I've been using Pinnacle Studio 7, 8, 9 and 9 plus (resisted upgrading to 10) for the last 4 years and whilst there have been undoubted issues with the software for the mosrt part they have worked OK on my PC.
However after aquiring a Z1E I'm now looking to upgrade both my PC and the edoiting software I use.
Ive looked at Sony Vegas , downloaded their 30 day free trial and found it OK but not as intuitive to use as Studio.
So I thought Id better look at Avid Liquid
Firstly is there anywhere that you can download a similar 30 day trial?
Next how easy is it to edit using the multi cam edit.
Ive used Studio to edit from two cameras recording the same event but from different angles. It involved synching both inputs on diferent video tracks and then cutting out the bits I didnt want from the second camera. Fiddly but it worked. Sony Vegas seems to be very similar in this capability.
However Avid Liquids Multicam seems to be different , if i read the blurb correctly , after synching you can see up to 16 inputs and select each one individualy when you want it. that sounds relatively simple but is it really so.
secondly what are the hard ware requirements like/ always bearing in mind that I will want to import and edit HDV at some point.
any help gratefully received.
in Vegas, one can sync up to 100 cameras, if one REALLY has the need - lol
There are 2 plugins one can use, either Excalibur or UltimateS2. They allow one to choose the number of cameras, have them play (each camera on a separate track) and trigger cuts or dissolves between cameras WHILE they play.
Then one clicks a button and all is assembled on a new master track, with the option of having the NON-chosen tracks as takes in the master. Very useful - can jump between the takes etc. Not aware of any other NLE that offers the latter.
very useful also is that one can do this with existing tracks that might not have complete clips in them. Was trying same on FCP but their multicam system only works for clips, not entire tracks.
this link here offers an example of this beast in action
;)
Im not aware that Avid Liquid 7 is available for a download trial. Liqiud Edition 6/6.1 ( largely identical interface and user controls) was available as a demo on cd. Im sure its still around if you post a request for one should you be interested.
Its multicam feature is as easy to use as stated, this site has small free video tutorials which show you how. Besides all these software have free and commercially available tutorials.
Requirements for HDV?
For HDV ( 720) P4 2.8- 2x3.0 IG ram Agp 8x 256m
For HDV 1080 P4 3.0- 2x3.0 1G ram Pcie 256m
I read these off the little guide that came with the box. in truth you only need the dual processor or dual core athlons ( etc) ie mor grunt much when you are doing HDV multiple layers with effects and expect to see real time previews
Avid Liquid/ LE interface is radiically different from Studios. If you found Vegas unconventional you may similarly not warm readily to Liquids coming from Studio. Studio does have one of the best user interfaces but its tendency to be unruly has won it less friends than enemies!
BTW Studio 10 has a patch 10.5 which appears to have addressed some of its earlier issues.
I use the Avid Liquid Mulitcam fairly frequently to edit 3-camera shoots of theatre plays.
You sync the 3 cameras up in post and then edit as though it's a vision mixer. I try to do it in real time but then a bad pan or zoom jinxes you and you have to go back to the previous cut and scroll to the end of that good camera feed avoiding the bad bit by cutting to a new camera a little earlier. I'd like to say I could edit the first half of a play of say one hour, in one hour, but I can't - I guess it takes at least 2 and sometime three to get it just right.
There will not be a 30-day trial of AL7 until v7.1 is released, apparently. There has been recent significant bug-fixing going on, and that has been the priority.
There is a Trial version of Liquid 7. And they will send it to you on a DVD.Go to the avid site and hunt around. It takes a few weeks to arrive but it is excellent. But make sure your PC. is faster than 2.6ghz or you will have diffs. I tried to install it about 10 times on my Dell 8200 2 Ghz. It was a waste of time ,it just kept crashing .Have bought New laptop HP 3.6 Ghz Pentium 4.Loaded no problem.and worked first time it Launched.
I did that a few weeks ago and like you say it took a few weeks to arrive but arrive it did.
My current PC is only a 2Ghz so as you say it had a lot of trouble running so it looks like I'll have to wait until I get a better PC before I can explore its full capabilities
"Ive looked at Sony Vegas , downloaded their 30 day free trial and found it OK but not as intuitive to use as Studio."
Strange I found the complete opposite and ran with it the day I installed it, had no end of frustration with premiere, still horses for courses.
There is a free download for multi cam (2) or as above for the multi-multi cam
"Ive looked at Sony Vegas , downloaded their 30 day free trial and found it OK but not as intuitive to use as Studio."Strange I found the complete opposite and ran with it the day I installed it, had no end of frustration with premiere, still horses for courses.
There is a free download for multi cam (2) or as above for the multi-multi cam
As you say, horses for courses: I find that (when it is stable and works) ,Pinnacle Studio has one of the best GUIs and can totally dymystify NLE inasmuch as they all have a bit of a learning curve and All have hidden depths.
In the last few years I have ( for work purposes and as a "serious" enthusiast) had to test various packages for " ease of use". ( I end up "owning" them afterwards:cool: )
In some ways I think the package you start with influences your perception of others.
Avid Liquid 7 ( and Pinnacle 6.1) is one of my favourites and I find it much easier to use than Vegas 6.
I actually find Vegas easier to use than (what i consider to be the qiurky GUI of) Ulead VideoStudio. Apparently this is not the experience of many.This is not an indictment of ulead as I very much like and enjoy using Uleads MovieWorkshop and MovieFactory DVD authoring software
Having used Adobe Premiere Up to Pro ( ver 7) in the past, I found I could use Adobe Premiere Elements2 right out of the box but can easily imagine using it being a fairly ardous task for a complete newbee despite the excellent tutorials.
As an aside, In contrast to Vegas, VegasMovie Studio actually has very good tutorials which make using it that much easier
PS: I really loved the used of Vegas as demonstrated at the MVS stand at the last Videoforum.