Product ReviewsMultimedia software
As we all know, if you want to edit video without any fuss, you turn to iMovie HD. This even includes a few simple effects, but if you want more extensive post-production options with pro-level control over your efforts, it won't do at all. Instead of saving up for an Avid suite, take a look at FXhome's VisionLab Studio. This is an HD-capable post-production toolkit that provides the kind of video effects range and quality that you're used to seeing in blockbusters, but at a price that's rather more friendly. OK, £299 isn't truly cheap, but this is the top end of the FXhome product range. This package provides all of the features of the other products plus a few extras, a streamlined interface for dealing with the full suite of controls, and a full commercial-use licence, too. It has to be said that the software isn't as easy to use as iMovie, but what it provides is nothing short of astounding, from tweaking the mood and lighting of footage through to lens flare, muzzle flashes, digital 'day for night' simulation, compositing with 'greenscreen', chromakey and smooth animated mattes, particle effects to simulate fire, smoke, explosions and more... and that's on top of the compositing and adjustment effects. For the full range of options, you'll need to visit the FXhome site; this really is effectively a special effects studio in a box. Even the 'video pro' dark grey interface and panel sections make a lot of sense once you get your head around it all, although be prepared to put some time into learning what this software can do. Fortunately, the FXhome site has a substantial number of video tutorials along with its text-based ones, and these do help a lot in getting you up to speed with VisionLab Studio's features. VisionLabs Studio's Timeline panel sits below
Effects are played back as fast as they can be handled. On well-specified Macs, this is enough for a near-real-time preview as you work. However, when a few effects are stacked up, those portions of your work will play back pretty slowly even on a fast Mac. The bottom line is that to see the full speed and full quality results, you'll need to get used to rendering your work. You'll also have to get used to working with just visual cues because, as a dedicated video effects suite, FXhome doesn't do audio. When you're new to the software, this will probably be a stumbling block on occasion, but with a bit of experience and some planning, you'll find it isn't actually a problem. This is a visual effects tool after all, and we found that the timecode controls provided all the help we needed when we had to synchronise to a non-visual point in a clip. When the project is rendered, the sound will be preserved in the output file, as long as the in and out points in the Timeline are the same as the uncropped audio source layer. Rendering your work can take a while, especially if you have used a lot of effects or pushed the particle generation tools hard. It isn't so much Ram that it requires, although having a couple of gigs handy isn't a bad idea. It's simply that it needs sheer raw processing power. It isn't yet a Universal Binary, although it runs well under Rosetta. FX VisionLab Studio is a stunning package for video effect and post-production junkies of all levels. And if £299 is too big an investment, you can opt for EffectsLab Pro which provides a host of special effects such as muzzle flashes and the ever-popular Star Wars light sabre, or Composite Lab, which is a dedicated video compositing tool. They cost £90 each. We're not saying EffectsLab Pro will make you a George Lucas in your spare time, but this does put serious Hollywood-style video into the hands of anyone who wants it. All you need then is the creative vision, and that's something you can't buy. By Keith Martin |
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