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Matrox’s RT.X2 is now offering stiff competition for EDIUS in its traditional area of strength – real-time effects. But Canopus can still claim about the best software-only real-time editing, considering its less high-end system requirements. EDIUS Pro 4 has added some useful features, too, which make it almost as capable an NLE as competitors which are much more mature. After all, Avid Liquid is on version 7 and Adobe Premiere Pro 2 is essentially the eighth version of Premiere.

On the downside, Canopus’ NX hardware does lack one or two of the features found in the Matrox RT.X2, or the Avid Liquid Pro 7 breakout box. In particular, there is no facility to capture from component sources. Likewise, it’s also rather surprising that filter keyframing has only been added to colour correction in EDIUS Pro 4, and not the full gamut of effects. On a more prosaic note, EDIUS has great encoding abilities available via the bundled ProCoder Express, but no disc authoring. This makes Avid Liquid 7 the more comprehensive all-round package.

But nevertheless, Canopus has achieved a capable, stable editing platform with EDIUS, which improves in leaps and bounds with each new version. Just the software on its own offers great real-time editing, and adding the NX hardware provides even more functions, although you need the HDV Expansion Kit to make the most of it. Since that is available as a bundle with the card for around the same price as Matrox’s RT.X2, it’s a tough choice. The Matrox product wins on component capture and Adobe Premiere Pro 2’s general usability. But EDIUS NX will give you more in real time on a cheaper PC.

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