Avid Pinnacle COMMOTION

From Pinnacle Systems, Commotion dv 3.1 ($795 list) is a powerful, professional-level video compositor. Although it lacks the sophisticated matte tools or motion tracking of its bigger sibling, Commotion Pro ($1,995 list), dv 3.1 offers features usually available only in much more expensive software. But despite all of its versatility and sophistication, Commotion dv 3.1 doesn't provide audio support.

A full cross-platform program, dv 3.1 runs on Microsoft Windows 98 and 2000 but performs best on NT. Installation was trouble-free. Though the interface is somewhat complicated, users of Photoshop-like graphics programs will be instantly familiar with the product. The clutter of controls requires that you constantly shuffle palettes while working.

Compositing video clips together is as easy as dropping them into the movie or onto the timeline editor. You can manipulate them directly or use dialogs for precise positioning and size.

The program's highly creative features include typical bitmap tools that paint directly onto each frame, with easy hotkey frame-by-frame advancing, as well as support for pressure-sensitive styli. The powerful new fx texture brushes are fully customizable.

Although the software does not have the Pro version's Primatte keyer and Miracle Alpha for almost painless video mask creation, dv 3.1 does feature basic blue screening tools, supplemented with rotosplining. Though it makes for a painstaking task, you can use keyframes for mask adjustments, and dv 3.1 will create the frame-by-frame changes.

On one hand, dv 3.1 makes achieving usually difficult tasks easy and provides powerful digital video-editing tools. On the other, the program is dense, and the documentation and the tutorials can be confusing. All in all, however, Commotion dv 3.1 is well worth the time investment needed to master it. The program offers a wealth of high-end effects at a reasonable price.