We tested the Avid Xpress DV 2.0 PowerPack on an IBM ThinkPad running Windows 2000 Professional with a Pentium III and a single 30GB ATA 100 drive with a Pyro 1394 Port FireWire card from ADS Technologies. Although we had to render simple dissolves and all video filter effects, we were pleasantly surprised that audio gain and equalization adjustments played back in real time, without any detectable hardware support influencing playback. Here's another plus. When a video transition or filter effect that required rendering was added, the video clips and cuts played back unaffected in place of the unrendered effect. This was a welcome feature, rather than encountering some blue gradient screen announcing the need for rendering. This was a headache saver to us. When we applied a color effect, we could play back the unaffected video and keep working on the timing of our edits, knowing that when we chose to view the color effect, we could choose to render. We felt this was very good performance for a stock laptop editor.

Along with Pinnacle Commotion DV, a fully functional compositing and rotoscoping application, Sonic Solutions DVDit!, Avid ePublisher and Media Cleaner EZ, along with Boris Graffiti could make for some very advanced visual manipulation and output options. The Avid Xpress DV 2.0 PowerPack is just that, a power pack, and it could be your solution to getting a computer-editing job done with minimum hardware and maximum software. Avid is a name that can surely be trusted and the fact that consumers can enjoy this prestigious editing environment at a reasonably attainable cost is a monumental development.

System Requirements:
Qualified Windows 2000 computer and a qualified DV in/out card per: www.avid.com/products/avidxpressdv/specs.html
PowerPack bundle: Avid ePublisher, Avid Stabilize, DV Filmmaker's Toolkit, Pinnacle Commotion, Knoll LightFactory, Boris FX, Sonic Solution's DVDit!, Terran Media Cleaner EZ

STRENGTHS

• Uncluttered editing interface
• Solid performance
• Healthy bundle

WEAKNESSES

• A bit pricey
• USB Dongle
• Windows only

SUMMARY

• Avid puts its 10th generation software into the consumer's hands. It's a good thing.

$3,000
Avid Technology Inc.
One Park West
Tewksbury, MA 01876
(800) 949-AVID
www.avid.com