READ ABOUT THE NEW CANOPUS EDIUS CARDS
Introduction to the DVStorm2
The DVstorm2 is the newest release of realtime editing hardware from Canopus. The DVStorm2 is capable of performing unlimited simultaneous realtime video filters, titles and graphics layers. This power and expandability is made possible by Canopus’s proprietary scalable video architecture. The original DVStorm was a pioneering piece of hardware. It was later updated to the DVStormSE and now it has become the DVStorm2. The most remarkable thing about the Storm is that its hardware has remained basically the same throughout its revisions. The DVStorm2 is the same hardware card as the original DVStorm (except for one minor change) with the inclusion of the StormEncoder MPEG daughter card. This combination of hardware makes it possible to have tremendous realtime editing capabilities as well as produce high-quality MPEG video. This is great news for users of the previous DVStorm versions because you won't need to buy a whole new editing card. The most you'll have to pay is $299 (depending on if you already have the StormEncoder).
The DVStorm2 is a single PCI card, but actually has two daughter cards connected to it. Nevertheless, it only takes up one PCI slot in your system. The DVStorm2 card has a full set of audio and video i/o on the back as well as internal connections which can be routed to the StormBay breakout box.
DVStorm2 vs. DVStorm2 Plus
The DVStorm2 comes in two flavors - the DVStorm2 and the DVStorm2 Plus. Both versions contain the same hardware with the exception of the StormBay breakout box which comes with the Plus version. The only other difference between the two versions is the inclusion of Adobe Premiere 6.5 with the Plus version. So, which version do you want? Well, it depends on a few things. Firstly, if you already have Adobe Premiere then you can save yourself some extra bucks and get the non-Plus version. Of course, you won't get the StormBay. Whether you want the StormBay or not is an issue of personal preference. I personally love the StormBay because it actually ads to the i/o that is on the back of the Storm card (instead of replacing it).
I should note that even if you don't have Adobe Premiere, the DVStorm2 (non-Plus) does come with its own editing application. Many Canopus users prefer StormEdit to Adobe Premiere because of its speed and ease of use. If you want to take advantage of all the realtime features that the DVStorm2 has to offer you will need to use Adobe Premiere 6.5.
Scalability, Canopus Style
Scalability has become a buzzword over the past several month and its meaning has been interpreted distinctly by different manufacturers. Canopus defines scalability as realtime editing capabilities that expand as CPU power increases. This ensures a longer product life and a higher return on your investment.
My own interpretation of Canopus scalability is as follows: The combination of Canopus hardware and software will present the fewest amount of obstacles as possible. This means that limitations such as, number of video layers, number of graphic/title layers, number of effects that can be applied are not restricted by the Canopus hardware. This has proven to be the case in all of my testing. With a very powerful system you can add more layers and more simultaneous effects without any need to render. Eventually, by adding enough effects, I can reach the limit of what the system can do in realtime. This is a limit of the computer though and not the actual Storm hardware.
What is realtime?
Many of you reading this review have no doubt already been using a realtime editing system and have understanding of what realtime is. Some of you still may have never even edited video before and are wondering what all the ruckus is about. Plain and simply, realtime editing means that you can work (and have results) in "real" time instead of waiting for effects to be rendered. For example, with a non-realtime system any time you add an effect the computer must first process the effect before it can show you what it looks like. The amount of time this takes is dependant on the computer's processor or any video processing hardware that's helping out. On a realtime system things behave quite differently. Once you create an effect the system can immediately show you the results.
The caveat with the different "realtime" editing solutions is that each one offers different realtime capabilities. In other words, "The Ultimate Realtime System" would allow you to do everything you wanted in realtime. The amount of realtime capabilities that the DVStorm2 offers is amazing and if it does everything you want to do in realtime then it may be "The Ultimate Realtime System" for you.
Since the DVStorm2 offers two programs with which to edit, the realtime capabilities of the card are determined by those programs. For example, because StormEdit was made by Canopus from the ground up to work with the DVStorm it is no wonder that everything that can be done in StormEdit is realtime. Adobe Premiere, on the other hand, is a stand-alone editing application and is supported by many hardware manufacturers through the use of plugins. The DVStorm2's plugins for Adobe Premiere make many of Premiere's capabilities realtime and also add new capabilities to Premiere in the form of effects. There are some capabilites found in Adobe Premiere that will not be realtime with the DVStorm2 (this is the case with all current realtime cards). Overall, the amount of realtime capabilities are greater with the DVStorm2 using Adobe Premiere than with StormEdit.
What can the DVStorm2 do in realtime?
Since the number of simultaneous effects applied to a video project is highly dependant on the processing power of the host system I will only talk about the main realtime capabilities here.
5 video layers and Unlimited graphic/title layers - Potential users ask me all the time "when would I ever use all those layers?" Well, most likely you probably wouldn't during day-to-day, but isn't nice to know that you could if you wanted? The main issue here is that Canopus is trying to remove as many limitations as possible. I should note that in order to use all the available realtime layers you will need to use Adobe Premiere because StormEdit only supports three video layers.
30 realtime video filters - This is where the bragging rights are. Canopus has developed some of the absolute best and most useful filters available. The fact that they are realtime and can be combined in different ways means it's easier than ever to acheive a particular effect. All of the Canopus video filters are keyframeable. My favorite filter is the Old Movie effect, but more about that later.
7 realtime audio filters - Sweeten audio or isolate different frequencies in realtime.
Perspective/3D Picture-in-Picture - This is the big one that the competition has had on Canopus for quite some time. With this effect you can now move a video plane in 3D space. This effect can currently only be used as a transition, but a filter is coming soon. (There is a workaround though).
28 realtime 2D and 3D transition groups with 100s of presets - Canopus has improved their 3DRTII and Xplode effects. They've also introduced a new 2D basics filter.
Realtime DV and Analog output - The DVStorm2 gives you instantaneous output to your DV camera or the analog outputs. The output is in perfect synch with the on-screen preview and has no delay. If you have the StormBay you'll get realtime analog output from the back of the Storm card as well as from the StormBay.
Realtime MPEG capture and Export - Not only is it realtime, it is also extremely high quality. Whether you need MPEG1 or MPEG2 for archival or DVD production the DVStorm2 will allow you to capture from analog or DV directly to MPEG format. You can export directly from StormEdit in realtime and from Adobe Premiere in near-realtime (approx 1.2X).
Realtime output plugins - Besides being able to edit in realtime with StormEdit or Adobe Premiere, the DVStorm will give you realtime output from After Effects, Photoshop and LightWave. If you use any of these programs you will be able to see live output to any DV device or monitor connected to any of the DVStorm2's outputs.
DVD/MPEG Capabilities
The DVStorm2 comes with everything you need to be able to edit great videos. The new effects that have been added to the DVStorm2 are sure to inspire some creativity. The new MPEG/DVD capabilities will allow you to share your videos with everyone. DVD is fast becoming the prefered method of video distribution. More and more people are buying set-top DVD players and more and more computers are coming with DVD recorders. DVDs allow you to have a much higher quality picture and sound than VHS tapes allow for. Of course, the final quality of your DVD picture is dependant on the quality of the source video and the quality of the encoding process that is used.
The DVStorm2 now comes with the StormEncoder MPEG daughter card. This encoder was previously a $400 option on the DVStorm (and worth every penny). Not only is the quality outstanding, but the encoder also processes video in realtime. The interface for the StormEncoder allows you to adjust almost every parameter available for MPEG1 and MPEG2.
Another nice encoding capability that the DVStorm2 has is the ability to encode to MPEG (1 or 2) on the fly directly from analog or DV. This feature had been added earlier with the 1.2 StormEncoder drivers, but was of limited use since there was no frame-accurate way to control when the capturing started and stopped. Canopus has now included with the DVStorm2 a whole suite of MPEG tools so you can tweak your MPEG files after they've been encoded. MpegCutter allows you to cut trim and re-export MPEG files. AV Splitter allows you to convert MPEG Program streams into Elementary streams (separate the audio and video). MPEGRe-Encoder allows you to convert higher-bitrate MPEG streams into lower bitrate streams. MpegExplorer lets you look at detailed specs of any MPEG file. MediaCruise is the main application for on-the-fly encoding and MPEG viewing.
Canopus has also included Ulead DVD Workshop with the DVStorm2. DVD Workshop is a welcome change to the Sonic DVDit! LE program that has historically been included with the DVStorm. DVD Workshop allows you to create fairly sophisticated titles with ease and supports all the DVD burners currently available.
Wrapping up the overview
This overview should give you a basic understanding of what the DVStorm2 is and what can be done with it. In the next section of this review I'll be going into each aspect of the Storm in detail.
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