This
additional package to supplement Avid Xpress Pro 5
is made up of three components, all of which are a
must when starting out with Avid Xpress Pro. Avid
3D In my mind this was the best performer in the
package, CGI (Computer Graphic imaging) was white
mans magic in my mind. Always appeared as vectors
and masks, much of which I just could not
comprehend. From the moment you open the program I
went straight to the models (like a kid in a toy
shop). It was easy to pull, track and maneuver the
examples around the screen my middle name should be
drag and drop and as a result I got on well with
this, its a great one for a new user like me to get
comfortable with this hidden art. There are some
great links to websites with additional examples,
and with a bit of purchasing power you can bring
models into the program. I can see this program
improving my position and it is a good thumbs up.
Avid DVD by Sonic.
Although admittedly DVD authoring isnt my strong point, Avid have sought the right partnership in order to allow the average editor the introduction and smooth transition into the world of DVD Authoring. I at first found the layout basic and took a little while digging around the menus to begin to appreciate the requirements in making a menu. The programme was easy to get use to and with the minimum requirement to read the manual I found myself testing a DVD menu on a project. What really noticeable is the ease of use within the xpress pro programme, and its an obvious choice as a DVD authoring tool if this is your editing back bone. I can see that the software was able to handle what I could throw at it. Could it build a modern and interactive menu, such as are available in mainstream DVD production? The answer is probably.
I liked the ability to control the bit rate during the encoding stage and with the help of Sorenson squeeze found that this option was available, very often I will end up with a dance show /wedding thats over the magic 1hour 20 minutes and find that the program other programs will assume a preset compression level. but with this application you can manually control the VBR (Variable Bit Rate).
The program can handle burning Dual layer discs, but I have found that many DVD players currently in peoples homes of today cannot play such discs so it wasnt a high priority in my opinion.
Avid FX
If you used Boris you will be O.K, otherwise get your climbing boots on itll be a steep learning curve. Once you start to grasp the handling of the program, you got hold of a very powerful tool. There are over 1500 prebuilt titles, effect and transitions, which is why this FX tool is an important asset to the xpress software. I would say that the highlights are the title animation I played for hours on these. The FX is a great add on, There are lots of filters time effects and masking tools which should keep an editor equipped with plenty of tools for his creative flare.
The toolkit is an impressive add-on to the xpress pro package, and I can now answer the question why isnt there transitions or effect included with the xpress pro program , originally ask in my review of the xpress pro, the answer is that there is to much here just to give away, but maybe a compromise could have been found, A Light version maybe with a skeleton of transitions and effect to get a taste for the usability of the software. However to sum up, the Avid Studio Toolkit is a necessary but worthwhile addition to the xpress pro program.
Avid DVD by Sonic.
Although admittedly DVD authoring isnt my strong point, Avid have sought the right partnership in order to allow the average editor the introduction and smooth transition into the world of DVD Authoring. I at first found the layout basic and took a little while digging around the menus to begin to appreciate the requirements in making a menu. The programme was easy to get use to and with the minimum requirement to read the manual I found myself testing a DVD menu on a project. What really noticeable is the ease of use within the xpress pro programme, and its an obvious choice as a DVD authoring tool if this is your editing back bone. I can see that the software was able to handle what I could throw at it. Could it build a modern and interactive menu, such as are available in mainstream DVD production? The answer is probably.
I liked the ability to control the bit rate during the encoding stage and with the help of Sorenson squeeze found that this option was available, very often I will end up with a dance show /wedding thats over the magic 1hour 20 minutes and find that the program other programs will assume a preset compression level. but with this application you can manually control the VBR (Variable Bit Rate).
The program can handle burning Dual layer discs, but I have found that many DVD players currently in peoples homes of today cannot play such discs so it wasnt a high priority in my opinion.
Avid FX
If you used Boris you will be O.K, otherwise get your climbing boots on itll be a steep learning curve. Once you start to grasp the handling of the program, you got hold of a very powerful tool. There are over 1500 prebuilt titles, effect and transitions, which is why this FX tool is an important asset to the xpress software. I would say that the highlights are the title animation I played for hours on these. The FX is a great add on, There are lots of filters time effects and masking tools which should keep an editor equipped with plenty of tools for his creative flare.
The toolkit is an impressive add-on to the xpress pro package, and I can now answer the question why isnt there transitions or effect included with the xpress pro program , originally ask in my review of the xpress pro, the answer is that there is to much here just to give away, but maybe a compromise could have been found, A Light version maybe with a skeleton of transitions and effect to get a taste for the usability of the software. However to sum up, the Avid Studio Toolkit is a necessary but worthwhile addition to the xpress pro program.
Avid Studio ToolKit Software Review
