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[Click for larger image] The timeline is a bit different from what we usually see in NLE software, too. United Media likes to refer to this as a "modeless" interface. For example, drag the right edge of a clip, and you edge view it in the right window. Drag the left edge of a clip, shows up in the left monitor window.

There are three ways of moving clips around:

Trimming clips is equally intuitive - trim by dragging edges, or position the "needle" where you want to trim and hit a hot key, type in the time code numbers of the ins and outs, or use the trim window. In the Trim Window, there's a unique ability to trim clips without ever leaving the trim window. After you're done trimming a clip, when you click the Next Clip button your next clip in the bin is placed into the trim window, ready for your ministrations. Then, hit Control and the number of the track you'd like for it occupy, and the software places that clip on the timeline at the point where you have your needle parked. Not only is this a quick and easy way to place clips on the timeline -- it's also a great way to visually back-time a shot. Just trim your clip, park the needle on the timeline where you'd like the out point of the shot, hit Control and the track number and there it is -- the shot is placed on the timeline with its outpoint at the spot where your needle was parked.

 

[Click for larger image] For 2D effects you have all the real time power of Matrox DigiSuite at your disposal. Real time 3D effects are on the way.

Effects
Until Matrox releases its Max upgrade to DigiSuite, there are no real time 3D effects for On-line Express. But there's still software-based 3D, with Boris FX included with the DigiSuite hardware. Making matters easier is the fact that all the effects in On-line Express work the same way. You have the ability to set as many keyframes as there are frames in the clip. And, you can save effects and easily apply these same ones to a clip with just a drag and drop. Also easing your effects waiting time is that all the power of the full version DigiSuite is available. For example, place two DVE moves on the screen, generate a background (a unique feature that no others on this board use) and you can still do a credit roll over all this in real time. Depending on what you need to do, all the various DigiSuite models such as DTV, LX, LE or the full, uncompressed version are available and work with On-line Express.

 

Sync up to four cameras with the Multicam feature. But it's not in real time.

Multicam
Here's a feature that's not available in this under $30K price range: Multicam. You can sync up four cameras, and the software allows you to select which camera is on line, much like directing a live, multicamera shoot. This is useful if you've shot a production with multiple cameras and want to cut it together in post. Adding to the convenience is the ability to sync up the shots with time code, an audio cue or a visual cue. You're able to do all this syncing on the timeline, a feature that works a bit differently from the way Discreet edit* does this, because here you avoid having to be in a special mode and can perform the sync in a familiar setting. Although our 400 MHz test machine could only play back the quad split at a disappointing 3 fps, the frame rate of the four sources depends on CPU speed. So, with a 1.2 GHz chip, expect much better frame rates than that. If you're going to do lots of multicam editing with On-line Express, I'd definitely recommend using two monitors. Put the quad split in a separate monitor, and it's a nice big view, not available on any other multicam setup I've seen.

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