact. One place that you can never have too many 3D effects is your title sequences and photo montages.
4. Dynamic Slow Motion. This is a new feature added in to Liquid Edition. It allows you to change the speed of a clip over time and keyframe it. I first fell in love with this feature when I discovered it in Vegas. Vegas calls it velocity envelopes. I don't care what you call it – once you start using it you're going to find it becoming a main staple in your editing. While this feature is not real-time, the background rendering goes so quickly you'll be able to view your Dynamic Time Warps almost as fast as you can make them!
5. Fully customizable interface. I've always loved this feature with Avid Xpress DV and Liquid Edition is just as customizable. Not only can you add icon shortcuts or customized keyboard shortcuts for just about every feature in Liquid Edition; the same goes for the sub-menus and interfaces used for controlling filters and effects. The more you use Liquid Edition, the more you tailor it to your needs. Eventually you end up with all the tools you need just a mouse click or keyboard shortcut away.

Liquid Edition wish list

1. AC3 encoding. While Liquid Edition allows you to burn DVDs directly from the timeline, it does not offer AC3 encoding. Without AC3 you can't get as much high quality video on a DVD. So you either have to lower your video quality slightly or shorten your project. I have spoken with Pinnacle product managers at length and they assure me that AC3 is a feature that will be added in the future.
2. Improved Liquid Edition Pro hardware. I recommend getting the Liquid Edition 5 Pro AGP card – it gives you analog I/O plus real-time analog output. But I am aware that some end users are having problems with the card. Pinnacle is working on them, and I'm sure they will be resolved by the time you read this. That said, I prefer editing with Dual VGA monitors and to do this with the Pro hardware you have to install an old outdated PCI graphics card. Hopefully the next version will offer dual VGA monitor support in addition to the real-time analog output.

Click here for more info on Pinnacle Liquid Edition

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So there you have it - a quick review and comparison of the hottest new digital video editing software based NLE solutions that are revolutionizing the industry.

Each of the video editing software reviewed here has added something new to the editor's tools of the trade. Over time, I'm sure that each manufacturer will incorporate their competitor's best features, as they continue to improve their own technologies. Software NLE solutions will become even more amazing as computers become faster and more powerful.

Click here to check out our Real-Time Video Editing Software & Hardware NLE solutions

The Electronic Mailbox 800 323-2325 Instant Product Locator Master Product Index ADS Pyro / Instant DVD 2 / AV Link / Dual Link Drive Kit AcomData FireWire / USB2 combo drives Adobe Premiere Pro / After Effects / DVD Encore Alera DVD Duplicators Avid Xpress DV / PowerPack / Xpress Pro / Mojo Azden shotgun & wireless mics for video Bella EZ Keyboards for Premiere / Xpress DV / FCP BorisFX / Graffiti / Red / Continuum Canopus DV Storm2 / ADVC 100 / Procoder / ACEDVIO / Edius / Imaginate Cendyne DVD burners Contour Design Shuttle Pro / Space Shuttle DataVideo DAC-2 / DAC-100 / TBCs & Editing gear Digital Hotcakes Animated Backgrounds DPS Velocity 2D & 3D DV Logic DV Elements Focus FireStore / MX Pro DV / Scan Converters JVC HRDVS-3 / JXS777/ JXS555 / DV tape/ Lacie FireWire Storage Matrox RTX.100/ RTX.10 / Parhelia / RTMac Medea FireFly / Video Raids Media Mixers Pinnacle Edition 5 / MovieBox / Studio Deluxe / Studio DV / Pinnacle Instant Copy / Instant DVD / Clean / myMP3Pro Pioneer DVR-A06 & DVR-S201 DVD burner Pixelan Video SpiceMaster2 Serious Magic Visual Communicator / UltraKey Sima SCC / SRW62 / Copymaster / SFX-9 Smart Sound / SonicFire Pro & Pallettes Sonic Solutions ReelDVD/ DVDit! SE / PE / Sony Pictures Vegas4 / Sound Forge / Acid TV One CorioScan & DeltaScan genlocks Ulead Media Studio Pro / DVD Workshop / StudioQuartet United Media Multicam Verbatim DVD media Videonics FireStore / MX Pro DV / Focus Scan Converters Vitec DVD Cut Machine / Profiler Video Capture Card Matrix Click here to learn more about the Real Deal advantage of The Electronic Mailbox

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