Summary:
Xpress Pro HD adds many previously requested features —
including multicamera and multiple formats— into the program. However,
the absence of HDV support, the continued use of a modal interface, and
no Mac version available make this a work-in-progress upgrade rather
than a major overhaul.
Target Apps:
HD and SD post production
What It Costs You:
$1,695
What’s Cool:
Multicam editing, Avid DNxHD codec, Marquee titling program, new SD
(XDCAM and DVCPRO 50) and HD (1080i/p and 720p) format support
What’s Missing:
HDV format editing, Mac OS support, non-modal editing interface, freedom from installation problems
RATINGS: Products are rated for features, performance, ease of use and
overall value on a scale from LAME, OK, SOLID, SWEET to HOT.
Specs
Processors: Dual or Single 2.4 GHz Xeon processor OR Pentium 4 1.6
GHz processor OR Pentium M 1.8 GHz processor (mobile configurations).
Operating System: Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2
System Memory: 1.5 GB minimum RAM (2.0 GB recommended for HD and high stream count SD projects)
Open GL Graphics Cards: NVidia QuadroFX 1400 PCI Express, NVidia
QuadroFX 1300 PCI Express, Nvidia QuadroFX 1100 AGP 8X, NVidia QuadroFX
500 AGP 8X or NVidia Quadro4 980 XGL AGP 8X
Additional Features: Built-in FireWire; 40 GB or larger hard drive
for program, additional storage for video; CD or DVD-ROM drive.
As computer systems become faster and cheaper, software editing systems
continue their NLE market domination. Avid Technology is keeping its
rivalry with Apple Computer going with Xpress Pro HD, the latest
upgrade to the company’s software-based NLE system. Xpress Pro fans
will now find many features they’ve long been asking for finally
implemented in this version, along with some impressive new features.
As we covered Xpress Pro HD’s Multicam editing capabilities in our
August issue, we’ll focus on the other new additions to Xpress Pro HD
in this review. In an upcoming review, we’ll look at how Xpress Pro HD
integrates into Avid’s Xpress Pro HD Studio Complete suite of
applications. Although Xpress Pro isn’t available yet in a Mac OS
version, it should be in the near future; I tested the Windows XP
Professional version.
A Plethora of Formats
Without question, the most significant addition to Xpress Pro HD is its
new file format editing and display capabilities. With the release of
Windows XP Service Pack 2, Avid has finally been able to add in support
for the DVCPRO 50 format. Also added in is support for Sony’s XDCAM,
Panasonic’s P2, DVCPRO HD, as well as the standard high-definition
formats (1080i/p and 720p).
Yet Xpress Pro HD truly shines in its ability to merge all of its
supported video formats on one timeline — something that Final Cut Pro
has never been able to touch. This is an amazing time saver when it
comes to conforming video footage from multiple sources.
Avid’s new DNxHD codec also brings some impressive file-shrinking
capabilities to Xpress Pro HD. DNxHD is a compression format recently
developed by Avid that reduces HD to SD data sizes, yet maintains
incredible image detail.
HDV fans, however, are out of luck — Avid doesn’t plan on releasing an
HDV-aware version of Xpress Pro HD until the end of the year. In the
meantime, if you want to do HDV editing right now you’ll have to look
to Adobe Premiere Pro and Sony Digital’s Vegas products.
Marquee and FireWire
On a different note, Xpress Pro HD has added some impressive titling
and FireWire support. In addition to the basic titling software, Avid’s
slick Marquee title generator program is now integrated into the Xpress
Pro HD software. Marquee can create impressive 2D and 3D animated
titles, while providing sophisticated control over many parameters.
Finally, Xpress Pro HD can capture and output DVCPRO 50 over FireWire,
as well as output real-time effects directly through FireWire. This was
something missing in previous versions, which required an Avid Mojo to
display effects in real time.
The Old War Wound
Unfortunately, Xpress Pro HD has inherited the installation and
compatibility woes of nearly every Avid product ever released. Over the
past decade, we haven’t found a single Avid product that didn’t require
major time spent with tech support to make it work. It took nearly four
days of solid tech support, many blue screens of death and plain old
trial-and-error work to get our Xpress Pro system to play nicely with
our approved PC system. At least Avid has excellent tech support folks.
Once Xpress Pro HD was working (and nothing changed on the hardware
side), the software worked like a champ. The lesson here is that Xpress
Pro HD needs a computer system dedicated to itself, with very few other
programs in residence.
Another annoyance is that Avid is still hanging on to the modal
interface from the days of old. I’ve mentioned before that having to
switch in and out of color correction, effects and editing modes is a
waste of time. While this is a truly difficult task, Apple has shown
with Final Cut Pro HD that innovation can lead to market share.
A Natural Evolution
The addition of improved Multicam editing, Avid DNxHD codec, the new
Marquee title generation program and support for new video formats
makes Xpress Pro HD a good, solid upgrade to an already great editing
system. Also, Xpress Pro HD has hooks to hardware support, so you can
add uncompressed video output with the Avid Mojo and high-end audio
mixing with the Digi002 audio interface.
First-time users be warned: This is a professional program. It’s
defined as tricky to install, hard to learn and fairly expensive to
maintain. Still, when you do finally master the software, you’ll be
amazed at the quality and creative options you’ll have.
SMART ADVICE
With the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2, Avid has finally been able to add in support for the DVCPRO 50 format. Also added is support for Sony’s XDCAM, Panasonic’s P2, DVCPRO HD, as well as the standard high definition formats (1080i/p and 720p).
Xpress Pro HD truly shines in its ability to merge all of its supported video formats on one timeline — something Final Cut Pro has never been able to touch.
HD Multicam: Xpress Pro HD can handle multicamera editing, even in high-definition
mode. While Xpress Pro HD can only display four streams at one time, it
can group over 600 clips together at the same time.
Modal Interface: For better or worse, Xpress Pro
HD uses the traditional modal interface as all the other Avid editing
systems.
Marquee Titles: Originally a stand-alone Avid
product, Marquee is an impressive new addition that provides both 2D
and 3D title animation tools.
Xpress Pro HD’s sophisticated color
correction features are similar to the ones found in its high-end
editing systems, with a variety of manual and automatic color
correction controls. Another impressive feature: you can compare images
from scenes just before and after the scene you are currently
correcting.
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