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Discreet
edit 6 (page 2)
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| edit
6's web interface |
On Track
Because I had applied DVE effects to each video track, my
system could not play back two tracks in real time because each
track required the 3D DVE board. Turning tracks on and off allowed
me to play each track back one at a time, and stepping through
the timeline one frame at a time allowed me to fine-tune the
position and timing of effects for each track. Edit supports
multi-camera editing, allowing users to display all of the camera
angles in a single tiled window.
Keyboard customization has been available on edit for a while,
but it is worth mentioning. It is a nice feature for those migrating
from a different editing application. Speed is still my favorite
edit feature, and keystroke shortcuts are one reason for the
speed. Users can fly through the setting of in and out points
and have easy access to copy, paste, trim, delete and undo functions.
The other major reason for edit's sheer speed and power is smart
programming. Not only can items be moved around quickly, but
edit renders non-real-time effects using the full power of the
host system. That means a dual-P3 system with lots of RAM will
scream through DVE effects rendering.
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| The
edit 6 user interface |
One of the
more elegant features is edit's ability to automatically play
transitions and graphic sequences using high-data-rate video
in single-field mode. Single field reduces the data rate by
half, allowing the editor to preview and work with footage that
otherwise might have to be rendered. This feature allows users
of Targa 2000 DTX boards to capture at high resolution but edit
in preview mode as if it were a dual-stream system. The single-field
preview support extends to the 3D DVE board. An editor can capture
video at a data rate of over 400 KB per frame on the Targa-based
system, preview all transitions and real-time effects automatically
in single-field mode and then render the transitions and DVE
effects prior to printing to tape.
Once an effect is finalized, the editor can render it immediately,
have it rendered in the background, or set the system to render
all transitions and effects at once. Because edit is multi-threaded,
making full use of the processors and system RAM to render effects
at blazingly fast speeds, rendering is not required for the
majority of editing tasks. The parameters for the 3D effects
are key-frame controlled, and the editor can apply multiple
3D DVE effects to a clip in real time. Applying 14 simultaneous
real-time effects allowed me to create some highly complex effects
without having to render them first.
Slipstream
is a new feature that allows users to publish files to a database
on a remote server. It also acts as a media server, supplying
streaming capability for the uploaded movie files. Content creators
can control access and visitors can make comments that the editor
can read. Integration with discreet's combustion software is another
key feature. Editors can send portions of a timeline to a combustion
artist to have complex effects completed while editing continues.
Once the effect has been rendered, the new file appears automatically
in the timeline exactly where it belongs.
Summary:
Solid editing tool now supports multi-layered compositing
and features direct-to-Web publishing capabilities
Target Users: Video directors and producers; Web designers
Platform: Windows NT |
| www.discreet.com |
Edit 6.0 is a great choice for the majority of editing situations,
allowing a one-man shop or a large post-production house to turn
out exceptional product in real time. Jobnet allows the sharing
of projects between multiple edit systems on a network,letting
a larger post house use edit as a hub around which all video editing
and I/O takes place. In all, edit 6.0 should be considered by
anyone looking for a smart, fast and easily configurable editing
application.
Matt Payne is the founder of Payne Media, a Seattle
company that creates graphics, animation and special effects for
print, multimedia, corporate video and broadcast television.
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