Avid
Avid released its latest version of Xpress for Apple and Windows editors, which allows the use of cutting in native HDV, and mixing other video formats, like Final Cut Pro. Avid has an excellent intermediate codec, which allows for smooth editing and playback.

Adobe
In January, Adobe announced that its Premiere Pro software would be returning to Apple computers with Intel chips, after a four-year hiatus.

Though Premiere Pro can support native m2t editing, it's highly recommended you capture using the CineForm intermediate codec (which Cineform calls a Compressed Digital Intermediate), available for Windows and then cut in uncompressed HD. Ensure you have enough disk space, as one hour of HD can be anywhere from 40 to 60 gigabytes vs. 13GB for one hour of HDV footage.

The Matrox RT.X2 is an input/output card that provides real-time HDV, HD, and standard definition (SD) video capture, but also uses an intermediate codec to help keeps things running smoothly. It comes with a copy of Adobe Premiere Pro for Windows.

There are many different editing software titles for cutting HD, but all of them recommend using either a proprietary intermediate codec or a plug-in, like the one from CineForm, for editing HD.

Sony Vegas
One of the more popular Windows editing programs, Vegas provides a streamlined way of editing all flavors of HD and other video formats. Cutting in native HDV isn't a problem, though many editors prefer using an intermediate codec.

Use CineForm's HDI to edit more smoothly, and output back to tape in native HDV. If you have an older system, you can use a proxy editor, like the one from VASST called GearShift, which is similar to Lumiere HD.

Avid
Avid Liquid (the new name for Pinnacle Liquid Edition), which is for Windows only, is also capable of cutting native .m2t. Like all the various Avid editing software products, the design and functions are similar. There are just different features in the different versions.

Canopus
EDIUS comes in two flavors, software-based (Pro) or hardware- and software-based (NX). If you choose to edit with the software-based solution, the footage will be captured and cut with an HDI called HQ, which was developed by Canopus.

The hardware-based package, NX, gives more power to the editor, by allowing I/O hardware to capture the HDV footage, changing it to the HDI HQ for editing.

With so many choices, there are several things to consider. Are you using an Apple computer or a Windows-based system? Whichever one you prefer to use, most of these products can be downloaded as a demo to try out. Most editing software shares a similar graphical layout, which helps make things easier if you happen to edit on different platforms.

To shoot and edit with high definition, you'll need to beef up with HD monitors, too.

Watching your footage, while shooting or editing, on a calibrated monitor is vital for getting good video, whether you're shooting in high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD). But some HD and SD monitors can cost thousands, which can price many out of buying one of these necessary tools for video production.

We hope to help outline some good, affordable alternatives, along with the big boys. One important specification to check before getting out the plastic: make sure the resolution of your future monitor matches or exceeds the resolution of your source material. This is particularly important if you're going to be working in 1080i today (or 1080p tomorrow.)