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ADVC-100
Canopus
http://www.justedit.com
Reviewed in September 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/09/reviews/advc
The ADVC-100 DV converter delivers high-quality DV output and a nice feature set at a low price. However, if all you need to do is convert video from analog to digital (and not digital to analog), it’s worth looking at the company’s lower-priced ADVC-50 instead.
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After Effects 5.5
Adobe Systems
http://www.adobe.com
Reviewed in May 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/05/reviews/aftereffects
This important upgrade adds OS X compatibility and improvements to the 3-D facility, as well as workflow enhancements and cool effects. However, some interface elements are a bit cumbersome and the program lacks good rotoscoping and motion-tracking tools
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BTV Pro 5.4
Ben Software
http://www.bensoftware.com
Reviewed in July 2002
A fully Carbonized video-capture, video-editing, and stop-motion–animation application, it works well with any Mac-compatible video-input source.
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CatDV 2.5
Squarebox Software
http://www.squarebox.co.uk
Reviewed in July 2002
CatDV provides video producers with an effective new way to catalog and work with video.
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Cellulo
Atvaark Dev.
http://www.cellulo.info
Reviewed in July 2002
This useful and effective program lets you create a list of video files to play full-screen on your computer.
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CinéWave Classic
Pinnacle Systems
http://www.pinnaclesys.com
Reviewed in September 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/09/reviews/video
The CinéWave Classic video-capture card features excellent real-time effects and can be upgraded to high definition. However, the codec could be better and the cost of options adds up.
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Combustion 2
Discreet
http://www.discreet.com
Reviewed in July 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/07/reviews/combustion
The first major upgrade to Discreet’s low-end compositing and rotoscoping system for video and film delivers the power of a high-end compositing system.
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CommandPost
Focus Enhancements
http://www.focusinfo.com
Reviewed in June 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/06/reviews/video
Its internally illuminated base helps you see buttons, and its fader arm lets you control volume, but this USB video-editing controller is bulky.
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Composer 1.4
Onadime
http://www.onadime.com
Reviewed in May 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/05/reviews/onadime
Onadime Composer is easy to use and has a solid collection of input sources and destinations, making it immediately useful for VJs and other live performers. But it stutters with CD and DVD input, and support of QuickTime export is imperfect.
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D1 64AV
Digital Voodoo
http://www.digitalvoodoo.net
Reviewed in September 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/09/reviews/video
Although it needs an analog-to-digital converter and has very limited real-time effects, the D1 64AV video-capture card has a fantastic codec for online work and supports 10-bit input. As a bonus, it runs in OS 9 and OS X.
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DVD Studio Pro 1.5
Apple Computer
http://www.apple.com
Reviewed in August 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/08/reviews/dvdstudio
This program remains the only viable choice for pro DVD authoring on the Mac. Version 1.5 adds improvements like OS X compatibility and better MPEG-2 compression, but usability and documentation still need some work.
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eZediaMX 3.0
eZedia
http://www.ezedia.com
Reviewed in June 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/06/reviews/inbrief
eZediaMX runs in OS 9 and OS X, and its drag-and-drop environment is both practical and intuitive. However, the dialog box that’s supposed to let you apply transitional effects doesn’t load in OS X, and the program is expensive.
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Final Cut Pro 3
Apple Computer
http://www.apple.com
Reviewed in May 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/05/reviews/finalcut
This version is a first-rate sequel, with an exceptionally capable and efficient interface, real-time effects, and many helpful workflow improvements. But it has some minor bugs, particularly in OS X.
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IgniterRT
Aurora Video Systems
http://www.auroravideosys.com
Reviewed in September 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/09/reviews/video
The IgniterRT video-capture card has 8-bit input only and still doesn’t have OS X drivers, but it’s easily upgradable and offers great offline capabilities. Another plus is a film-option upgrade for converting telecined video footage from its 30-frame sequence to the film’s original 24 fps.
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Joe’s Filters 3.0 for Final Cut Pro
Joe Maller
http://www.joemaller.com
Reviewed in July 2002
This set of 24 plug-ins created with Final Cut Pro’s FXScript work excellently in both OS 9 and OS X.
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Kona SD
AJA Video Systems
http://www.aja.com
Reviewed in September 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/09/reviews/video
Video-capture card offers 10-bit input, mirroring for graphics programs, and free real-time upgrades. The downside is that it requires a converter to handle analog video, has poor offline quality, and doesn’t support OS 9.
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QTBatchExporter 1.0
Channel D
http://www.channld.com/software.html
Reviewed in July 2002
QuickTime helper application enables batch compression of sets of video files, saving lots of time.
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ShuttlePro
Contour Design
http://www.contourdesign.com
Reviewed in June 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/06/reviews/video
ShuttlePro 4.5, a USB video-editing controller, features an elegant design that’s easy to use, but it lacks an internally illuminated base for buttons.
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Tattoo 1.1
Feelorium
http://www.feelorium.com
Reviewed in July 2002
QuickTime media-skin editor allows customization of your audience’s viewing experience, and it’s much less expensive than comparable programs.
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16x9 Converter
Virtix
http://www.virtix.com
Reviewed in October 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/10/reviews/imovie
Virtix’s 16x9 Converter lets you shoot in 16:9, import the footage into iMovie, and work in letterbox format. You can also convert 4:3 footage to 16:9. It’s straightforward and works extremely well.
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Automatic Sequence Export Pro
Automatic Duck
http://www.automaticduck.com
Reviewed in February 2003
http://www.macworld.com/2003/02/reviews/autosequenceexportpro
For professional video editors who often finish their Final Cut Pro projects on high-end Avid systems, ASE Pro can be a lifesaver. Although it can’t transfer most of your effects and text, it can significantly streamline your workflow and add a great deal of flexibility.
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Avid Xpress DV 3.5
Avid
http://www.avid.com
Reviewed in November 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/11/reviews/avid
Avid Xpress DV 3.5 will meet the expectations of video editors seeking a reliable, feature-rich DV-editing solution. But if you want expandibility or low-resolution offline capabilities, consider Final Cut Pro or Avid’s higher-end products.
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Bravo Effects and Echo Transitions
Virtix
http://www.virtix.com
Reviewed in November 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/11/reviews/reviewsinbrief
Virtix’s two packages of plug-ins for iMovie can add some sparkle to your productions. All the effects end up rendering well, even in cases where the iMovie previews look cheesy.
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Cinema Tools 1.0
Apple Computer
http://www.apple.com
Reviewed in October 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/10/reviews/cinematools
Cinema Tools brings 24-frame film editing to Final Cut Pro. Mastering the combination may take some time, but it’s time well spent. The vague user manual doesn’t help.
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EyeTV
El Gato Software
http://www.elgato.com/toastexport
Reviewed in November 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/11/reviews/eyetv
EyeTV brings the concept of the personal DV recorder to the Mac. It’s not a direct replacement for a set-top DVR like TiVo, but for anyone who travels often with a laptop, EyeTV is a very creative solution.
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eZeScreen 1.0.1
eZedia
http://www.ezedia.com
Reviewed in October 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/10/reviews/imovie
eZeScreen lets you add blue-screen effects to your iMovie productions. It has intuitive controls, but the tolerance settings are imprecise, sometimes making it difficult to mask out backgrounds.
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Formac Studio DV/TV
Formac
http://www.firewiredirect.com
Reviewed in April 2003
Formac’s Studio DV/TV is unique in offering both analog-to-DV conversion and TV viewing and recording in DV format. If you want to watch TV in large format or record it for DVD, this device is a good choice.
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Graffiti 2.1
Boris FX
http://www.borisfx.com
Reviewed in December 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/12/reviews/boris
If your motion-graphics needs are limited to titles and animated 3-D text, Boris Graffiti 2.1 may have all the power you need. Graffiti is basically Boris Red’s vector-titling engine packaged separately.
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iMovie 3.0.1
Apple Computer
http://www.apple.com
Reviewed in April 2003
http://www.macworld.com/2003/04/reviews/imovie3
iMovie 3 is a significant upgrade to Apple’s video-editing program, benefitting greatly from integration with iPhoto, iTunes, and iDVD.
Note: A free download is available from Apple's website.
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Magic Bullet Suite 1.0
The Orphanage
http://www.theorphanage.com
Reviewed in April 2003
Magic Bullet Suite 1.0 Standard Definition edition gives video pros a real option when it comes to creating true filmlike quality. They’ll need some patience, though, as render times are long.
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Pan & Scan
Virtix
http://www.virtix.com
Reviewed in October 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/10/reviews/imovie
Pan & Scan’s effects move the camera’s viewpoint from one area of an image to another. It’s very useful for incorporating still photos into iMovie. However, the controls are not intuitive, and the documentation isn’t helpful.
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Premiere 6.5
Adobe Systems
http://www.adobe.com
Reviewed in December 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/12/reviews/premiere
Premiere 6.5 satisfies some critical needs, particularly for people who produce DVDs or edit video in OS X. While Premiere has its limitations, it’s quite capable of handling straightforward, shorter projects.
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Red 2.5
Boris FX
http://www.borisfx.com
Reviewed in December 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/12/reviews/boris
For 90 percent of the effects that broadcast professionals create, Boris Red 2.5 delivers the necessary power. If you regularly create titles of motion-graphics effects, Red’s feature set and nonlinear editor integration make it indispensable.
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Slick Transitions and Effects Volume 3
GeeThree
http://www.geethree.com
Reviewed in November 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/11/reviews/plugins
This iMovie plug-in package offers 30 new title effects as well as a host of useful transitions and effects that won’t bust your budget.
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Zoom 1.1
Virtix
http://www.virtix.com
Reviewed in October 2002
http://www.macworld.com/2002/10/reviews/imovie
Zoom replicates your camcorder’s telephoto and wide-angle controls, letting you zoom in on or away from a specific area of an image in iMovie. It provides smooth motion and multiple options, but zoomed images can look blurry due to interpolation and low original resolution.
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