SECOND PURCHASE: The Capture Card
All reviews by Jan Ozer PC Magazine
Unattainable only a few years ago, affordable real-time DV cards are now a reality. Real-time editing solutions add their video effects as you work, whereas older systems had to render the effects in a final, often time-consuming step at the end of the process. Each of the three cards reviewed here offers a unique profile of real-time effects.
The Canopus DV Storm (AU$2,999) can instantly preview three layers of video and two layers of graphics and titles, with real-time transitions, chroma key (blue screening), and picture-in-picture effects. Then it can send your project back to DV tape without rendering. For the ultimate in production speed, accept no substitute.
We tested the DV Storm using Adobe Premiere 5.1 (Canopus was in the final stages of 6.0 certification). Transition options are extensive, with 2D effects supplemented with 3D effects from Boris Factory and SoftXplode. Real-time filters include colour and brightness adjustments and many artistic effects, though we found the titling utility, Boris Graffiti, unnecessarily complex. Chroma key and picture-in-picture controls were easy to use and powerful, and producers in a hurry will appreciate DV Storm's capture and editing utilities for simple projects.
The Matrox RT2000 (AU$2,649) mixes Matrox's video and 3D graphics expertise into a powerful Adobe Premiere 6.0--based platform for creating MTV-style videos with 3D effects and multilayered graphics. Installing the two-board set, however, is challenging.
Matrox offers a wide range of real-time effects, including picture-in-picture, organic wipes, particle effects, page curls, and 3D tiles. The ability to apply these effects as filters or transitions enables creative flexibility unavailable on the other products we reviewed. But there were some shortcomings. There's no DV-tape-scanning utility or a video preview function in the titling program, TitleExpress. Also, the package does not yet support the Premiere 6.0's audio mixer.
The Pinnacle Systems DV500 Plus (AU$1,899) is an easy-to-install, single-board system with several real-time features unavailable elsewhere. Though lacking some high-end functionality, the DV500 is a good buy for the money. The DV500 excels at most basic project tasks, starting with a tape-scanning utility that streamlines capture. Once on the Premiere 6.0 timeline, Pinnacle offers over 400 real-time transitions, with real-time filtering for brightness, colour, and saturation adjustments, and the only real-time audio mixer in the group. TitleDeko is the only titling utility that previews to your TV monitor without rendering--great for those distributing on tape.
When pushing the creative envelope, you'll enjoy the special effects provided by Hollywood FX and complete support for 16:9 videos, though the DV500 uses ordinary Premiere controls for transparency and picture-in-picture effects. In addition, the DV500 renders fewer combined effects in real time than both the Canopus and Matrox and must render all effects before writing back to DV tape.
Canopus DV Storm
Company: New Magic
Ph: 03 9885 5888
Price: AU$2,999
Rating:
Matrox RT 2000
Company: New Magic
Ph: 03 9885 5888
Price: AU$2,649
Rating:
Pinnacle Systems DV500 Plus
Company: Lakovision
Ph: 03 9852 7444
Price: AU$1,899
Rating:
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