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Fig. 4: [Click for Larger Image] Effect Keyframe area

An added plus is that you can now use keyframes to change an effect's behavior over time. You can add the keyframes directly in the Timeline, using the new Effect Keyframe area underneath each clip (Fig.4). Setting keyframes in the Timeline allows you to see when an effect's settings change relative to the entire program. You can also quickly edit and preview the settings at each keyframe -- an "After Effects-like" feature that gives you precise control over the behavior of an effect.

Another huge step forward are the new audio controls. Now you can process audio within Premiere using a professional-level mixing tool: the Audio Mixer (pictured at right). This tool resembles a traditional multichannel mixer, featuring gain and pan adjustment for up to 99 audio tracks. The Audio Mixer works in conjunction with the Monitor window, so you can make adjustments as you play the audio and watch the synchronized video in the Monitor window. The new controls also allow for automation of commands, separate VU meters for each track and fader controls.

Adobe has also redesigned Premiere to be even more DV friendly than before, giving wide support for a host of capture cards, and more significantly, Native DV. That is, using only the DV port on your computer, an IEEE 1394 connection, (FireWire/i.Link), and your DV camcorder, you can capture perfect digital video. Premiere also includes specific DV presets and DV device control for flawless capture from and export to your DV device. You also have a host of DV presets which allow you to choose NTSC or PAL, Standard 4:3 or Widescreen (Cinema) 16:9 aspect ratio and 32 kHz (12-bit) or 48 kHz (16-bit) audio sample rate.

But the most enhanced features of 6.0 are the inclusion of new tools that allow compression of your finished projects for perfect streaming on the Web. Premiere includes three options for exporting an individual clip, a segment of the Timeline, or the entire program to a Web-optimized file format. When you have finished editing your video program, choose File > Export Clip or File > Export Timeline and select one of the following Web export options: Save for Web (with a Cleaner 5 compression plug-in), Advanced Windows Media, or Advanced RealMedia Export. Choosing one of these options opens the respective plug-in dialog box in which you can specify your exported file format information. Also included in this release is the ability to embed Web markers in your video files. You can set Timeline markers that include links to HTML pages or to chapters in a QuickTime movie or DVD. During playback, these markers automatically open to the linked Web content or chapter.

With new, enhanced capture, edit and export tools, digital producers are now primed for creating high quality content for the Web and beyond. With the release of Premiere 6.0, Adobe continues to change and improve its product to keep up with the demands of a medium that is moving ahead faster than a herd of galloping horses.

Score (Out of a possible 10): 8

System requirements:

Windows:
Intel Pentium processor (@ 300 MHz)
Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000,
Windows Millennium, or Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4
32 MB of RAM (128 recommended)
85 MB of available hard-disk space for installation (40 MB for
application)
256-color video display adapter
Large-capacity hard disk or disk array

Additional requirements For DV:
Microsoft DirectX-compatible IEEE 1394 interface
Microsoft DirectX-compatible video display adapter
Large-capacity hard disk or disk array (capable of sustaining 5 MB/sec)

For built-in DV:
Windows 2000, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows
Millennium required

Additional requirements for third-party capture cards:
Adobe Premiere certified capture card

Mac:
Power PC Processor 300mhz
Mac OS software version 9.0.4
32 MB of available RAM (128 recommended)
50 MB of available hard-disk space required for installation
Apple QuickTime 4.1.2
Large-capacity hard disk or disk array

Additional requirements for DV:
PowerPC processor (@ 300 MHz)
Apple FireWire 2.4
QuickTime-compatible FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface
Large-capacity hard disk or disk array (capable of sustaining 5 MB/sec)

Additional requirements for third-party capture cards:
Adobe Premiere certified capture card

Anthony Wood is an award-winning producer, 3D graphic artist, screenwriter and actor. He's also one-half of the creative team behind Smoking Monkey Media, a production company that produces its own short films, animations and graphics. Contact him at smokemonk3d@hotmail.com.

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