TechNote (Archived)

Premiere 6.5 Real-Time Preview Compatibility with Third-Party Real-time Cards

What's Covered

Real-Time Preview on Windows

Real-Time Preview on Mac OS

This document provides compatibility information about Real-Time Preview functionality in Adobe Premiere and real-time (RT) video capture cards. The Real-Time Preview in Premiere is software-based (the computer's CPU processes the information), whereas the RT functionality of most capture cards is hardware-based (the card processes the information). Hardware-based processing is typically faster than software-based processing.

Many capture cards offer RT features beyond previewing. Some cards, for example, provide their own RT transitions and effects. To determine what RT features a card provides, contact the manufacturer.

To determine whether a capture cards is certified for use with Premiere 6.5, see the Capture Card Compatibility Web page at www.adobe.com/products/premiere/6cards.html .

Real-Time Preview on Windows

The Real-Time Preview in Premiere works with both the Video for Windows and the DV Playback (Direct Show) editing modes, but it doesn't work with other editing modes, such as Pinnacle AVI and Canopus Real Time DV. Real-Time Preview appears only on the computer monitor.

To enable Real-Time Preview, use one of the Real-Time Preview presets for your project, or choose Project > Project Settings > Keyframe and Rendering, and then check Real Time Preview.

Real-Time Preview on MAC OS

The Real-Time Preview in Premiere works with the QuickTime editing mode. Real-Time Preview may work with other editing modes, such as Matrox RTMac, depending on the card. Refer to the card's documentation for details.

Premiere detects whether or not an RT card is installed, and then previews are processed as follows:

-- If Premiere detects a RT card, the RT card processes previews. If the card supports Real-Time Preview, the card uses it; if the card doesn't support Real-Time Preview, the card uses its proprietary RT preview.

-- If Premiere doesn't detect a RT card, Premiere processes previews.

Real-Time Previews can appear on the computer monitor or an attached DV camera. On a camera, performance may stutter with slower computers.

To specify where previews appear, choose Project > Project Settings > Keyframe and Rendering and then select one of the following:

-- From Disk to render all previews to the hard disk before you preview them.

-- To Screen to view Real-Time Previews on the computer monitor

-- To Hardware to view previews on an attached DV camera

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