Blog

• DvInfo
  • http://www.dvinfo.net/article/post/video-workshop-an-introduction-to-adobe-cs5-5-part-one.html
  • http://www.dvinfo.net/article/post/video-workshop-an-introduction-to-adobe-cs5-5-part-two.html
• Adobe
  • http://www.adobe.com/support/premiere/

• http://premierepro.wikia.com/wiki/Virtual_Studio_Technology
  • <<<
  • If you want to actively prevent Premiere Pro from using one or more VST plug-ins, create a text file called Blacklist.txt listing the filename of each plug-in one per line. Put the text file in the same folder as the plug-in files, one blacklist file per folder. The blacklist file is read only when Premiere Pro starts up.
    • You must restart your computer for the Blacklist.txt to work.
  • ….there is a limit to the number of VST effects that can appear in the list in the mixer panel, however all supported VST effects should appear in the list in the effects panel.
  • If some VST effects are not available in Premiere Pro when you expect them to be, search your hard drive for a file called Plugin Loading.log after configuring your search to find hidden files. The log may tell you why a plug-in is not being loaded.
  • >>>

I am a novice user of Adobe Premiere.  Having installed iZotope Ozone 5 I expected it to just appear as one of the audio filters.  However I saw no sign of it.

Web-research:

• http://help.adobe.com/en_US/PremierePro/4.0/WS1c9bc5c2e465a58a91cf0b1038518aef7-7f0fa.html
  • <<<
  • Premiere Pro supports the Steinberg VST (Virtual Studio Technology) audio plug-in format so that you can add VST audio effects from third-party vendors. Premiere Pro includes VST plug-in effects that are available in both the Audio Mixer and the Effect Controls panel. Track-based VST plug-ins may provide additional controls. Apply VST effects the same way you apply other audio effects to tracks or clips.
  • In the Effects And Sends panels of the Audio Mixer, VST effects appear in the Effect Selection menus. In the Effects panel, they appear in the Audio Effects bin so you can apply them to individual clips. In most cases, VST effects appear in the Audio Effects bin and track type that corresponds to the number of channels the effect supports. For example, stereo VST effects appear in the Audio Mixer track effect menus for stereo tracks only, and in the Stereo bin in the Audio Effects bin in the Effects panel. After you apply any VST effect, you can open a window with all of its controls. You can leave multiple VST editor windows open as long as you want, such as when automating effects, but Premiere Pro closes all VST editor windows when you close the project.
  • If you previously installed a VST-compatible application other tha Premiere Pro, Premiere Pro finds VST effects in the VST folder that already exists. Inside the Plug-ins folder of the Premiere Pro application folder, there is also a VSTPlugins folder with plug-ins that are used only by Premiere Pro.
  • Note: When you use a VST effect not provided by Adobe, the specific control layout and results of the plug-in are the responsibility of the plug-in manufacturer. Adobe Premiere Pro only displays the controls and processes the results.
  • >>>
• http://forums.adobe.com/thread/682375?start=0&tstart=0
  • <<<
  • I use a set of VST plugins by Voxengo with 32-bit CS4. I recently upgraded to 64-bit CS5. So, I went and snagged the 64-bit versions of these Voxengo plugins. I put them in the C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Pro CS5\Plug-ins\en_US\VSTPlugins\.
  •  Here’s the info in the Plugin Loading.log file:
    •  Loading C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Pro CS5\Plug-ins\en_US\VSTPlugins\Elephant.dll
      Loading from the registry…
      The plugin was successfully loaded from the registry.
  •  Yet, the plugins do not show up in the mixer or in the effects list.
  •  I do not get any error messages. Also, I’m using Vista.  Any ideas?
  •  If you’d like to try the plugins yourself, there are free trials here:
    •  http://www.voxengo.com/product/elephant/
    •  http://www.voxengo.com/product/glisseq/
  •  Thanks! - Jamez
  • >>>
  • <<<
  • I tried the 8 free Voxengo plugins in Premiere CS5, all of them 64bit and they did not show up.  Curiously enough, these 8 plugins are listed at ehe Adobe websiste  here: http://www.adobe.com/products/plugins/premiere/.
  • I tried the 32bit versions with Soundbooth CS5 (which is a a 32bit app) and they did not show up there either.
  • >>>
• http://premierepro.wikia.com/wiki/Virtual_Studio_Technology
  • <<<
  • If you want to actively prevent Premiere Pro from using one or more VST plug-ins, create a text file called Blacklist.txt listing the filename of each plug-in one per line. Put the text file in the same folder as the plug-in files, one blacklist file per folder. The blacklist file is read only when Premiere Pro starts up.
    • You must restart your computer for the Blacklist.txt to work
  • If some VST effects are not available in Premiere Pro when you expect them to be, search your hard drive for a file called Plugin Loading.log after configuring your search to find hidden files. The log may tell you why a plug-in is not being loaded.
  • >>>
• http://forums.adobe.com/thread/679366?start=0&tstart=0
• http://forum.recordingreview.com/f44/plz-help-me-abt-izotope-ozone-plugin-18721/
• http://forums.adobe.com/message/2970290#2970290

Started a new project

• Decided to make it a real project - [2011-12-12 (NG) Carol Singing]
• Prompted for a project path and file name:
  • Path:
    • (scratch area etc. are then, by default, set relative to (within?) this - much nicer than FCP7 )
    • Chose: [I:\_Media\_Projects\2011-12-12 (NG) Carol Singing\030 Projects\Adobe\Premiere]
  • FileName: [Carols 001]
    • This created project-file [Carols 001.prproj]
• Dialog [New Sequence] then prompted for sequence settings:
  • Choose Sequence preset - to match the recorded footage, namely 720p25
    • Chose XDCAM-EX > 720p > XDCAM EX 720p25
    • Change the [Sequence Name] from default ([Sequence 01]) to [010 Assemblage 001]
• The main Premiere timeline etc. GUI appeared.
• At its lower-left was [Media Browser]
  • In this I browsed to the source files, being MXF versions of my EX3 footage, selected those files and [Import]
    • The files then immediately appeared at the upper-left pane.
    • However for 5-10 minutes afterwards, the hard drive light flashed, indicating data-transfer.
      • How come?  What was it doing?  Surely it’s already in the right format?
  • In the upper-left pane, I double-clicked one of the source files.
    • It appeared in the Source preview-window (akin to FCP and Avid)
• In Source pane:
  • Played intuitively.
    • SpaceBar for Play/Pause
    • Arrow keys for frame-at-a-time
    • Shift-Arrow for a few frames at a time
    • Control-Arrow for Beginning and End.
    • Easy-to-see*grab&slide timeline cursor (blue blob)
• Tried dragging source (pane) media to Timeline
  • Not as I expected
    • I expected the video and audio to “want” to go in the existing video and audio tracks.  Instead, while I could drag the video component anywhere (including the existing video tracks), the audio component only went to new tracks (that it automatically created).
    • Four audio tracks were created, not the two that I was expecting (given it was only a stereo recording).
    • No audio waveforms displayed (I expect there is a setting somewhere)
• Found an [Info] tab in the pane at the lower-left of the app.
  • It showed that file [929_3798_01.mxf] contained 3 video channels, of which only vchannel 1 was populated, and 7 audio channels, of which the last four (4-7) achannels were populated.
• Found [Preferences] under [Edit > Preferences]
  • Discovered cache location was at [C:\Users\David\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Common]
  • There was also an option <<Save Media Cache files next to originals when possible
    • Possibly inappropriate when using straight XDCAM-EX source-files?
      • Don’t want to corrupt the BPAV file structure with “foreign” additions.
    • Should be OK though when using MXF format though I guess.
    • Can [Clean] the cache, under same [Preferences] window.
• Audio Waveform display
  • In each audio track-header, Twirl the Disclosure-Triangle.  Independently for each audio track.
  • Having done so, it was apparent that two of the audio elements (hence two of the four audio tracks) contained no audio - their waveform displays were simply flat-lines.
• Effects
  • Extremely intuitive.
    • [Effects] tab in lower-left pane of app GUI
  • Tried e.g. [Effects > Video Effects > Auto Color]
    • Dragged it to item on timeline
    • Saw its effect in the main Timeline preview pane
      • Provided the cursor was somewhere on that item in the timeline.
    • In [Source] preview-pane, selected [Effect Controls] tab
      • [Video Effects] included [Auto Color]
      • Clicking the [fx] button toggles the effect on/off
• Cuts & Transitions
  • Snapping on/off Toggle-button (looks a bit like [C], meant to be a horseshoe-magnet), left of timeline top-ruler
  • Transitions
    • Basics
      • Ensure handles are present and that the clips are abutted (e.g. have snap enabled)
      • In Effects palette (tab in lower-left pane, [Video Transitions > Dissolve > Cross Dissolve]
    • Iris Transition
      • I fairly frequently use this in another NLE, but with feathered edges.  The settings for this transition in Premiere do not appear to include feathering.  Nothing obvious came up in Google or Help searches.
      • One suggestion, from July 2009, was to instead use Gradient Wipe, which has a Softness control, together with a suitable image for the required shape (e.g. circle).
        • DOH !
• Text
  • Row of buttons on left of GUI at mid-height
  • Button [New Item]
  • Select [Title]
  • A special GUI-ette (window) appears.
    • It has background image (for assistance only, and toggleable on/off)
  • There is a good video tutorial on this at [http://tv.adobe.com/watch/digital-video-cs5/gs07-creating-titles-in-adobe-premiere-pro-titler/]

 Having got the suite installed and ready to use, I ran Adobe Premiere:

• From Launcher, ran Adobe Premiere
  • A “First Use” dialog came up
    • Requested my Adobe ID
      • I entered it, consisting of an email address and password.
      • Response screen said: <<By providing an Adobe ID, you have set up access to Adobe CS Live Services during your trial period.
      • It also indicated it had sent email verification.
  • I received two emails.
    • First email
      • <<<
      • Thank you for providing your Adobe ID and downloading your Adobe Creative Suite® software trial. During your software trial, you will have access to CS Live services that further extend the capabilities of your Adobe Creative Suite software. Accessed from within your software, CS Live services enable you to accelerate creative reviews, streamline cross-browser testing, and easily host online meetings.
      • For quick and easy access to CS Live services, here is some important information you will want to save:
        • Access CS Live services: http://www.adobe.com/go/cslive_getstarted
        • Adobe ID (your login): …
        • Your Personal Meeting Room: …
      • Your complimentary CS Live services subscription will expire with your product trial.
      • >>>
    • Second email:
      • Verify email address
        • Strange that this was sent after the email containing Personal Meeting Room address etc.
  • Thank You dialog gave link to tutorials:
    • http://tv.adobe.com/?productID=328&release=5.5&platform=0&locale=en_GB&source=PCSTHX
      • Lookslike the same stuff as seen earlier.  Lots of promotions, whizz-bang and specialist stuff, when I kind of expected novice introduction stuff, especially since I indicated I was that level when applying for the download…
  • I clicked the [Done] button
• Adobe Premiere started up
  • Popup stated: <<Adobe Premiere Pro requires updated video card drivers for CUDA accelerated rendering.  Please download and install current drivers for your video card.>>
    • That’s what I was afraid of.  It’s making the same demands as DaVinci Resolve.  I cannot satisfy those demands, all updates are under Apple’s control - it is normal that laptops (as my MacBook Pro is) have customized versions of graphics card drivers…
    • I closed the popup.
  • Premiere prompted for [New Project] etc.
    • I clicked on [Help]
      • The Help panel, once populated (after a minute or so), included a [Getting Started and Tutorials] link.

 Having got the suite installed and ready to use, I ran Adobe Premiere.  It created an account for me on [CS Live Services].  It complained that my video card drivers were insufficient for CUDA accelerated rendering.  Sadly I cannot update these - I must only accept those that Apple provide (via Boot Camp updates).  So no CUDA acceleration then I guess…

Nevertheless, how well does it work in other respects, and how usable is it overall?  The

(more…)

• Installer for CS5.5 Production Premium
  • For viewing the license conditions, it offers language choices including [English (North America)] and [English (International)].
    • It’s not clear what the difference is.  I wish it showed some examples in each.
    • I’m not the only confused one, e.g:
      • http://forums.adobe.com/message/1227810
        • Peter Spier
          • 3. Jan 14, 2009 10:21 AM (in response to rpollack-2)
          • Re: CS4 English International vs English US
          • To add to the confusion, I think the difference is in the default dictionaries and the spellings in the interface, i.e. it presumes you want British-style spelling (as you have), and has nothing to do with licensing.
          • I have no clue how to change that election other than to re-install. If you can live with the funny spelling in the menus, you can set the default dictionary to US English in InDesign, and probably other apps.
          • With nothing open, click the text tool and set the control panel to character mode options. Change the language in the dictionary dropdown near the right end. This is also available from the character panel (which which is where you’d change it in Photoshop, it’s in the prefs under Hyphenation in Illustrator — and you may be able to reset the interface language in the Photoshop prefs, too)
    • I chose [English (International)]
  • Next it asked for:
    • Serial Number or else check the Trial button.
      • I did the latter
    • Also it asked for Language
      • I assume this to be the operating language for the app
      • Again I chose [English (International)]
  • Next, [Install Options]
    • Apps:
      • Flash Pro CS5.5
      • AIR for Apple iOS Support
      • After Effects CS5.5
      • Audition CS5.5
      • Encore CS5.1
      • Flash Catalyst CS5.5
      • Illustrator CS5.1
      • OnLocation CS5.1
      • PhotoShop CS5.1 (64..)
      • PhotoShop CS5.1
      • Premiere Pro CS5.5
    • Location:
      • [C:\Program Files\Adobe]
  • Next it began calculating the total time for install and began installing.  After a few minutes it returned its time estimate as around half an hour.  This (initial conservative estimate?) rapidly dropped to around 20 minutes.
  • Next it asked for web browsers to be closed
  • Finally it displayed what looks like a Launcher window for the Production Premium suite, withbuttons labelled akin to Periodic Table elements, except that one of them [Ps] (PhotoShop) appeared twice, identically labelled.
    • On mouse-hover it emerged (from tooltip text) that the second [Ps] was 64-bit, the first then presumably being 32-bit, though its tooltip text did not confirm this
• Possibly unrelated, Kapersky AntiVirus reported
  • <<Detected a potentially dangerous modification of the application BMDSTREAMINGSERVER.EXE without a digital signature>>
    • That application was installed yesterday, as part of DaVinci Resolve Lite for Windows.
    • (I got distracted by domestic events)
    • The Kapersky prompt appeared to time-out, I don’t know whatit assumed/did…
• The Launcher highlighted the followingTutorials link:
  • http://tv.adobe.com/?source=EWUMA
    • ?? Europe, …, Middle-East, Africa ??
• From Launcher, ran Adobe Premiere
  • A “First Use” dialog came up
    • Requested mu Adobe ID
      • Ientered it.
      • Response screen said: <<By providing an Adobe ID, you have set up access to Adobe CS Live Services during your trial period.
      • It also indicated it had sent email verification.
  • I received two emails.
    • First email
      • <<<
      • Thank you for providing your Adobe ID and downloading your Adobe Creative Suite® software trial. During your software trial, you will have access to CS Live services that further extend the capabilities of your Adobe Creative Suite software. Accessed from within your software, CS Live services enable you to accelerate creative reviews, streamline cross-browser testing, and easily host online meetings.
      • For quick and easy access to CS Live services, here is some important information you will want to save:
        • Access CS Live services: http://www.adobe.com/go/cslive_getstarted
        • Adobe ID (your login): …
        • Your Personal Meeting Room: …
      • Your complimentary CS Live services subscription will expire with your product trial.
      • >>>
    • Second email:
      • Verify email address
        • Strange that this was sent after the email containing Personal Meeting Room address etc.
  • Thank You dialog gave link to tutorials:
    • http://tv.adobe.com/?productID=328&release=5.5&platform=0&locale=en_GB&source=PCSTHX
      • Lookslike the same stuff as seen earlier.  Lots of promotions, whizz-bang and specialist stuff, when I kind of expected novice introduction stuff, especially since I indicated I was that level when applying for the download…
  • I clicked the [Done] button
• Adobe Premiere started up
  • Popup stated: <<Adobe Premiere Pro requires updated video card drivers for CUDA accelerated rendering.  Please download and install current drivers for your video card.>>
    • That’s what I was afraid of.  It’s making the same demands as DaVinci Resolve.  I cannot satisfy those demands, all updates are under Apple’s control - it is normal that laptops (as my MacBook Pro is) have customized versions of graphics card drivers…
    • I closed the popup.
  • Premiere prompted for [New Project] etc.
    • I clicked on [Help]
      • The Help panel, once populated (after a minute or so), included a [Getting Started and Tutorials] link.

Given my poor experiences on my [MacBook Pro (2009) > Boot Camp > Windows 7] with Boris Blue and with DaVinci Resolve, it is by no means certain that [Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium] will fare any better.  But it’s worth a try.

So I downloaded a trial.  As part of that I had to first allow [Adobe Download Assistant] to be nstalled and executed.  It prompted for my level of expertise.  I answered: <<Novice: I could use all the help I can get>>.  In response it gave the following link:

• http://tv.adobe.com/product/cs-production-premium/
  • Many videos, including films, feature-tour, hardware, software, …

The download is apparently 7.116 GB, estimated download time between 5 and 8 hours. Overnight in other words.

I bought a discount copy of Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium, because (after much discussion with others) its feature-set seems to match my typical and forseeable production requirements more than those of other NLEs, including my current mainstay, Sony Vegas 9 (which I am still trying to wean myself off, but when any proper job comes along, I tend to fall back on the familiar and trusted, for low risk including avoidance of learning-delay).

Being (so far) a one-man-band who is traditional Windows user, I purchased the Windows version.  But, confirming what I had heard, it does seem that most media people I have met use Macs.  So should I have purchased the Mac version?  Are the versions exactly the same or have they different functionalities?  Is there an option for the license to cover installing the same product on both Windows and Mac OS provided only one of them is run at a time? (e.g. when on the same physical machine).  Ideally at zero or negligible cost of course.  For example Avid Media Composer does have this flexibility.  While the uncertainty remains, I will not open the box (in case it turns out that I need to exchange it).

Here is what I have learnt so far (mainly from web-searching, unverified information):

Differences between the OS-Specific variants:

• It appears that for CS5.5 Production Premium (at least), the Windows variant has slightly greater functionality.
• However it remains to be seen what will be the case for CS6, when it becomes available.

Some options are:

• Volume licensing.
  • Intended not only for businesses but also for individuals.  If the “volume”is for two licenses, they can be for each of the OS’s.
• Crossgrade.
  • But as far as I can tell it’s intended only for one-off (or infrequent) crossgrades, requiring “destruction of the software” on the old machine each time.  Shame it isn’t simply happy with repeatable deactivation/reactivation on each machine / OS.

(more…)

• http://library.creativecow.net/lincoln_matthew/Premiere-Pro-Review/1
  • Begins with a main article.
  • Is followed by a list of tutorials.
• Adobe Premiere AVS Plugin - presumably enabling Premiere to directly use AviSynth script files as source-media
  • http://www.animemusicvideos.org/guides/avtech3/amvapp.html