Adobe OnLocation CS3
"With Adobe OnLocation, not only can you obtain footage faster by recording directly to disk, but the footage you get will be even better thanks to the on-set monitoring tools."
Senior product manager, Adobe OnLocation
Product overview
Production tools to help you shoot better and faster
Now included with Adobe® Premiere® Pro CS3, Adobe OnLocation™ CS3* (Windows® only) is powerful direct-to-disk recording and monitoring software to help you produce superior-quality results from your video camera. Designed to run on a laptop or workstation, Adobe OnLocation CS3 gives you an impressive array of production tools to help you shoot better and faster while saving you time and money. The previous version of Adobe OnLocation was the award-winning DV Rack™ HD software sold by Serious Magic.
Powerful direct-to-disk recording
Save tape and time by eliminating capture from your production process. Record DV and HDV video directly to hard disk using Adobe OnLocation CS3. Instantly review each shot without shuttling tape. Adobe OnLocation CS3 automatically detects and flags problems to provide the best results.
Professional on-set monitoring
Maximize camera image quality during shoots by using Adobe OnLocation CS3 to quickly calibrate your camera, check levels, and monitor your signal. Use the virtual reference monitor, comprehensive software waveform monitor and vectorscope, and audio spectrum analyzer to avoid problems and improve quality while you are shooting.
* For Macintosh users, Adobe OnLocation requires Boot Camp and Windows (purchased separately) or a separate Windows based computer.
Features
Complete feature list
Find out everything you need to know about Adobe OnLocation CS3 with this complete list of features.
Direct-to-disk recording
Direct-to-disk recording from DV and HDV cameras
Adobe OnLocation CS3 includes a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that allows you to bypass tape completely during shooting. Connect your camera to your laptop and start recording directly to hard disk. By eliminating the capture step, you can review footage instantly, import into the Adobe Premiere Pro project window, and start editing immediately. Amaze your clients with fast turnaround of same-day edits at events. On set, instant review of footage helps you ensure that every shot is good.
Flexible recording options
Adobe OnLocation CS3 records content to internal and external hard drives using simple controls that are similar to a VTR or your camera. Name recorded clips individually, or set up global names (for example, Take 01) for automatic naming. No more limits imposed by tapes or expensive memory cards — recording time is limited only by hard-drive space. A single two-hour event can be recorded to a single clip.
Pre-Record Buffer
Never miss the beginning of an event again. The Pre-Record Buffer means that before you hit Record, Adobe OnLocation CS3 is recording from your camera and saving up to 30 seconds of action that will be added to the start of the recorded content. This helps ensure that you always get the shot.
Time-lapse recording
Record a single frame at regular time intervals to make it appear as if time is moving faster than it is. Easily convey the passing of time by recording variant cloudscape motion, crowd movement, or traffic flow, or use similar editorial techniques.
Stop-motion animation recording
Make static objects come to life using stop-motion recording. This feature allows you to easily record static objects one frame at a time. Once finished, output to a single animation AVI file.
Pauses during recording
Pause in the middle of a recording without creating a new clip. This is especially useful when recording interviews, such as legal depositions.
Storyboard creation
Save high-resolution video stills direct from live video or DVR clips. It's ideal for grabbing reference frames for client approval or for storyboards. Capture images to standard JPEG, BMP, or PNG format. Save images to a file, the Windows clipboard, or directly to the DVR.
Motion-activated recording
Automatically start recording when motion is detected in a shot — the perfect solution for security surveillance and nature shoots.
Accurate timing
The ShotClock timer/clock module features a stopwatch/event timer that counts up or down in video frames. It features a high-visibility time-of-day production clock that can be automatically calibrated to the atomic clock at the U.S. Naval Observatory when connected to the Internet.
Image flipping
When using special 35mm lens adapters, such as the Redrock M2, flip the image in the field monitor horizontally or vertically so you can correctly review your footage.
Professional on-set monitoring
Digital field monitor
Digital field monitor
Adobe OnLocation CS3 includes an all-digital field monitor for use during setup and recording on set and on location. The field monitor accepts direct DV and HDV input, displaying the actual post-compression image as it's being recorded. The monitor provides comprehensive monitoring of video images using features that are similar to those found on high-end broadcast field monitors. In addition, it provides unique features for freezing, zooming, and comparing video content. Features include:
- Color bar generator and blue gun mode for properly calibrating brightness, chroma, phase, and contrast
- A display of the actual post-compression image as it's being recorded
- Split Screen and Onion Skin modes to view live video and compare it with prerecorded clips to match continuity
- User-adjustable Safe Area Indicator with center cross-hair
- User-adjustable dual Zebra modes to provide visual feedback, with unique "black" zebras to check shadow areas
- Underscan switch displays to view the entire active picture area, including details most camcorder viewfinders can't see
- User-adjustable aspect ratio from 1.00 to 2.50 (including 16:9)
- Letterbox mask mode for widescreen
- User-adjustable "rule-of-thirds" overlay indicators to assist with shot composition
- Full On-Screen Display (OSD) with numeric readouts for all settings
Lighting adjustments
Lighting adjustments
Instantly see if your shot is too bright or too dark and make camera setting or lighting adjustments to correct the problem. The waveform monitor measures the brightness of the video signal and displays it numerically. Get better results when compositing and doing greenscreen work. The RGB waveform monitor shows individual color components of your video, allowing you to adjust color precisely.
Consistent color balance
Consistent color balance
Use the vectorscope to maintain color balance in your content by measuring chrominance and signal strength. Maintain consistency in skin tones when lighting changes between shots. Ensure that colors match across cameras when shooting for multicam editing.
Camera calibration
Calibrate your camera for the best possible quality in any environment. The SureShot camera setup module walks you through a simple four-step, wizard-like process — you don't need to know anything about waveforms or traditional scopes. SureShot works automatically, using custom calibration charts on the camera setup cards included with Adobe OnLocation.
Accurate color
The Spectra 60 is a next-generation scope that bridges the gap between print/painting applications and live video. The Spectra 60 displays the numeric color value of any pixel in your video signal. This is extremely useful for comparing color values between, say, a printed logo done in Adobe Photoshop® and the logo on the wall behind a CEO being interviewed. The Spectra 60 can show color in RGB, HSV, or even CMYK color space, making it easy to compare values with any type of graphic or print ad.
Optimized audio setup
Achieve better microphone placement, recognize imperceptible background noise, and compare audio volume from one take to the next. The audio spectrum analyzer shows the volume and frequencies of your audio signal and indicates audio problems visually. Use this information to save your shoot and eliminate wasted time fixing bad audio in post production.
Scene continuity
Ensure that all aspects of continuity — color, lighting and audio, and more — match from one scene to the next using the full complement of shooting tools in Adobe OnLocation. Use the field monitor in Split Screen and/or Onion Skin mode to compare one clip to another and catch wandering microphones or changes in camera framing, brightness, and more. The waveform monitors and vectorscope also work in Split Screen mode, so even subtle differences in color or brightness can be detected and corrected with ease.
