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For those of you who have never tried Adobe Premiere, you may find using it to be quite daunting compared to the consumer-grade editing suites you find at your local computer store. But if you are serious about filmmaking and want professional results, there are few programs that can compare.
Here is Metacafe producer Kainoa03’s review of Adobe Premiere, including its latest offering, CS3.
Personally, I started out editing videos using Windows Movie Maker, but I had bigger ideas that were beyond its capabilities, so I moved up to Adobe Premiere (and set myself back about $1000 at the time).
I have to admit, there is quite a learning curve with this program and I found myself reading how-to books and asking a lot of questions in another forum (wrigleyvideo.com) just to help me get going. It's definitely not one of those programs where you can install it and create an epic motion picture in an hour, and if you're familiar with using other Adobe software, you know what I'm talking about.
You must take some time to learn the commands, tools, and when and how to use which feature/effect. You also need a good amount of patience and a fairly powerful computer, because rendering your final video may take hours depending on how complex it is and the amount of effects that have been added.
That said, once you get the hang of it, you'll find Adobe Premiere to be a powerful video editing program that produces professional results far beyond the abilities of free editing software packages.
I like the fact that nearly everything is "tweakable" as far as video is concerned - think of it as Photoshop for video. You can adjust several aspects of audio and render 5.1 surround sound, and importing Photoshop files is an absolute cinch. The program also offers multi-camera editing, advanced color correction and compositing (green/blue-screening), and a wealth of transitions and effects.
Premiere supports a wide assortment of audio and video formats, allowing you to import AVI, MOV, WMV, MP3, and MPEG-2 (although it can be temperamental when editing MPEG-2 and WMV with certain codecs used to compress these files). You also have the option of editing in SD or HDV depending upon your raw footage.
What I like most about Premiere is being able to stack multiple timelines (similar to using layers) and the ability to nest sequences - features not found in Windows Movie Maker or other consumer-grade editing suites.
Adobe Premiere's latest version, CS3, has incorporated some of After Effects's capabilities like Time Remapping (think of “The Matrix” where the action slows to a crawl then speeds back up to normal), which is a big plus for me since I use this and other effects in AE. They've also included Encore, a powerful DVD authoring program (which used to be sold separately) that allows you to create your own custom DVDs with menus.
Another new feature included with CS3 is the ability to record directly to your hard disc via FireWire cable and the included OnLocation software (Windows version only). This gives you the ability to review your shots "on-location between takes" without having to shuttle through tapes.
But, like everything professional-grade, all these features come with a rather sizable price tag - $800 for the full version, $300 to upgrade from previous versions. Premiere CS3 also has some hefty minimum system requirements, so that price tag isn’t exactly all-inclusive if you consider the hardware upgrades you may need to make.
Adobe Premiere is a powerful, professional-level video editing program that will indeed take your home movies to the next level. Its wealth of features and tools will seem overwhelming at first, but with time and practice, it will enable you to make your videos truly shine.
My honest recommendation for those of you who only make home movies as a hobby would be that Adobe Premiere may be quite a leap from the software you’re used to, but it will certainly yield superior results once you've mastered the basics.
A word of advice for those who are new to making home movies: remember the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out." If you just recorded a home video clip using your cell phone or digital camera, don't expect Adobe Premiere to make it look like it was produced by Steven Spielberg.
A good video starts with good recorded footage. Before you spend money on professional-level equipment and software, familiarize yourself with the basics of videography: camera angles, shot composition, lighting, sound, cuts and fades, stabilizing techniques and pacing. If you have outgrown your current editing software and are looking to create more professional-looking videos, chances are you've also outgrown your camera equipment.
All in all, Adobe Premiere is a good choice for professional videographers, indie filmmakers and advanced video hobbyists who have outgrown the basics of free and/or inexpensive editing software programs.
