Editing Evolution

摘要

There's good news and bad for those in the market for a desktop non-linear editing (NLE) system. The good news―thanks to recent advances in computer hardware, dropping prices, and the proliferation of sophisticated software features―there has never been a wider selection of high-quality products to choose from. While the market leaders may be Adobe's Premiere, Apple's Final Cut Pro, and Avid's Xpress DV, there are also impressive offerings from the likes of Media 100, Pinnacle, Matrox, Leitch, and Canopus. The bad news is that it's never been more difficult to find clear and compelling differences between the products. Indeed, differentiation is more subtle than ever, meaning that users who want to find just the right system must be extra diligent in doing their homework. With that said, here are a few thoughts you might want to keep in mind when shopping for a new NLE system. Assess your needs: The first step here is to figure out how much you want to spend. Prices range from $549 for a copy of Adobe Premiere up to $40,000 for a turnkey 844/X system from Media 100, with a wide range of offerings in between. If you have a small budget, your choices are obviously going to be more limited. But don't immediately assume that a lower-priced product can't meet your requirements. All of these packages offer professional-quality capabilities, and even most of the low-end products provide an upgrade path so they can grow with your needs.