Can anyone help?!

I have Pinnacle Studio 8 with Hollywood fx pro installed on my XP pro powered system, and have recently bought and installed Liquid Edition 5.5

The trouble is that all the transitions, even simple cross fades play back distorted and "garbled"

Cant seem to get the thing to look how it should.

Do you think that I should do a fresh installation of Windows and Liquid, and NOT install Studio 8 aswell....?

Thanks for the help in advance...!

Man, you are hating life. I was too. Lost a 1/2 hr. finished project because i installed 5.5 over top of 8. I had to unistall both, thouoghy clean the registry, then install 5.5 alone.

8 will not uninstall cleanly, especially the title deco component. I would advise you isolate all your captured video, kill the scn files from studio 8, reg clean, hunt down anything with the name pinnacle in it and ruthlessly delete it, root the devil out before doing a clean reinstall of 5.5. and don't look back. Good luck!

I have got the Pinnacle studio plus version 9.3 and am going to
upgrade to Pinnacles liquid edition version 6, but there is one
thing bothering me, I have purchased activation keys for various
effects previously, what would actually happen to them?
I presume I would have to uninstall all Studio plus to accomodate the liquid edition

many thanks in advance

I recently upgrade from Studio to LE6 and everything was in place, the upgrade went smoothly without event.

Have Fun!

Hi Dennis, thanks for reply but I still need to know if I have to
uninstall the studio first!
I seem to recall having problems when installing studio 9 from
studio 8, and if I have to uninstall, do I lose any activation keys
previously bought?
Many thanks

Ian,

You may want to visit the Pinnacle Editing Products Forums (http://webboard.pinnaclesys.com/read_forums.asp?WebboardID=14&ForumID=1241&SectionID=85&lng=1) to answer your question. You'll find support here for Studio and Liquid Edition.

This is an excellent forum, well-supported by experienced users of Studio and LE, as well as Pinnacle support staff. You generally get a well-informed answer quickly.

HTH.

ive got both apps running smoothly on this machine here..

If you were running S8 and upgrading to LE 5.5, I would say yes, you need to reinstall. But S9 and LE6 are supposed to be friendly to each other. I have both on my set.

well to do the crossupgrade, u have to have it installed anyway, as the installer needs to lock itslelf to the registry of studio before it installs.

Well, this could be an academic issue since a number of users in the Pinnacle forums report running both Studio 9 and LE6 because they prefer some parts of Studio 9. I'm not sure, but I believe I remember seeing it reported that you can install the LE6 upgrade WITHOUT Studio 9 being installed. You simply need to insert the Studio 9 CD when the LE6 installed asks for it.

Again, for confirmation you can post in the Pinnacle forum. (see my previous post for link)

Thankyou all to the replies, I have found it mind boggling trying
to get to grips with LE6 ( with studio 9 also installed ) , I
received a cd rom with the LE6 package that won't play the
tutorial, I just get a message on screen........
"cannot find "\file:Dmovies3.html"make sure the path or internet
address is correct. I have now sent the cd rom back to Pinnacle,
maybe they can see if its the cd or if I am doing something wrong.

Many thanks to all

I am fairly new to video editing. I've been using Pinnacle Studio 9 for a few months. I've just bought a good camera, Canon GL2 and I want to start working toward doing this both as a hobby and semi professionally. Should I upgrade to Liquid Edition at this point? It's hard for me to pin point the advantages for me, being a beginner. I've downloaded Adobe Premier Pro Trial and it looks like a pretty big learning curve to swith from Pinnacle to Adobe. Anyone have any suggestions?

Just so you are not under a false assumption, the jump to LE will be as big as to Premiere. I did it (to Liquid) and do not use Studio except maybe twice a year now.

LE has a good deal for Studio users to jump into it. LE (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) is much more stable. But LE is much more hardware intensive.

Thanks for the advice George. I think I have enough hardware. It's a P4, 3.2Ghz, 1gig ram, 2-160gig SATA drives. You actually said the magic word "stable". I've had some trouble with Studio, but I found it very intuitive and would like to stick with Pinnacle if LE is a good way to go.

Jeff,

If you really need a pro NLE, then LE6 is definitely one you would want to consider. Each NLE has its strengths and weaknesses. Take a look at the following:
Comparison of LE6 with Other NLE (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/docloader_n.asp?templ=10&doclink=/WebVideo/liquideditionversion6/English(US)/doc/LE6_chart.html&Product_ID=2452&Langue_ID=7&loc=chart&division_id=). For a detailed comparision, see the link to a PDF file at the bottom of the page.
LE6 Features (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/docloader_n.asp?templ=10&doclink=/WebVideo/liquideditionversion6/English(US)/doc/Liquid6_key_features_US.html&Product_ID=2452&Langue_ID=7&loc=spec&division_id=).

However, Studio 9 or Studio 9 Plus may be just the right NLE for you. Only you can decide. :)
See Studio and LE Discussions (http://wbsearch.pinnaclesys.com/searchResults.asp?lng=1&qu=studio+NEAR+edition+AND+@WebboardID+%3D+W14+AND+@SectionID+%3D+S85+AND+@PageID+%3D+Message&Keyword=studio+NEAR+edition&WebboardID=14&SectionID=85&ForumID=-1&Days=-1&username=) on the Pinnacle forums for various threads comparing the two.

You may find that upgrading to Studio 9 Plus (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=2446&Langue_ID=7) to be the best option for you now. Later on, if you find Studio 9 does NOT do what you need, you can upgrade to LE6, or some other pro NLE. The upgrade to Studio 9 Plus (http://buy.pinnaclesys.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry16?CID=163398&SP=10024&PN=29&xid=51106&V1=31034532&V2=31034532&V3=1&V5=11031935&V4=38&S1=&S2=&S3=&S4=&S5=&DSP=0&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=-1) is only $40.

I will tell you that there are a number of long time Studio 9 users that have upgraded to LE6 who still prefer to use Studio 9 for certain tasks like capture, adding background audio using SmartSound, and DVD authoring. All of these tasks can be done in LE6, it's just a matter of personal preference.

Good luck with your decision.

Actually Pete, I am using Studio 9 + now. I think maybe I should wait and upgrade when I find there are specific things I want to do that I can't do with Studio. With my new camera and some wireless mics I'll be adding, maybe I have enough new stuff to learn for now. I have done one wedding and I have two coming up and I'll probably learn a lot from them about what I need and don't need. Thank you very much for your feedback.

Pete, I actually prefer LE's capture. I can either mark the end of the tape, rewind, and mark the start, then start the capture and go do something else. OR, I can log all of my sequences then start a batch capture and go do something else :)

Although LE does not have Smart Sound, I upgraded to SonicFire Pro instead of using Studio. I can custom arrange the loop pieces and have done so for some really short sample files. But that is a good reason to keep it around (Ask Allen aka Video777 ;) )

I use the DVD authoring occasionally in LE. I found that I was more productive using MediaChance's DVD-Lab, which has a 30day unrestricted free trial.

I'm considering the purchase of Avid Xpress DV 4. I recently downloaded the Avid FreeDV demo to get a feel for the interface. I'm sure with a good how-to book, I could learn the software fast enough. One problem, however, is that I'm editing on a Windows XP computer and everytime I import a new DV clip into a project, I have to wait while Avid converts the AVI file to QuickTime MOV. I hope this is a limitation of the free software and that a licensed version of Xpress DV won't behave this way. Can anyone confirm my suspicion?

My editing PC is decent, but definitely not cutting-edge. It's a P4 2.8C, 800MHz FSB board, 1GB DDR400 memory, 2 x SATA hard drives spinning @ 7200 rpm. Only software installed is Ulead DVD MovieFactory. Most Windows services disabled, so I'm running lean for NLE work.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

No.

Avid captures dv as OMFI files, which means it will convert a typical AVI you may have saved somewhere else.

Thanks for answering my question, Richard.

Tim,
Just so you understand, that when you are capturing from your camera, there is not "conversion"... they are just simply captured as omfi files.

Interesting take for those who invest. The Motley Fool looks at Avid's numbers

http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/050207/1107794040_2.html

I guess all those oscars add up.

Hi Richard,

Although quite an interesting article, which will no doubt boost Avid and all their fans ego.

One small thing is the fact that The Aviator was cut (edited) on a Lightworks Touch station and not on an Avid. Although probably some Avid kit might have been used for the audio/ special effects side of things... I do hope that Avid won't clame the Oscar if The Aviator wins "Achievement in film editing".


All the best,

Avid is more than their film editing systems, they are also Digidesigns and Protools. So sound achievements and special effects are inclusive in Avid's credits. Good news for investors, which is who the article was aimed at.

That is very true.

Avid is a huge organisation with its foot pretty much in every corner of the Broadcast/ film industry - Which I guess is great for investors...

Don't forget newscutter... they're expanding into the worlds news operations faster than any other nle, too....

It is a solid company.

But not my choice for a DV25 nle.

First let me say I really appreciate the watchdog and dvinfo pages.
They
>both really help me with everything. Ok now here's the question and
its
>probably been asked before but I need to ask again cause I'm kind of
>compulsive,
>
>If I shot on the XL2 in 24p in the 2:3:3::2 pulldown will avid express
pro
>be able to handle it. The eventual goal is print to film so I want to
shot
>with that in mind. I've read alot about cutting on a true 24 frame
time
>line instead of one made for 30i. Ok any help you can pass along is
>appreciated. I just don't want to push through the production and get
to
>the film transfer and be stuck. Also I want to make some Tapes and Dvds too so if i cut on a true 24 timeline do I limit my ability to export to Dvd or other sources like mini DV. Again thanks to anyone that can help .

Hello Brian, welcome aboard DVInfo.net. I'm not sure what
happened to your formatting above....

I took a look at http://www.avid.com/products/xpresspro/ the
AVID site for Express Pro but couldn't find any mention of pulldown
support for either 2:3 or 2:3:3:2. Knowing how AVID is it could be
very possible it does not support this. It does claim it can work
with 24p, though. Why not send their support an e-mail?

As for film out. It is far better to pick the company that is going
to do your transfer, talk with them what works best for video
to film (this still seems to be 60i a lot!!) and do some test runs
before shooting your movie in one way or another.

Thanks for the help. I was all over avid's website and it seems the problem with 24p timelines is you can't preform the digital cut to a tape. You can make DVDs still but you are unable to output the 24p timeline to a deck with out the mojo equipment. After looking around I'm starting to question the idea of printing to film right away. I want to hit up some festivals and thought film was my only way but after some research it seems most project all kinds of formats.

So what do you guys think. If i don't plan to print film but what to enter some festivals should I still shoot 24p. or 60i. I just love the 24p look though. any opinons

If a festival accepts DVD then the choice of framerate is a personal
one, since DVD can work with 24p (NTSC), 25p (PAL), 30p (NTSC),
50i (PAL) and 60i (NTSC).

However, as I said earlier I don't know if AVID Express Pro supports
DV 24p. I do know Sony Vegas supports it for example (together
with DVD Architect to create 24p DVD's). I believe Premiere Pro
with Encore support it as well...

Avid won't OUTPUT advanced pulldown without the Mojo.(The mojo is hardware acceleration that reinserts the pulldown on the fly.) It will output 24p 2:3 without it. You can output either via dvd, or quicktime.

Again guys thanks for all the help.
Say I shoot in 24p and then cut it on a regular time line, 29.97 or whatever 30fps actually is, will I encounter any problems, or If I'm making dvd's should I just cut it on a actual 24p time line, or 23.97, if thats right.
Just asking questions. As I said before I am compulsive and don't want to start something and get stuck with format issues.

This forum is great, by the way. Imformative and respectful of those of us who might be a little new to all the frame rates and pull downs. Just thought I'd throw that in one more time.

I think what I'll do is run some tests on the different frame rates, burn some test dvds and see what I like the best.
Again guys thanks again for everything. You've really helped put my mind at ease.

Yup, thats the way to approach any major project. Storyboarding, exposure tests(in film) lighting tests, and now with mutli format video available, a test of Frame rate and compression options is a must. Pick some extreme examples of what you anticipate doing. Low light, high contrast, or fast action for example, and shoot a minute or two of each, then play around with it.

Good luck.

Liquid Edition version 6.1 is now available. LE6.1 is an important update that offers several great new features such as full screen preview and comprehensive Sony HDV support.

Exciting new features now available with version 6.1
· Full Screen preview – Real time preview of your timeline on your VGA monitor for all formats including HDV
· Improved HDV Support – There is now greatly improved HDV support with the addition of comprehensive deck and device control for the shipping Sony & JVC HDV cameras & decks.
· True MPEG-2 IPB HD Rendering - IBP Rendering (25Mbit/sec) for HDV. Now you can render HDV editing and effects in the true MPEG-2 IBP format. This allows you to maintain the high quality and small size of MPEG02 IBP format across the entire HDV sequence.
· Replace Edit Function – CTRL + DRAG a clip to timeline when replacing a clip and now maintain transitions and effects that were already applied to the clip being replaced
· Drag Clips Disbanded to Timeline – Drag a clip from a rack to the timeline and both video and audio tracks are now visible.
· Display Keyframe of Existing Effects in the RTFX editor – now when applying additional effects to a clip, you can view the Keyframe markers from the existing effects in the effect editor. This allows editions to make better decisions quicker.
· Many more, great feature additions and bug fixes

Click below to look at the Liquid 6.1 Readme file for more information (fixes, new functions, installation etc.)

Installation: Click below to download the file to your system. Double-click on the file to start the installation. Note: 631 MB file size.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/docsupport1.asp?division_id=8&langue_id=7&product_id=2452&product_name=Liquid%20Edition%20version%206&page_id=1054

Gary

"great new features such as full screen preview" The site at least as I read it says with a 254 meg card and HDV you can use the video card overlay to fill the computer lcd so what is offered is only that which is used by Pinnacle for preview....I don't think that is full frame full resolution.Also there is only one video card that I know of that can do 1920x1080 and that is the fireGL 7100....and what would do the scaling?

I know for a fact that the X800 video cards also does 1920x1080 as that is how we configured the one we had attached to an Iiyama 46" LCD. The X800 kicks butt in LE 6. GPU renders are under a second for SD transitions (15 frames).

Also, 256MB is recommended for HDV. I have run two clips in line on my ATI 9600XT (128). SD full screen runs smoothly, even stretched to 1024x768 (I think I am actually at 1156x ).

Does it have component out to carry the signal or is it hooked up RGB 15 pin or svideo? Also I wonder if the output is full frame full resolution since the video card will only ouitput that which LE generates for preview....and I thought I read somewhere that it wasn't full frame full resolution....could be wrong though just asking.

The preview is via the regular monitor. If you want a seperate monitor, you use Pro and a connection via the BOB.

Guys, Avids got some great mail in rebate promotions going now that expire March 15th.

$200 mail in rebate on Xpress DV
$500 Rebate on Xpress Studio Essentials
$1,000 Rebate on Xpress Studio Complete

If you already own Xpress DV or Xpress Pro Avid is offering a $500 mail in rebate on all Xpress Studio Upgrades.

JVC also has a mail in rebate promotion going with JVC if you buy one of there professional DV Cams.

For more details or to download rebate forms http://www.videoguys.com/avid.html

Gary

Just got word from Avid, the Xpress Studio rebates have been exteded for 10 more days - through March 25th!!

Gary

I have to use liquid at work. It sucks. nothing works how it should. I cant export anything with transitions, titles, or effects. Go to Vegas. Much better program.

Avid has released source code for the DNxHD codec so developers can create apps that can access Avid MFX compliant files.
There are no official support programs for this.

http://www.avid.com/dnxhd/

It would be nice if there was a VFW codec released. As of now, what can do you do with it?

Over at HDforIndies (www.hdforindies.com) it was explained like this:

"I think the reasons Avid put this out was 1) it makes them look an open source friendly company, 2) it could be used by post houses that wanted to read DNxHD media frame by frame into a compositing system 3) companies could evaluate it for licensing in devices. Ikegami has a camera in development that will record DnxHD 220."

This is not a direct comment from Mike Curtis but a quote he put up in his blog.

As far as I know VFW is completely obsolete now, so that's incredibly unlikely. Hopes for a quicktime codec were more likely though that also seems (legally) impossible given the terms of the licence

Video for Windows is obsolete?

Yes, these days video in XP is handled by DirectX. I guess there could be a VFW codec hacked together by someone but it wouldn't be terribly legitimate (think DivX 3) and would only work in something like VirtualDub (though that would still be really useful.)

VFW and Directshow.

yes, Directshow, my mistake.