The last issue that I ran across (and which MFM writer Craig McDaniel also ran across) is a problem with 720P footage and the Dynamic Link to Encore CS5. Depleted: Day 419 was shot in 720P on the HVX200 and I simply could not Dynamic Link it to Encore and have it render a DVD without crashing. (For the rough cut DVD, eventually I had to export out the footage as a rendered video file and import it into Encore the old way.) I had no problem with other varieties of footage, but 720P wouldn't work. Craig also uses the HVX200 and had no problems with 1080P footage and Dynamic Link, but couldn't get 720P footage to work either. (He also tried some 720P titles that hadn't originated from the camera but were created in After Effects and had the same problem.) Hopefully this problem will get addressed soon, as 720P is one of the most popular HD formats for Independents, both due to Panasonic's 720 PN format (which saves disk space) and due to fact that this is the max size for slo-mo that cameras like the HVX200 and the Canon 7D have. (Note: After completing this review, I found out from Craig McDaniel that there is currently a workaround that's proven successful for issues with Dynamic Link to Encore involving 720P material. If you choose Blu-Ray export instead of DVD export, you can successfully export the footage into Encore. After you do so, you can switch to burning a regular DVD without having the system crash. I haven't had a chance to personally test this method, but Craig has found it to work correctly numerous times since discovering it.)
One of the new elements of CS Live is the ability to send clips for review to collaborators via an all new interface.
Value
CS5 marks the first time I've reviewed a Production Premium package where the value isn't quite as cut and dried as it has been in the past. There is a lot to love in CS5, like Story-to-OnLocation functionality, Flash Catalyst, the improved Mocha plugin, and a number of cool workflow improvements. For new users with a new 64-bit computer, it's a total no-brainer to go with CS5. However, for existing CS4 owners, there are a number of considerations you'll need to think about based on your equipment and plugin choices vs. the new improvements in CS5. Either way, the package is an awesome value, but it may not be the right fit for everyone.
Final Comments At the end of the day, there's a lot of impressive elements to Production Premium CS5. While its aggressive embracing of the future might not make it the right fit for some of our readers, it's a stellar suite that you'll want to at least demo to see if it fits your workflow needs.
Ease
of Use
9.2
Depth
of Options
9.5
Performance
9.3
Value
vs. Cost
8.6
Overall Score
9.2
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.
