I recently got a copy of AVID Xpress DV 3.5 and I've had some trouble importing video from my GL2. Everything works fine, except that AVID is about 1.5-2 seconds behind in capturing the video. The result is, that once the camera comes to the end of a clip, the last 1 - 2 seconds gets cut off in AVID. Now, I can shoot around this without any difficulty in the future, but is there anyway I can correct the problem in order to capture the full clips that I have already shot?

I don't seem to have any trouble importing them in Vegas, but I would much rather learn how to get over this issue within AVID.

I'm surprised no one responded to this. Let me know if you ever get one.

Haven't had this happened to me yet.
What camera template do you use?

I don't see a lot of discussion on Avid xpress or Pro.. just wondering what folks think. I'm currently pondering the advantages of Avid Xpress Pro on a dual processor PC or Final Cut on a G5.

Thoughts?

What type of work would you be editing with Avid or FCP?

Now that the software is about the same price, it's going to be a really tough decision.

If you are into building your own computer or will trust an "unqualified"(by avid) PC, you can probably save money by going the PC/Avid Route. If you're going to by the recommended HP Dual Proc system, then the cost is pretty close to the same, maybe even leaning toward the Mac.

Both are great pieces of software. If you aren't already familiar with one or the other, then FCP is probably a better written app. Personally, I've spent so much time on Avid, I have a hard time being as productive on anything else. I've only briefly played with the latest FCP, but I was impressed with FCP 3 when I worked with it. Even a version ago it had a few advantages over Xpress. Media management and long form project organization still go to the Avid. BUT, if you want an all in one software the compositing/FX on Final Cut are better than on Avid. If you are a After Effects wiz, that may not matter.

My $.02, good luck.

Hey guys,

I am currently running a Matrox RTX100 card with adobe premiere 6.5, but i have a chance to upgrade to Avid Xpress Pro. Two questions:

1) Does anyone know if the RTX100 card is compatible with Avid Xpress Pro

2) I could also get the Adobe Standard Video collection. Thoughts on wheter to move to avid or stay with adobe.

I'm not 100% sure, but I am 99% sure, that the Matrox RTX100 doesn't support AVID or vice versa. AVID Xpress is only improved with the AVID MOJO device. Same goes for the Canopus DVStorm 2, it doesn't support AVID either [still applying 99% sure accuracy by the way, I could be wrong]. So if you want to upgrade, then definitely get the MOJO or go for the latest Adobe DV collection.

Thus far after a little online researching, i believe that you are correct jack. I cannot find anywhere that mentions both in the same sentence.

As much as i would like experience on avid, another 1500 for the mojo accelerator seems to be too much for me. any other opinions, especially on avid versus the video collection?

heres an option......why not upgrade to premiere pro and download the drivers designed to work with the matrox from www.matrox.com . i suggest this because you have already invested the money into the rtx..which is an excellent product. if you switch to avid you WILL NOT be able to use your rtx. also crossgrading to the avid system you will have to learn a different interface and system of control. many of premieres downfalls and consumer like features have been addressed in in ppro. i hate to sound like a matrox employee but i hate to see people toss money away trying to correct problems. i understand the distaste for premiere as 6.5 wasnt ery good but i think you will be plesntly supprised by ppro.

hope this is useful.

btw i apoligize for the lack of capitalization as i am having a problem wit may usb kvm and for some reason my shift keys dont work....if anyone have answers please email me

You could try the demo first to see if it doesn't crash your system. The Adobe forums has lots of reports of bugs so you could try crashing your own system with what they say not to do.

You may not be able to install the RTX100 drivers with the demo version. Try the Matrox forums to find out if they will install and not cause stability issues. Also check out matroxs site. You can upgrade to the Adobe suite for about $200 I believe. Makes more sense than spending $3k on Xpress Pro and a Mojo....If you like Premiere Pro that is. Also checkout www.digitalvideoediting.com or even www.videoguys.com for reviews on both products. Maybe the reviewers touched on a point of a product that interests you.

IMO Avid is the ideal product if you already have experiance with Avid, Or have the need to work with a higher end Avid product such as Composer or Symphony. I know a couple of people who use Xpress Pro to work with Offline files at home or on there laptop and then do there final editing on a Media Composer.

I have worked with both products and I prefer Premiere Pro. Maybe because I was trained on a Premiere 4.x machine and I have stuck with it ever since. As not to further confuse you, you may also want to look at Sony Vegas as its a fairly well priced alternative. There are some rumors about Sony releasing hardware acceleration for it soon.

Maybe if you list some of the things that you are specifically looking for some other might be able to give you more specific answers.......And ofcourse there are demos availiable for just about everything. I wouldn't suggest you buy something until you actually try to edit something with it.

Hope this helps

Anybody using Pinnacle Liquid Edition in the Albany NY area? I'd like to compare notes.

I have a Pinnacle Liquid Purple Editing system... To be honest I have had a difficult time trying to master this editing system... Unlike other editing softwares and programs, they are much easier to understand and run than Pinnacle Liquid...

Also Pinnacle's Manual is very complicated and I'm having personally a hard time trying to understand it, so is it just me or are there others around the world having similar problems with Pinnacle Liquid's Purple Edition, and is there anybody out there who knows anything about this editing system??

Hi Hamad -

I am editing on Liquid Edition 5.5 & almost the only good resource is online at the user forums in the pinnacle support section. I don't know the differences between Purple and 5.5 but you might pick up some good ideas from the online streaming tutorials, also in support.

Good luck!

Since it is targeted at a professional level, I think it is common
that editors on such systems go to trainings to learn the product
as well. A friend of mine just did for a local TV station (they are
not using Liquid though)

Thanks a lot...

Are there links to these forums on the net? If you know of any, I would love to have them...

As for training you on editing these systems, I might need to ask the reseller I got this editing system from... But generally speaking, I am surprised that Pinnacle didn't issue a tutorial CD or DVD for their editing software and especially for software as complicated as Pinnacle Liquid Purple and its sister editions, Silver and Blue!!!

The Pinnacle forums are here:

http://webboard.pinnaclesys.com/

DV Creators also has a forum and a powerstart training CD that's $50 and well worth the money from what I hear. I own it but haven't had a chance to go through it yet.

http://www.editionplanet.com/

http://webboard.pinnaclesys.com/default.asp

This is the central webboard at Pinnacle. I think yu are in a bit of a spot Hammad because I believe Purple was phased out / merged with Liquid Edition 5.5. You'll have to check the different screenshots of the interfaces to see which program is closest to your Purple.

Don't count on Pinnacle for support - their customer service is lacking.

There are two user groups for liquid edition, one in the Consumer (very active, best place to start) and the professional (very advanced, not particularly geared for beginners.

Search the forums for 'training' and you'll get a few hits for private dvd training courses, about 100 bucks.

Good luck.

thanks a lot people for your help... :-)

If you have a fast internet connection it is also worth checking out the training videos on the Pinnacle Broadcast Network that can be found at:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PBN/default2.asp?Category_ID=1&Langue_ID=7&loc=lMen105

Hope this helps

I just purchased a copy of Avid Express DV 3.5.4 and I am new to the software. Does anyone recommend a book or tutorial on how to use the software. It comes with help built in but I need to learn it faster then fumbling through it. Also, if you anyone is available in or near Cincinnati Ohio and willing to tudor I would be willing to pay for instruction.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon,
with your Xpress 3.5.4 you should have a copy of "Getting started
guide" and on your CD records there is visual material to be
used with that. When you are done with this you should be
able to use your Avid at least enough to really "get started".
If you bought a used copy of the Xpress 3.5.4 and the
getting stated guide is missing you can download it (for free
and without having to register) from Avids internet site.
It isa a bit difficult to find but do like this:
go to www.avid.com, on the startup page you see a long bar
starting with Products,markets,support... put you mousepointer over "Support" and you will see some alternatives put your
mouspointer over "Online" and you will see some more
alternatives click on "Documentation". On the page that opens
you should on the upper right see a window with the text
"Current Product" open it and change to Xpress DV and click go.
Now on left a bit down you have list starting with "Hardware
guide" go to "Software guide" and click on the triangle at left
now you get a list of versions of Xpress DV click on the triangle
to the left of 3.5 and now you see the "Avid DV getting started
guide" - download it.
Christian

I just recently purchased a book, after some recommendations, called "Avid Editing" by Kaufman. Get the second edition. It's clear and concise and done very well. I think you'll benefit from reading it.


Matt

Great. I will check it out. Thanks for the help everyone. I have the Turorial Cd's that come with the software.

Thanks again everyone.

Jon

The time has now come for me to make a choice. I am going to take a class and I must chose between Avid and FCP. I realize this is a hot topic and I am not trying to make trouble. I am totally green and have no opinion. I am also not what you would call a computer guy. I am totally open to all thoughts.

My intention is do this as a part time job, so I am concerned about which system will give my future customers confidence. Does Avid offer a "Certification" title if I pass a test. Would somethinglike that be a intangable asset to my future production busines or just a waste of money)

Is there a great difference in hardware costs?

Flexability is also a factor, as I have no idea if I'll be doing corporate training, indie films, or music videos.

I guess I want to know how you came to chose Avid.

More questions than answers. Thanks for any help you can give.

--Chris please note-I'm going to post this, reworded, on the MAC forum as well to get the FCP POV. If this is a bad idea, please remove it or do what ever you think is best ;-) --

A lot of different issues come into play regarding chosing FCP or Avid. In no particular order.

Are you more comfortable on one OS over the other? Mac or PC? If you will only work in PC, then FCP is out. On the other hand AVID ships with both Mac and PC copies.

Do you intend to move into "the professional" world. And by that I mean the mainstream production houses, film industry and broadcast. If so, then the Avid interface is more commonly used. If not, and you intend to be a one-man-band, then FCP seems to be the choice for most indy companies. Here, where I work, we have both.

Are you planning on doind high end finishing of your projects, or all in-house? If you are moving to finish high-end, then AVID. If you are doing it all in house, then maybe FCP.

Long form or short form? Until recently, AVID had the best long form media management tools, but FCP4 has come a long way in copying the avid workflow.

I think FCP is easier to do compositing in than AVID, but that's just my opinion.

Really, without knowing your own workflow experience and background, its hard to reccomend one system over the other for you. Macs tend to be pricier than PC's for equivelent computing power, and some great turnkey systems can be bought right out of the box for AVID. (I got mine from DVLINE.Com)

Avid has a free trial version...extremely limited in it's scope. And FCP has EXPRESS which is a lot cheaper than the Full version.

Hope this confuses issues for you. Good luck

Thanks Rchard, I know it's very hard to answer these kinds of questions. It's like trying to pick the right girl to marry.

I'm a child of the 70's. my drearms are very small. I don't "high end" feature work in my future. Yes, everything would have to be done "in-house." From the camera work to the dvd.

I don't really have a preferance regarding operating systems. I've never used a Mac, only PC. But again, I just run a few word processing programs and the internet. I don't think I've even loaded and software. So I'm not concerned about "having to get used to another system". I have nothing to compare it too.

It all comes down to the "ease of use, issue". And these matters tend to be very subjective.

Thanks for your Help.
Joe

Bella Corporation Announces Xpress Saver Promotion

Burbank, CA February 3, 2004 - Bella Corporation, the leading supplier of consumer and professional video editing keyboards, announced today a limited time offer that allows editors to save $25 on an Xpress DV Pro Professional Series keyboard.

Xpress Saver Promotion

The "Xpress Saver Promotion," offers $25 off the regular keyboard price of any of Bella's Professional Series line of keyboards for Xpress DV Pro. The keyboards feature the worlds only integrated jog/shuttle controller and are available for both Mac and PC platforms. Editors can take advantage of the savings either through their local reseller or directly from Bella's online store.

Limited Time Offer
The Xpress Saver Promotion is only being offered through February 29th, 2004 or while supplies last.

For more info on EZ Keyboard Pro and to download the $25 rebate coupon http://www.videoguys.com/EZkeys.html

Gary
Videoguys.com

Please chime in here guys, but for me I think the deciding factor is "am I a PC guy or an Apple guy". I have built PC's from the case up and have used them for years, I'm productive on WinXP Pro, and Avid in the industry leader. On the other hand, FCP is hailed as being even better than Avid. But, and this is a really big "but", you have to be willing to switch to Apple. I'm not. So I'm going with Avid. Xpress Pro now comes with a ton of third party plugs and add-ons including the latest Sorenson and ReelDVD and their Elastic gasket which allows you to use plug-ins that were designed for AfterEffects only. Cool!

New cam and new software: beginner...I am having trouble with auto configure. First I tried with 4x4 pin and then firewire card and adapter (4x6) ...message says: waiting in both cases. Frustrated and wanting to begin logging and creating etc.

many thanks

Mac or PC?

pc

Thanks Monique. I've moved your thread here for better topical exposure. (Sorry, I'm a Mac/FCP4 user myself so I have nothing to offer you.)

I noticed that at www.videoguys.com they are selling Avid Express Pro to students for $395 (valued at $1695 USMSRP).
I am really excited about this because I'm starting school at Full Sail soon. But is this the true version of Express Pro? Or is it cut down or limited at all?

Here is the link http://www.videoguys.com/avid.html

As I understand it, the student version does not include the hard copies of the manuals, (just pdf files) and because they are "student" versions, you are not "licensed" to use them for commercial purposes. This is essentially true of most "student" versions of software. Other than that, I think it's the same version of Xpress Pro. I am not sure if it comes with all the extra goodies... boris, etc. However. Check the Avid site www.avid.com for more info

<<<-- Originally posted by Richard Alvarez : As I understand it, the student version does not include the hard copies of the manuals, (just pdf files) and because they are "student" versions, you are not "licensed" to use them for commercial purposes. This is essentially true of most "student" versions of software. Other than that, I think it's the same version of Xpress Pro. I am not sure if it comes with all the extra goodies... boris, etc. However. Check the Avid site www.avid.com for more info -->>>

I searched around Avid's web site and found nothing on student versions of their software. It makes me wonder if Videoguys.com is just selling the regular Express Pro software to students for cheap as their own sale/deal thing and Avid itself has nothing to do with it.

<<<-- Originally posted by Dustin Waits : -->>>

I searched around Avid's web site and found nothing on student versions of their software. It makes me wonder if Videoguys.com is just selling the regular Express Pro software to students for cheap as their own sale/deal thing and Avid itself has nothing to do with it. -->>>

No.

Avid, as well as Adobe, has Educational Branded software for students and teachers.

As Richard says, it is *not* for commercial use.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Gunter : <<<-- Originally posted by Dustin Waits : -->>>

I searched around Avid's web site and found nothing on student versions of their software. It makes me wonder if Videoguys.com is just selling the regular Express Pro software to students for cheap as their own sale/deal thing and Avid itself has nothing to do with it. -->>>

No.

Avid, as well as Adobe, has Educational Branded software for students and teachers.

As Richard says, it is *not* for commercial use. -->>>

Oh okay thanks.

The Avid Student pack is an official Avid product. It is the full Avid Xpress Software application and all Avid utilities / plug-ins. You do not get any of the third party software (ReelDVD le, Sorenson Squeeze, Boris).

If you click on the Education Info link on the Xpress Pro product page it will take you to http://www.avid.com/products/xpresspro/eduPricing.asp

This special version is for student use only. Technically you are supposed to pay more and upgrade to a fully licensed version after school if you intend to edit a professional project with it. I don't know how Avid can possibly know if you don't.

Gary
Videoguys.com

Okay I found the part of Avid's web site that explains the edupack.

Another question though....Will Express Pro run smoothly on my system? On the specifications list ( http://www.avid.com/products/xpresspro/specs.asp#pc ) my pc does not show up.

Here's what I have:

Dell Demension 4500
Windows XP Home
P4 2.4 ghz
1 gig ram
80 gig boot drive
120 gig storage
Nvidia Geforce4 video card
Soundblaster live 5.1 audio
Microsoft firewire card

should run fine on your system. Glad to see the full GB of RAM.

Gary

Is anyone using the Parhelia 128 and Avid Express? If so, can you get full screen preview on a TV/monitor when using dual RGB monitors. Matrox provides a software utility for this to work with Premiere, AE, and Photoshop but I'll be using Avid Express Pro and want to be able to preview on my TV without rendering and going through my camera.

It works fine. I use the Parhelia with Avid Xpress Pro and you get full screen preview on the 3rd features monitor. Keep in mind that it will be a single rendered frame, which can fool you when you are working with interlaced footage.

Thanks John,

I mainly want to get the idea of how things will look as I'm working. I guess f or the final check everything will have to be rendered and run through an ADVC to the monitor.

PS check your sig mate

I am a student, and just learning avid express pro, and I think it sucks. Im trying to speed a clip up and then through it in reverse. It will let me speed it up in the composer window, but it looses the audio. Then I can't put the reverse on it. This sucks. I would take Vegas any day!

Michael Estepp

Yes. it works great for effects work and it also outputs After Effects and Photoshop to the 3d monitor.

So I swear by it at the moment.

You will have to apply the effect to the audio track as well.
To apply multiple effects you will have step into to layer or you can hold the alt button down as you drag the effect onto the track for automatic nesting of effects.

Nesting of course is a superior way of adding effects so that you can easily decide which to add or remove or tweak. You can also change the level of the nesting to change the priority of their render on the source material.

Hey guys and gale got a question for you. After a recent windows update Avid seems not to work with it. Is anyone else having this problem? Has Avid released a fix that anyone knows of? Any work arounds? My school just pulled some machines off the network and uninstalled the last update and runs them that way. But I use it at home and really don't want to have to resort to that. Any input would be great, thanks.

Which version of Avid are you running? There is a known problem with Windows Update KB824141 and Avid Xpress Pro (not sure if this is applicable to other versions). See if you have this installed on your system, and try to uninstall it if you do.