Avid FreeDV available for OS X and Windos XP at DVinfo.net

Ignacio Rodriguez · October 8th, 2003, 10:47 AM

http://www.avid.com/freedv/

Does YUV, displays time code, some compositing, some RT effects...

A better and cross platform iMovie?

Anybody tried it yet?

Denis Murphy · October 8th, 2003, 01:19 PM

I've tried it briefly and it's very slow and unresponsive on my dual gig G4 under OS 10.2.6. But that's just a first impression and I haven't done much beyond capture a couple of clips. I must say compared to the Apple products it is incredibly awkward to set up and use (for an Avid newbie).

Jeff Chandler · October 8th, 2003, 03:34 PM

I have it set up on 3 G4's (one is powerbook) and I have had no problem with sluggishness. As to the interface, all NLE's have their own set of quircks and ways of doing things. It has taken me a while to pick up on FCP4.

Denis Murphy · October 8th, 2003, 05:15 PM

Hi Jeff,
How long does it take for the tooltips to come up? On my system, it takes an age!

Jeff Chandler · October 8th, 2003, 11:27 PM

Yep, it's slow loading on mine too, Denis. Otherwise, everything seems to be performing well.

Richard Alvarez · October 9th, 2003, 06:24 AM

The whole purpose of Avid free is to introduce people to the avid interface. Always take the "Intuitive" adjective with a grain of salt. Interfaces are more dificult to "unlearn" than to learn. Two recent reviews of FCP 4 remark on how the changes to its interface are much more "Avid like" in an effort to recruit avid editors. (DV magazine and another mag that is not on my desk right now.)

Jeff Chandler · October 9th, 2003, 08:40 AM

<<<-- Two recent reviews of FCP 4 remark on how the changes to its interface are much more "Avid like" in an effort to recruit avid editors. (DV magazine and another mag that is not on my desk right now.) -->>>

And there are some similarities. Terninology and some functions are very similar.

You are so right about the "unlearning" process. It's really difficult when you have spent years using one NLE. Old habits are hard to break!

Shawn Mielke · October 12th, 2003, 10:38 PM

Any more input out there on FreeDV? I have just installed it. Can anyone compare it to Imovie or FCE?
Regards,
Shawn

Richard Alvarez · October 13th, 2003, 06:50 AM

A comparison to Imovie and FCE would be a bit of an apples oranges dillema. As a "free" program, it is more advanced than say Imovie, and you are learning an interface that translates to a high-end product. (The admitted purpose of FreeDv.) It is considerably less "loaded" than FCExpress, which is understandable since FCExpress costs several hundred dollars. ($200, $300?)

You have to take AvidFreeDV for what it is. An introductory "demo" for the interface, designed to lure people into buying the more advanced version. Before it's release, it was difficult to even demo the Avid interface, as there were no trial versions of its products available for download.

Imran Zaidi · October 13th, 2003, 08:02 AM

This is potentially a great solution for companies that are seeking to allow students and other learners a path to learning their expensive software, without letting them resort to piracy.

Now, there really is no excuse for stealing Avid's software, which is very common right now. I think if more companies offer something like this, it could make a significant impact in the 'warez' world. It is a common excuse for those downloading and cracking software that 'how else can I learn' or '30-day trials give you nowhere enough time'. Well, now there is a way, and it's legitimate and legal.

Dean Sensui · October 13th, 2003, 12:50 PM

Several comments today at http://macintouch.com/ about Avid Free.

Apparently the installer rewrites some files that are basic and essential to the Mac's operation, and can foul things up.

So be sure to back up your operating system before installing Avid Free. You might not be able to uninstall it later.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.

Jeff Chandler · October 13th, 2003, 01:21 PM

And it seems to be a hit and miss problem. I have it installed on three Macs with no problems whatsoever, but all software was up-to-date before the installations.

October 8th, 2003, 10:47 AM	#1
Ignacio Rodriguez Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 932	Avid FreeDV available for OS X and Windos XP http://www.avid.com/freedv/ Does YUV, displays time code, some compositing, some RT effects... A better and cross platform iMovie? Anybody tried it yet? __________________ Ignacio Rodríguez in the third world. @micronauta on Twitter. Main hardware: brain, eyes, hands.

October 8th, 2003, 01:19 PM	#2
Denis Murphy Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47	Free DV I've tried it briefly and it's very slow and unresponsive on my dual gig G4 under OS 10.2.6. But that's just a first impression and I haven't done much beyond capture a couple of clips. I must say compared to the Apple products it is incredibly awkward to set up and use (for an Avid newbie).

October 8th, 2003, 03:34 PM	#3
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	I have it set up on 3 G4's (one is powerbook) and I have had no problem with sluggishness. As to the interface, all NLE's have their own set of quircks and ways of doing things. It has taken me a while to pick up on FCP4. __________________ Jeff Chandler

October 8th, 2003, 05:15 PM	#4
Denis Murphy Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47	sluggish? Hi Jeff, How long does it take for the tooltips to come up? On my system, it takes an age!

October 8th, 2003, 11:27 PM	#5
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	Yep, it's slow loading on mine too, Denis. Otherwise, everything seems to be performing well. __________________ Jeff Chandler

October 9th, 2003, 06:24 AM	#6
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	The whole purpose of Avid free is to introduce people to the avid interface. Always take the "Intuitive" adjective with a grain of salt. Interfaces are more dificult to "unlearn" than to learn. Two recent reviews of FCP 4 remark on how the changes to its interface are much more "Avid like" in an effort to recruit avid editors. (DV magazine and another mag that is not on my desk right now.)

October 9th, 2003, 08:40 AM	#7
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	<<<-- Two recent reviews of FCP 4 remark on how the changes to its interface are much more "Avid like" in an effort to recruit avid editors. (DV magazine and another mag that is not on my desk right now.) -->>> And there are some similarities. Terninology and some functions are very similar. You are so right about the "unlearning" process. It's really difficult when you have spent years using one NLE. Old habits are hard to break! __________________ Jeff Chandler

October 12th, 2003, 10:38 PM	#8
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Any more input out there on FreeDV? I have just installed it. Can anyone compare it to Imovie or FCE? Regards, Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

October 13th, 2003, 06:50 AM	#9
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	A comparison to Imovie and FCE would be a bit of an apples oranges dillema. As a "free" program, it is more advanced than say Imovie, and you are learning an interface that translates to a high-end product. (The admitted purpose of FreeDv.) It is considerably less "loaded" than FCExpress, which is understandable since FCExpress costs several hundred dollars. ($200, $300?) You have to take AvidFreeDV for what it is. An introductory "demo" for the interface, designed to lure people into buying the more advanced version. Before it's release, it was difficult to even demo the Avid interface, as there were no trial versions of its products available for download.

October 13th, 2003, 08:02 AM	#10
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	This is potentially a great solution for companies that are seeking to allow students and other learners a path to learning their expensive software, without letting them resort to piracy. Now, there really is no excuse for stealing Avid's software, which is very common right now. I think if more companies offer something like this, it could make a significant impact in the 'warez' world. It is a common excuse for those downloading and cracking software that 'how else can I learn' or '30-day trials give you nowhere enough time'. Well, now there is a way, and it's legitimate and legal.

October 13th, 2003, 12:50 PM	#11
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Several comments today at http://macintouch.com/ about Avid Free. Apparently the installer rewrites some files that are basic and essential to the Mac's operation, and can foul things up. So be sure to back up your operating system before installing Avid Free. You might not be able to uninstall it later. Dean Sensui Base Two Productions.

October 13th, 2003, 01:21 PM	#12
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	And it seems to be a hit and miss problem. I have it installed on three Macs with no problems whatsoever, but all software was up-to-date before the installations. __________________ Jeff Chandler