Avid Liquid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Avid Liquid | |
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| Developer: | Avid |
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| Latest release: | 7.2 SP1 |
| OS: | Windows XP SP1 |
| Use: | |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | [1] |
Avid Liquid is a SD and HD video editing platform from Avid Technologies for the PC. It offers integrated DVD authoring, surround-sound audio processing, and finishing in one application. The family of Avid Liquid products offers a range of fully integrated hardware options for high-quality performance. Formerly known as Pinnacle Liquid & Liquid Edition it was part of Pinnacle System’s product line. Pinnacle was acquired by Avid in late 2005.
Liquid hit the headlines in 2004 as the first non-linear editing software to support high definition and HDV video formats. Since then, Avid have re-released Liquid with version 7 as the first version under the Avid brand name. Recently it has been updated to v7.1.
Avid Liquid is still in the process of being adopted into the Avid tree and as a result Avid are not heavily promoting the product until it can be fully integrated with their NLE platform. Liquid is often dismissed among seasoned editors as it was not adequately marketed by FAST Multimedia (original creator), nor Pinnacle Systems.
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[edit] Features
Some of the key features of Avid Liquid:
There is no save command in Avid Liquid, as it automatically saves open files every 1.3 seconds.
- On the timeline DVD authoring
This saves time and offers flexible interactive menu editing right on the timeline
- Native HD and HDV editing
Support for new formats is a must in the video industry. Liquid Supports all current known High-Definition formats, and is field upgradeable, as liquid is frame-independent software.
- GPU real-time effects
GPU effects take advantage of the graphics processor(s) of the computer’s video card to render effects in real time. This takes load of the computers central processing unit, but means a good graphics card is needed.
- Multicam Editing
This feature, present in most professional video editors, allows realtime editing between up to sixteen different cameras by simply clicking on the view desired.
- Surround Sound editor
Liquid supports up to 18 surround audio channels in the surround editor, so an entire audio mix can be made within the application. Remember, the number of audio tracks on the timeline is limitless.
- Advanced effect editors
Every aspect of any effect in Liquid is user configurable and keyframeable.
- Background rendering
Liquid background renders everything it needs to without the user noticing. Liquid tightly integrates advanced render farm and render accelerating hardware compatibility.
- Advanced color correction
While not up to par with other Avid color enhancement, liquid does a good job with primary, and secondary color correction.
- Proxy & XDCAM, XDCAM HD compatibility
Liquid is currently the only application to directly integrate, and support XDCAM proxy files and metadata. Footage can be logged in proxy format in short periods of time and offline editing can begin. As the user edits, Liquid will automatically up the footage to its original format, or, the user can manually select which clips to be up-converted.
[edit] Interface
Avid Liquid has a unique interface, but is not as flexible as its competitors. Included with version 6.x and 7.x are two user interfaces: classic, and standard. The classic interface is much like the original interface, while the standard interface is a new addition that started in version 6. The original is much like working in an operating system rather than an application. It has its own start button in the bottom left corner and a menu bar at the bottom of the screen – much like Microsoft Windows. In the classic view, there is not toolbar at the top of the screen. The classic view was very hard to understand and learn, and as a result the ‘standard’ view was developed.
Liquid has six main panels: the desktop, where all the media and bins are located; the toolbar, where most command buttons are located; the timeline, where footage is put together to form a finished film; the source viewer, where individual clips can be viewed; the preview, where the timeline can be played back; and editors, where effects, capturing, and any other advanced tasks take place.
[edit] Desktop
The desktop in Avid Liquid is a lot like the desktop in Microsoft Windows. Clips are represented by icons and folders (or bins) can be created. When media is digitized or imported it appears on the desktop in a bin selected by the user. The file browser is located on the desktop.
[edit] Toolbar
Most command buttons are located on the toolbar.
[edit] Timeline
The timeline is where most of the action occurs. Footage is put together in the timeline to form a finished film.
[edit] Source Viewer
The source viewer is a very important inlay (a video preview window). Individual clips or storyboards created on the desktop can be previewed in this window. In addition, in and out as well as hold markers can be placed on clips.
[edit] Preview
The preview window is where the timeline is be played back.
[edit] Editors
The editors are where effects, capturing, and other advanced tasks take place.
[edit] Versions
The Liquid Pro Hardware is not necessary but is a considered a valuable addition to the software. Most editors dismiss the Liquid Pro Hardware due to its lack of professional I/O.
[edit] Avid Liquid
Avid Liquid is a software-only version of Liquid, with no additional hardware. This package is an option for users who do not need further input or output capability, either because their existing hardware provides I/O capability or because their input or output will be handled along a network. This would also be suitable for those whose input or output is to CD, DVD or other removable media.
[edit] Avid Liquid Pro
The primary difference between Avid Liquid and Avid Liquid Pro is in the hardware provided: Avid Liquid includes no additional hardware. Avid Liquid Pro includes the software plus a basic break-out box (a break-out box is an interfacing tool which provides jacks into which various audio and video inputs and outputs may be plugged).
[edit] Commercial Versions
Avid Liquid Chrome HD combine's the Liquid software with SDI hardware. The Avid Liquid Chrome HD family offers a range of solutions that can handle almost any I/O format or codec and then author to a wide range of output formats, including standard- or high-definition tape, DVD, or Web.
See the Avid Liquid Chrome article for more information.
Fact - Currently the BBC holds 12 Liquid Chrome editing seats
[edit] History of Liquid
In 1995 FAST Multimedia began development on a new Editing system named "Blue". The success of their previous editing system "Video Machine" encouraged FAST to continue with the product. Video Machine was a Linear and Non Linear hybrid editor, meaning, it worked in both Linear and Non Linear modes.
As time passed, the development of Blue progressed slowly. At the time (1998) FAST produced a board set and software for Sony called ES-3. The Blue developers noted how much power the board sets added, and later that same year, FAST released their own MPEG2 editor by the name of 601. The 601 sold well, but as its client base grew in the US, BOSE speakers noted they had a speaker product by the name 601. Production stopped while FAST came up with a better name. The decision was then made to name the MPEG-2 success "Silver".
Pinnacle (licenced by FAST) began selling turnkey systems in the United States. Turnkey units were standard computers with the board set and software pre-integrated. Later in and around 2000, FAST released several advanced options for Silver. One of the most notable being the .InTime and .DV boards to enable accelerated rendering & support for DV, a relatively new format. Later in 2000, a DV Native product called "Purple" which began shipping in August of 2000.
At the 2001 NAB, Pinnacle introduced two more products, Ivory and FSDV3. Ivory was a hardware based Uncompressed only editor while FSDV3 was a "consumer" entry level Editing software. It was very similar to Purple but FSDV3 had no support for many features such as .InTime and .Control.
All of this development put a burden on FAST Multimedia financially. In September 2001 Pinnacle Systems announced they were purchasing certain assets and intellectual property of FAST Multimedia. By October of 2001 Blue, Silver, and Purple were integrated permanently into the Pinnacle family of products. Ivory and FSDV3 were discontinued immediately. For around 6 months pinnacle retooled FSDV3 and renamed the product "Pinnacle Edition." In May 2003, a new product was born – "Liquid Chrome". Liquid Chrome was based on Targa 3000 software with the "Liquid" interface.
In September 2003, the decision was made that Purple was no longer needed and discontinued from the Liquid product line. Around that time "Pinnacle Edition" would be re-named "Liquid Edition" so as not to sound as a misfit among the rest of the product line. In the year 2003 Liquid consisted of 5 flavors:
Liquid Blue: "Every Format In - Any Out" Blue is capable of mixing and matching formats native in the timeline and is targeted at the Broadcast level market. Large customers include: CNN and MTV (Europe)
Liquid Chrome: A true real time system capable of mixing uncompressed, MPEG2, and DV on the timeline natively. It is also capable of providing up to 4 streams of Uncompressed footage with R/T graphics. No rendering.
Liquid Silver: MPEG2 and Uncompressed - One of the best value editors around.
Liquid Edition Pro: Entry level editing software into the Professional market. It contains the same interface as all of the other "colors". This means that, if you learn on Liquid Edition today, tomorrow you could walk into CNN, sit down, and use Blue just as easily as you did Edition. The same software as Liquid Edition below, but with an ATI graphics card with analog capable Breakout Box.
Liquid Edition: The same as Liquid Edition Pro except no hardware is provided.
Shortly after, Pinnacle slowed production of Liquid Silver, and Liquid Blue, offering them only to broadcast companies. Soon after, in early 2004 they were discontinued indefinitely. Liquid hit the headlines in late 2004 as the first editing software to support HDV, a new Long GOP version of High Definition.
In early August 2005, Avid Technologies purchased Pinnacle Systems. The Liquid line-up was re-named Avid Liquid with version 7.
Reference: Planet Liquid & North Carolina Avid Liquid Users Group
