Adobe Premiere Pro CC update 7.1

News

by Tim FokNovember 3^rd, 2013

Adobe is fulfilling promises of significant, regular updates to their Creative Cloud software products. Version 7.1 has just been released for Premiere Pro, boasting new features such as native CinemaDNG editing and seamless integration with SpeedGrade.

The above video provides a fantastic overview of some of the new features in the update. Here’s a break down of the featured updates:

Improved add edit function

This feature is one previously missed by FCP7 users. You no longer have to play about with the activation of certain tracks on the left hand side. The update makes the add edit function quick and easy to use. Just select the clip/s you want the command to apply and hit the shortcut.

Improved multi-cam 

Multi-cam editing gets a few nods in the upgrade. You can now apply effects to your individual clips within a multi-cam timeline, along with independently selecting cameras and re-ordering cameras.

Editable sequence settings

As an FCP7 user, I felt this was missed on Premiere Pro. You can now edit the settings of a live sequence, including render codec, resolution etc. Where Premier Pro excels over FCP7 here is the inclusion of editable framerates.

Native CinemaDNG file management

This is big news for Blackmagic Cinema Camera users. Premiere Pro will now recognize CinemaDNG sequences as video, and allow you to natively edit the files on a timeline.

Monitor overlays

This is quite a nice new feature. You can now apply a selection of customizable monitor overlays to your preview window. Overlays include time code, clip name and markers, and can be tweaked in text size, opacity and whether or not they’re visible on pause or constant.

Improved freeze frame function

This is a little update, but makes freeze framing a little easier to manage. You can now simply make a freeze frame within the timeline that doesn’t adhere to clip length. You can also quickly add a freeze frame segment within a clip at a specific time so the clip continues where it left off after the freeze frame.

Improved interpret footage

Premiere Pro now interprets footage un-destructively (unlike FCP’s Cinema Tools which conforms destructively), and also has the options to preserve interpretations when making files offline/online.

Ripple sequence markers

Little update here, but you can now choose whether or not markers on a timeline are affected by a ripple edit.

Copy and paste transitions

I’m sure like most of you, I’ve longed for this feature in your editing software. Self explanatory really but you can copy a transition and paste it to many cuts simultaneously.

Reverse Speed

Another very small update, but it’s one that makes the switch from FCP7 to Premiere Pro feel that little bit more at home. The speed options now accept negative values to give you a quick solution to reversing the speed of a clip.

Quick adjustment of trim type

This is quite a nice feature for improving your speed as you edit. With this feature enabled you can change between trim types with a simply hit of the CMD button. Premiere Pro will remember your previous trim type and offer this up first.

View sequences as clips in project bin

I’m a bit of a list view kind of guy, but for those who use thumbnails this will please you. You can now view sequences in the project bin just like clips. Sequences now have a thumbnail with a hover scroll just like individual clips.

Render all sequences at once

This is a great feature. You can highlight all sequences in your project bin and now choose to render all sequences at once. I’ve had to use a work around for this in the past with FCP7, Involving enabling a 1 minute auto render and keeping all timelines active in your timeline window.

Direct link the SpeedGrade

In the above video, Josh quite rightly saves the ‘best feature ’til last’. Premiere Pro now integrates seamlessly with SpeedGrade. You can export your timeline without rendering to SpeedGrade, apply colour correction and send back to Premiere Pro without any destructive edits to your cut points. The latter point was the sole reason why I stopped using Apple Color; you lost any control over your cut points when you sent a timeline back to Final Cut.

The SpeedGrade integration retains all features from before. You can still apply a look or preset within Premiere Pro, but this will now be recognized as values on SpeedGrade for further customization.

There’s a lot of controversy that surrounds Adobe’s new Creative Cloud product. Many users have complained at the adoption of a subscription only service for all future software releases. However if regular significant updates like this are to be expected, then it has clear advantages over it’s previous more timely updates.

How do you feel? Are you a Creative Cloud user? And if so, how do you find the service compared to the more conventional software release packages?

You can download the Premiere Pro 7.1 update here.