The
Creative Suite 3: Production Premium would cost you $4294 if you bought
it all separately, so you’re saving $2600 by buying it in a package. Now,
how does it compare to other manufacturers’ offerings for an equivalent
type of package?
[Editor’s
Note: Ultra CS3, OnLocationCS3, and Bridge CS3 aren’t
included with these other packages because they can’t be purchased separately]
For Avid: Xpress
Pro ($1695) with Avid Studio Toolkit ($1295) plus PhotoshopCS3 Extended ($999), IllustratorCS3 ($599), FlashCS3($699), and Soundbooth ($199) add-on purchases, you would be
paying $5486
For Apple:Final Cut Studio 2 ($1299) with PhotoshopCS3
Extended ($999), IllustratorCS3 ($599), and FlashCS3
($699) add-on purchases, you would be paying $3596
For
Sony:Vegas 8 Pro ($525) and Cinescore ($175), with After
EffectsCS3 Professional ($999), PhotoshopCS3
Extended ($999), IllustratorCS3 ($599), and FlashCS3 ($699) add-on purchases, you would be paying $3996
For Grass
Valley:Edius Pro 4.5 ($595), with After EffectsCS3
Professional ($999), PhotoshopCS3 Extended ($999),IllustratorCS3 ($599), FlashCS3 ($699),
and Soundbooth($199) add-on purchases, you would be paying $4090
In
their introductory speeches about the release of the CS3 line of video
products earlier this year, Adobe representatives made the statement that one
of the key audiences they were targeting in this new release was low budget filmmakers.
They realize the growing trend micro-budget filmmakers represent and they wanted
to get on board by packing the most value into CS3: Production Premium
that they could. It would seem apparent that they’ve more than lived up
to their goal in making this the best valued software package for low budget filmmakers
on the market.
Final
Comments The amount of new features and improvements in Production Premium is staggering.
The fact that it’s still the same price is a real sign that Adobe is truly
trying to target the unique needs and desires of the micro-budget filmmaker.
When
we reviewed APSP, the closing comment was: “Quite frankly, unless you own
serious shares of stock in Mac, you really need to get the Adobe Production Studio
Premium.” Well, now you don’t even have to leave your Mac to get the
most comprehensive postproduction package on the market.
If
this review hasn’t encouraged you to head over to Adobe’s website
and buy or upgrade to CS3: Production Premium, then you at least owe it to yourself
to download the free 30
day demo and try it out for yourself.
Ease
of Use
10.0
Depth
of Options
10.0
Performance
10.0
Value
10.0
Overall
Score
10.0
The
director of two feature length films and half a dozen short films,
Jeremy Hanke
founded Microfilmmaker Magazine to help all no-budget filmmakers make
better films. His first book on low-budget special effects techniques, GreenScreen Made Easy, (which he co-wrote with Michele Yamazaki) was released by MWP to very favorable reviews. He's curently working on the sci-fi film franchise, World of Depleted through Depleted: Day 419 and the feature film, Depleted.
Justin Pugh is a freelance editor and documentary filmmaker who lives in Orlando, Florida. A graduate of Full Sail's Film Production program, his credits range from involvement in the Florida Film Festival to editing feature length documentaries. Outside of moving pictures, he engages his passion for still photography.
Ryan Graham is the director of Livelihood, a critically acclaimed ultra-low budget zombie comedy. He also runs 37.5 Productions, a post production company specializing in giving a Hollywood sheen to independent films. In his spare time he is the lead guitarist for The Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad.
