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MAY 08, 2003 Channel Storm Live Channel Pro 2.0
Let's say I have three pieces of video footage, a live video source and some titles to explain the clips. I want to start with the live video source and then overlay my clips and titles throughout the live event. So first, I double-click all of the files I want to use in the Media Browser, which calls them up into their own control windows. Next, I click the "Live" button on my live footage to start broadcasting it. If I want to use a transition on my first clip, I select the Switcher window and choose my transition. Then I hit the "Next" button on my first pice of footage (and title), and then hit the Transition button. My clip then fades in. When it's done, I just transition back out to return to the live footage. Rinse, lather, repeat. It's that simple. So that's the actual production process at the bare minimum of functionality. But once you adapt to this, everything else will come quite naturally. This is not a difficult piece of software at all.[an error occurred while processing this directive]What about other areas of workflow? How easy is it, for example, to manipulate imported graphics? Again, quite simple, owing to the contextual Information palette. When you select any element in your project, this Information window automatically provides you with a tabbed interface to show you all available options for a given element. With a graphic, for example, you can scale it, move it, flip it, set alpha and opacity properties, etc., all in one place.  And new in version 2.0, you can also command-click on any visual element in its source window to move it around interactively, even while broadcasting. This helps make positioning easier than in previous releases and also allows you to move around elements interactively for creative effects, such as an animated pointer that you can activate and deactivate during your presentation. So, in short, Live Channel Pro is intuitive and quite full-featured. You're not going to have any problems adapting to this software. Disappointments Any problems I have with Live Channel Pro 2.0 are minor. First, while I like the new interface much better than the old, I'd like it if, when switching between applications, Live Channel's windows would all automatically be brought to the front. You don't want to be stuck looking for a missing window that might be hiding behind a Finder window in the middle of a broadcast. I'd also like to see contextual menus and drag and drop support in a future release, though these features might at present require too much overhead for the program's real-time functionality. I can wait for these until processor speeds increase enough to allow for more workflow niceties. I want the restriction on output dimensions to be relaxed. Hardware at present probably can't handle full broadcast resolution in real time with Live Channel, but users should still be given the option so that this functionality will be available as processor speeds catch up. Right now, maximum output is at 320 x 240. And, finally, there's a little bug in version 2.0 when outputting video to a monitoring device that causes a cursor to jerk all over the place when using a Wacom tablet. Mouse input, however, is smooth. The bottom line Live Channel Pro 2.0 is a model of software engineering. It's put together so well that it really ought to make other developers blush. This is a tight program. It's incredibly fast and efficient. And it has some features that are just extraordinary, unmatched by any other streaming media software available. If you need software for Webcasting, this is the best you're going to find. I give Live Channel Pro 2.0 a recommendation of Must Buy. Live Channel Pro 2.0 is available now for Mac OS X for $999 for the commercial version, $699 for education customers. Upgrades from version 1.x run $299 and $199, respectively. Demo versions are also available. For more information, visit http://www.channelstorm.com. Contact the author: Dave Nagel is the producer of Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; host of several World Wide User Groups, including Synthetik Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS, Adobe InDesign, Adobe LiveMotion, Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; and executive producer of the Digital Media Net family of publications. You can reach him at dnagel@digitalmedianet.com. Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Related sites: • AV Video • Creative Mac • Design Supplement • Digital Media Designer • Digital Post Production • Digital Producer • Digital Video Editing • Digital Webcast • Film and Video Magazine • Presentation Master • Presentation Supplement • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
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