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CS4 breaks basic editing habits
I’ve noticed that Premiere CS4 completely changes editing paradigm. It’s now more like AVID or FCP, which may be good, but it’s a real nuisance for long time Premiere users. There is now a concept of source-target switchboard like in AVID/FCP (notice the big Vs and As on timeline track controls), whereas in older Premiere you just selected if you want to insert/overwrite A, V, or AV. This new paradigm introduces need of sync locks, which is a tremendously useful thing, but it adds complexity to simple editing jobs.
I was used to use keyboard shortcuts for switching next/previous target tracks. That is now gone, and we have something like in FCP/Avid, toggling separate tracks on or off. That’s one more technique to learn and one more habit to break.
Something like this happened between PPRO2 and CS3, which removed TAB toggling between source and record windows. I think Adobe shouldn’t deliberately break longtime user habits like this. What’s your opinion?
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14 Replies
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I agree completely!!! Whenever Adobe has made changes in their non-video programs (such as Photoshop or Illustrator) vital shortcuts were maintained. In times when shortcuts were dropped, they always reappeared again in the next version (due to the outcry of the John Q. Public).
That being said, I have used PremPro CS4 for a few days now, and I’ve dropped it like a hot potato. I initially switched some of my post production from Final Cut to PremPro CS3 and found it saved me quite a big of time because rendering was not required to view HD clips – even when several filters had been applied. Not only is CS4 slow, buggy, and unstable (crashing over and over again), timelines MUST be rendered when layering clips or adding filters – unless of course you are fond of watching your video out of sync with your audio.
All I could think when I excitedly began working with CS4 was, wow – great new interface – hope the rest of it’s as great! NOT! How disappointing and what a waste of money! If I’m going to need to render everything, I will gladly return to Final Cut for all my post production.
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I’m not real fond of the changes made to the source window either. Now, there is not switch to take the audio or video, you have to drag from the icon in the source window…
KMS
love
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hmm, I might think twice about upgrading, or at least delay the upgrade.
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Never mind me…I’m still figuring out the changes.
KMS
love
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[Rosie’s World] “even when several filters had been applied. Not only is CS4 slow, buggy, and unstable (crashing over and over again), timelines MUST be rendered when layering clips or adding filters”
Just curious if you are using the demo version or the retail (purchased version) for these results? What is your system config? CS4 is a bigger RAM user than CS3 was…
There are an interesting selection of steps forward and backward from an ease of workflow point of view…which all weigh differently on each person depending on the functions they use most often and the work they do of course.
One of the weirdest things in my opinon is that the Media Encoder needs to now be launched to export a still image from the timeline. When I first discovered it, I couldn’t believe how that simple task had been made into this procedure…on the other hand, the Media Encoder now being a separate app that can load PPro sequences, AE comps, and any clips from your machine into a cue with separate output profiles for each, creating a true “job queue” will see use immediately for me.
I suspect the still image export function was a casualty of some other improvement.
With the number of keys on a keyboard staying static and the amount of functionality in these applications growing all the time, creating hot keys is a challenge.
I would agree that if an application’s core functionality is served by an established set of shortcuts, they shouldn’t be tampered with…I’m only a user of a small group of keyboard shortcuts as I usually have a map on my Shuttle Pro for my most frequently used functions…I’ll have to check out which keys and functions are moved/altered.
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,CPO, Digieffects
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[Jiri Fiala] “This new paradigm introduces need of sync locks, which is a tremendously useful thing, but it adds complexity to simple editing jobs.”
Jiri,
I loudly applaud the introduction of sync lock and source targeting. The lack of this functionality has been one of my biggest complaints about PPro. Sync lock can, in certain circumstances, greatly simplify editing jobs.
I do agree that if there are no keyboard shortcuts possible for selecting/toggling target tracks (and/or for determining sync tracks)it is a MAJOR oversight and very contrary to the notion of “Editing efficiency” as touted by Adobe. I don’t have cs4 yet so I don’t know if the possibility exists to map to these functions. If it’s not part of the default keyboard mapping I sure hope it’s possible through custom mapping.
Anybody out there with the new software that can tell us?
Dave
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Dave, I didn’t say there aren’t keyboard shortcuts for the new paradigm. I know I will get used to this (I can edit in Avid too), my gripe is though that any major company shouldn’t change basic functionality of their apps like this.
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Hi I’m thinking about getting a mac to edit videos.
Do you think the Mac is better than a PC?
Currenty, I’m editing using Adobe CS3 and considering trying
finalcut or Adobe for MAC. I notice some good deals on the older
macbook pros and considering a good chance to give MACs a try.
Your feedback is appreciated! Are MACs more stable, do they hang like PCs?Thanks
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Jiri,
So, your grip is that they changed the keyboard layout? Or is it that they added functionality? I agree that it’s a pain to break old habits and learn new ones. The fingers go where they are accustom to going. It would be better to not break long time user habits.
So, there are keyboard shortcuts. I’m glad to hear that.
Dave
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Yes, there are, but they are kinda flaky. Just as you couldn’t insert/overwrite directly from Source window in original PPro CS3.0.0 (they fixed that in 3.1, I guess) you cannot target tracks from Source. You’ve gotta switch to Record or Timeline first. So, keyboard editing is definitely there more than ever, but it needs updates so it can become actually faster than mousing around. Oh well 🙂
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