Avid Technology has recently announced the Avid Liquid product line, the company’s new non-linear editing software and hardware offerings for event videographers, government and corporate video producers, and high-end enthusiasts.

Developed from Pinnacle Liquid Edition products by Pinnacle Systems, the Avid Liquid family includes the new version 7 of the Avid Liquid and Avid Liquid Pro systems, both of which are packed with new features designed for users who want a single application for creation and delivery of tape, DVD and streaming media.

The Power of Avid for the Individual

Avid Liquid builds on popular Liquid features, including native HDV editing, GPU-accelerated effects, background rendering, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio with AC-3 encoding, DVD creation directly on the video editing timeline and great value I/O hardware.

New features of Avid Liquid 7 software include:

• SmartSound integration – custom music creation directly inside the Avid Liquid application.
  
  
• New multimedia format support – native editing of popular codec’s including WM9, DiVx, and MPEG-4 for repurposing and output of content to the Internet.
  
  
• New effects – Real-time Timewarp, Stabilise, Dream Glow, and over 50 plug-ins from the highly-regarded Commotion effects suite.
  
  
• Avid Open Timeline – native HD and SD editing on the same timeline in real time, without transcoding for fast, flexible editing regardless of format.
  
  
• Preview HDV in SD – for viewing HDV in SD on a client video monitor with Avid Liquid Pro.

1. What is the difference between the Avid Liquid and Avid Liquid Pro products?
   
   The key difference is that the Avid Liquid Pro product comes with a USB2 - based breakout box that provides composite, component, and s-video I/O, along with stereo audio input and surround audio output. In addition, the Avid Liquid Pro product supports capture to uncompressed video and MPEG-2 IBP video.
   
   Avid Liquid software is a software only product that uses the computer's built-in 1394 port to capture from DV or HDV cameras and decks.
   
   
2. Can I exchange projects between the Avid Liquid and Avid Xpress Pro products?
   
   Avid Liquid software does not support total conform with the Avid Xpress Pro and Avid Media Composer families of products. Customers looking for a workflow that includes conform on higher end Avid systems should start with Avid Xpress Pro software.
   
   
3. What formats does Avid Liquid software support?
   
   Avid Liquid 7 software can natively edit the following formats: DV25, HDV, 1:1 (uncompressed SD and HD), MPEG-2 I-frame & IBP, WM9, MPEG-4 and DiVx.
   
   
4. Can I work with film with Avid Liquid software?
   
   Avid Liquid software does not directly support film based workflows. Customers are advised to choose Avid Xpress Pro software for this type of work.
   
   
5. What type of system do I need to run Avid Liquid software?
   
   Key factors in choosing a system for Avid Liquid software include: 1GB system memory, a latest generation graphics card with at least 128MB memory for SD operation and 256MB memory for HD and a USB 2.0 controller for Avid Liquid Pro hardware.
   
   
6. Does Avid Liquid run on the Mac?
   
   No. Avid Liquid software is a PC only product. Mac customers should consider Avid Xpress DV or Avid Xpress Pro software.

• Editing / Audio / DVD / Effects. One application
  
  Avid Liquid software is a powerful SD and HD video editor for the PC that offers integrated DVD authoring, surround sound audio processing, and thousands of amazing realtime effects. Its integrated toolset provides all of the tools needed to create high-quality productions and quickly output to tape, DVD or web streams.
  
  
• Complete HDV workflow
  
  Avid Liquid offers native transfers and frame-accurate editing of 720p and 1080i HDV content. It also includes an MPEG IBP render codec that provides the same 25Mbit workflow editors use with DV media. It features a powerful real-time effects engine that provides multiple streams of HDV in real time; video monitoring either on the VGA monitor or down converted to an SD monitor in real time using the available breakout box; and, most important, a smooth workflow for output to SD or back to HDV tape.
  
  
• Format flexibility
  
  Avid Liquid supports the Avid Open Timeline: mix content from a variety of sources without having to transcode between formats. Videographers can edit DV, MPEG I-frame, MPEG IBP, uncompressed SD, Windows Media, DIVX and MPEG-4, as well as HDV, in the same timeline. With such a broad palette of native codec’s, editors can spend more time creatively editing instead of re-rendering from format to format.
  
  
• Smooth DVD production
  
  Using Avid Liquid Pro software and hardware, editors can capture footage to a DVD-compliant MPEG IBP codec. They can add titles and effects and then dive into a full-featured DVD authoring toolset to define the interactivity; create and customise menus and navigation; preview and modify the DVD from the timeline; add a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix; and then intelligently render out to a finished DVD.
  
  
• Editing for everyone
  
  Avid Liquid software offers a flexible user interface and functions that match any level of editing experience. As users move from other consumer-level or professional-level applications, the transition is smooth and efficient.
  
  See Adobe Acrobat pdf datasheet (left) for more information.
  
  Please note that for hardware upgrades , the breakout box or the card needs to be returned and for software upgrades, the original CD must be returned.
  
  Click here to view all Avid products in this Category

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