Video Editing Computer Review: Laird DVora Avid Xpress 3.5 NLE Component System (page 2)
Real-time
Xpress DV offers a nice-but-standard set of effects to play with. We enjoyed working with the keyframe animation tools and envelopes, which allowed extensive modification of many effect parameters. Of course all of the effects can be previewed in real time, but this is now a completely unremarkable and standard feature of all editing systems. The titler is decent, but very basic and has no automatic animation features. We created a multi-layered composition with titles, transitions and an effect or two and found the real-time preview capabilities of the DVora to be decent, but unremarkable. Xpress DV did not output a real-time preview signal via FireWire, so if you are editing DV, a render will be required at some point. Our benchmark numbers for this machine showed MPEG renders of 11.5 fps. This bench is not a particularly useful measure of the real world performance of this machine, however, since the test does not involve any Avid software. Furthermore, the particular DVora we reviewed was equipped with a 1.9GHz P4 CPU, although we can see from Laird's Web site that they are constantly updating these systems with newer CPUs. As of this writing, this machine comes standard with a 2.6GHz P4 for the same price. Avid Xpress's general performance, and its real-time capabilities in particular, improve on faster machines.
Go Pro
The DVora is an excellent turnkey for the professional studio or the advanced hobbyist, but buyer's should be aware that the price does not include monitors or speakers, so you'll have to budget a bit more to get a working system. Videomaker is a consumer magazine and as such, we did not evaluate the DVora in a professional production environment, and that is where this machine really belongs. There are a number of critical features of this machine that a broadcast studio will require, but that consumers shooting DV only will not need. For example, the BNC component video inputs and outputs are a clear sign that this machine is ready to accept video from Betacam SP cameras and VTRs.
TECH SPECS
Model DVC1PRO-XPDV
Platform PC
Operating System Windows XP Pro
Processor P4 1.9GHz
RAM 512MB (PC2700)
Hard Disk (system) 40GB (7,200 rpm)
Hard Disk (system) 60GB (7,200 rpm)
Display Matrox G550 dual-head display card
Audio SBLive! sound card
Disc Writer CD-RW drive
Other Hardware 10/100 Ethernet, Avid Professional Keyboard, Steel Breakout box, 3-year warranty
Video Inputs/Outputs Component, S-video (Y/C), Composite (RCA), FireWire
Audio Inputs/Outputs Balanced XLR (2x), mini jack
STRENGTHS
- Avid certified turnkey
- Professional breakout box
WEAKNESSES
- No FireWire DV previews
SUMMARY
- Ready to go pro?
$6,999
Laird Telemedia
2000 Sterling Road
P.O. Box 720
Mount Marion, NY 12456
(800) 898-0759
www.lairdtelemedia.com
