Compatible and customizable
Though it’s difficult to learn, Xpress Pro is actually built to make complex editing projects simpler. To that end, the program is designed so that footage can be easily accessed and shared between multiple users and multiple computers.
AVID provides the ability to designate separate users, who can each create a customized screen layout. This allows multiple people to work comfortably in the same version of Xpress Pro, no matter their editing style.
Xpress Pro ships standard with both Mac and PC versions, and one dongle, which is necessary for operation. This way XPress Pro can be installed on multiple computers, but is limited to one user at a time. You can edit your video on your desktop at work, and then continue on your laptop when you get home.
Not only can you transfer your projects between multiple computers, you can actually work on it in any level AVID system. That’s right: you could edit your TV pilot in Xpress Pro, and then touch it up in Media Composer when the series gets signed.
What footage, where?
Xpress Pro simplifies big editing projects by allowing users to easily access and organize footage. The “Open Timeline,” which handles HD, SD and 24p footage simultaneously, is a boon for editors working in multiple formats. Everything plays in real time, so you don’t need to worry about adjusting frame rates and resolution, only about editing.
If you’re working with a lot of footage you’ll appreciate being able to log clips upon import and then organize everything in multiple bins and folders. You can also access media from other projects, making sharing and collaboration easier.
The last word
Xpress Pro is a hefty editing program, with a hefty price tag for non-professionals. It retails at $1695.
For students, who can buy it at a discount , and editors with professional aspirations, XPress Pro is one of the best programs on the market. Anyone willing to put in the work to learn Xpress Pro will be impressed with the program’s power—and with the videos it lets you create.
