I was wondering if anyone can name or list plugins and/or filters that run directly within Avid Xpress Pro and require no external operation. I'm using 5.8 if that makes any difference. I know of NewBlue FX, which seems pretty good. I think Magic Bullet as well. No real preference as to what the plugins do, just want to know what's out there.

Similar questions might have been posted throughout these forums, but I searched multiple times and only found a little info. The help is really appreciated. Thanks.

 Sapphire plug ins work within the native Avid effects interface. A free trial download is available at www.genarts.com. I highly recommend it.

 Thanks for the reply. I'd love Sapphire, it's just out of my price range.

55mm Digital Film Tools

Boris Continuum Complete

Sapphire Genarts

Also

 Dom,

    Thanks for the input. It's appreciated.

 In addition to Dom's list, add SpiceMaster from www.pixelan.com .

Great suggestions-thanks.

Has anyone used Digital Film Tools? I was wondering about their "Light!" plugin. It seems really unique. Does anyone know if Boris Continuum Complete has anything similar?

And second, if I were looking for a general plugin to cover a good amount of effects ground would you say Boris Continuum Complete would be one of the best routes to take? Thanks again.

Examples of effects I'm looking to achieve include (old age film effect, glow, some type of light rays, and matte work wouldn't hurt)

 In that case, if Sapphire is unaffordable for you, the next best would be Boris Continuum for the capabilities you want, but I don't think it's available for XPRO.  Another alternative would be to export to Adobe After Effects and realize it there, then re-import into Avid.

FYI - Tiffen has taken over the 55mm plugin set

Here.

Again, great suggestions. I was wondering if anyone has used Boris Continuum Complete? How's the Chroma Key filter in that program compared to Avid's? Do you like the program in general? Thanks again.

MikeD2:

I was wondering if anyone has used Boris Continuum Complete? How's the Chroma Key filter in that program compared to Avid's? Do you like the program in general?

Hi,

The chroma keyer in BCC is good.  It's better than the Avid chroma key effect, but not as good as a dedicated keyer like Ultimatte.  Overall, BCC is excellent, both in the amount of effects you get in the package, the preset effects that come within every effect, the flexibility of the effects, and the quality of the effects.  I recommend it highly.

Larry Rubin:

the next best would be Boris Continuum for the capabilities you want, but I don't think it's available for XPRO

I had BCC installed on an Xpress DV system.  I think it was a version that was intended for Media Composer (It's at home, so I can't check at the moment), but it worked in XDV just fine.

good luck,
Carl

 Boris Continuum is a nice bundle with some very useful filters for cleaning up problem video, but the best chroma key function I've used within the native Avid application is Spectramatte, which comes with Media Composer. I would say the chroma key filter in Boris Continuum is no better or no worse than the Avid standard chroma key effect. However, Boris Continuum is not available for XPRO.  For 3rd party plug-ins, I prefer Ultimatte.

 Thanks for all the help. I thought Boris Continuum Complete 5 was compatible with Avid Xpress Pro though? Check out this link if you can and let me know if I'm interpreting it wrong: http://www.borisfx.com/product/continuum/support.php 

Thanks.

 Interesting. It would appear from that link that while BCC Continuum is not offered as a bundled addition to XPRO as it is for Media Composer, the latest versions 4 and 5 are apparently available for XPRO as a separate purchase from Artel.

 Thanks for the help-I wasn't sure about it.