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.

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.

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.

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.

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.