Discreet edit* 6.5

Formerly DVision, this great Windows software package features multicam, more compositing features, DV compatibility and seamless interaction with other Discreet, Inc. products.

Edit is a real-time, nonlinear editing software application which performs compositing, keying and visual effects on the desktop. Edit efficiently harnesses the power of the Windows 2000 platform and can be used as a standalone editor or as an online finishing tool in a full-service editing suite. Its nested compositing features, along with tight integration with a choice of hardware, makes this a great member of the Discreet family of editing and compositing applications.

Jobnet, a powerful extension to edit, offers editors shared, seamless workgroup editing across a Storage Area Network environment. Full-featured as it is, though, high-end software developer Discreet has overpriced this powerful editing package at nearly $8000. Now runs only with Targa 3000 hardware, because support for Matrox DigiSuite products was dropped. Other doubts have surfaced recently about whether Edit will continue to be developed beyond version 6.5 (but will still be supported in its present form) because of budget and staff cuts at Discreet.

AIST MoviePack eXtreme

AIST MoviePack eXtreme is an all-in-one video editing, compositing and motion-graphics software tool for the PC with 3D effects and advanced core technologies for super-fast rendering. These core technologies, QPM and AMT, form the basis for AIST's "Live Preview in Real Time" or LPR, which keeps up with the user's actions and displays all changes including transitions, effects, deformations, color corrections and titles as they are applied.

This software package is built around an open architecture, which allows it to grow with users. This means you don't have to go out in search of a new program every time your requirements change. As an open plug-in host MoviePack eXtreme also gives customers access to their favorite plug-ins from third-party manufacturers. Nicely designed user-configurable program interface gives you user-friendly workflow.

The big innovation here is what AIST calls Intelli-rendering, enabling rendered video and film clips to be played directly and immediately from the time line. Only the frames which have been modified are re-rendered, meaning time consuming re-rendering of the entire clip is no longer necessary. And best of all, since most of these advanced operations are dependent on your machine's processor, as processor speeds continue to accelerate, the software's power increases.
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Incite Studio 2.6

Here's another Windows software package designed to run on Matrox DigiSuite, DigiSuite LE and DigiSuite DTV hardware. Incite provides an easy to use editing interface, multiple editing modes, lots of utilities, and plenty of real-time effects with unlimited keyframing.

This is a great system for those of us who still have lots of analog tape machines lying around -- use these machines along with hard-disk-based clips all on the same timeline. Here's a software package that's ideal for long-form shows. That's because you don't have to digitize everything -- just use the tape machine as a source. Aiding this concept is the ability to place different proc amp settings for clips, where the software remembers those settings for a group of shots. Incite's designers set out to create a great broadcast editor, and they have succeeded toward that goal.

Other niceties for the seasoned tape editor: a specialized keyboard is available with all the functions of the Incite editor well marked, and also great support for the JLCooper controller so you can have that familiar, hands-on feel. And, there's more to come, with enhanced 3D real time effects when Matrox releases its MAX hardware (now, you can do real time 3D effects with a Pinnacle Genie board), Web video features, DVD authoring from the timeline, and more. Until then, Incite holds the honor of being the best hybrid digital video editor available on the market today.

Avid Xpress

This software has a unique way of editing layers so they’re nondestructive. It's now available as a software-only product that can be used on either a desktop workstation or a notebook. The user interface is a lot like Avid's Media Composer.

Xpress has the ability to deliver media anywhere -- from an uncompressed video option for television and DVD to one-step Web streaming content creation using the included Media Cleaner EZ from Discreet. Included is a powerful set of video editing, effects, audio, titling, graphics, composition and interoperability tools. Also, Avid's One-Step Technology gives you single-step output to Web, DVD, and CD video through Media Cleaner integration. Includes over 75 real-time effects plus many more fast-rendered effects.

Editing options include record to timeline, a mappable keyboard, a command palette, JKL Trim, full-featured bins, and more. To integrate the system into a facility with other Avid systems, Avid Unity MediaNet support is included. AVX plug-ins are also supported, to expand your palette of special effects. For filmmakers, a FilmScribe option is available, easing the transition from film to video and back. Xpress is available in multiple configurations on both Windows NT and Macintosh platforms, and also in the form of XpressDV for PC, and soon to be released for Mac and PC in an upcoming XpressDV release.

Charlie White has been writing about digital video editing since it was the laughingstock of the post-production industry. A technology journalist and columnist for the past eight years, White is also an Emmy-winning producer, video editor and shot-calling PBS TV director with 27 years broadcast experience. Talk back -- Send Chazz a note at cwhite@digitalmedianet.com