Source: 爱上MAC | Software download link: Adobe Prelude CC 2015 for Mac
Adobe Prelude CC 2015 is a professional tool for video asset ingest, transcoding, logging, and rough cutting, designed specifically for the early stages of post-production workflows. As a member of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, it integrates seamlessly with Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other software, aiming to help users efficiently manage and prepare large volumes of assets. This article provides a detailed introduction to its core interface, complete workflow, and operational tips.
I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace
After launching Prelude, you will see its logically organized workspace, which is mainly divided into the following key panels:
- Project Panel: Located in the lower left of the interface, it is the core of asset management. It displays all imported clips, subclips, and sequences in list or icon view, and allows you to create folders for hierarchical management.
- Source Monitor: Located in the upper left. It is used to preview raw assets; playback, marking In/Out points, adding markers, and logging information are all performed here.
- Program Monitor: Located in the upper right. It is mainly used to preview the currently open sequence or rough-cut timeline.
- Timeline Panel: Located at the bottom of the interface. Used to create and edit rough cut sequences, where you can arrange the editing order and perform simple editing operations.
- Logging Panel: Usually docked on the right side. This is the core functional panel of Prelude, where you can add detailed metadata to selected clips, such as scene, shot, description, keywords, etc., greatly facilitating subsequent searching and reviewing.
- Tools Panel: Includes the selection tool, razor tool, slip tool, etc., used for editing on the timeline.
II. Complete Workflow from Creating a Project to Exporting
Step 1: Create or Open a Project
After launching the software, you will see the “Start” workspace.
- Create New Project: Click “New Project,” enter the project name in the pop-up dialog box and select a storage location, then click “OK.”
- Open Existing Project: Click “Open Project,” navigate to the location of the project file (.plproj) and select it to open.
Shortcuts: Create new project Cmd + N; open project Cmd + O.
Step 2: Import and Ingest Media
There are two main ways to bring media into a project:
- Simple Import: Go to “File” > “Import” or drag files directly from Finder to the “Project” panel. With this method, the asset links still point to the original location.
- Ingest: This is a signature feature of Prelude, used to automatically transcode and back up files during import.
- Go to “File” > “Ingest”, or click the “Ingest” button.
- In the Ingest panel, click “Add Folder” or “Add File” to select source assets.
- Set the “Destination” on the right, and choose whether to create a “Transcode” preset (e.g., transcode to ProRes format) and a “Copy” option.
- Click the “Ingest” button to start processing.
Shortcut: Import files Cmd + I.
Step 3: Log and Mark Assets
Double-click a clip in the “Project” panel or the “Source Monitor” to open it in the Source Monitor.
- Playback and Marking: Use the spacebar to play/pause. Press
Ito set the In point andOto set the Out point to select the desired segment. - Add Markers: Play to a specific frame and press
Mto add a marker. Double-click a marker to enter a comment. - Log Metadata: Make sure the “Log” panel is open. Select a clip in the Source Monitor or Project panel, then fill in information such as “Scene”, “Shot/Take”, and “Description” in the Log panel. This data will be embedded into the file’s metadata.
- Create Subclip: After setting the In and Out points, click the “Create Subclip” icon in the lower right corner of the Source Monitor, or press
Cmd + U. The subclip will appear as a separate project item in the Project panel for independent management.
Step 4: Create a Rough Cut Sequence
A rough cut is arranging the selected clips in order.
- In the “Project” panel, right-click and select “New Item” > “Sequence”, or go to “File” > “New” > “Sequence”.
- Name the sequence and set a preset that matches the main footage (e.g., 1080p), then click “OK”. The new sequence will open in the Timeline panel.
- Add clips to the sequence:
- Drag clips directly from the “Project” panel or the “Source Monitor” into the timeline.
- After setting the In and Out points in the Source Monitor, click the “Insert” button to add the clip at the playhead position in the timeline.
- Edit on the timeline: Use the Selection tool (
V) to move clips, the Razor tool (C) to cut clips, and the Slip tool (Y) to fine-tune In and Out points.
Step 5: Export and Send to Premiere Pro
Prelude itself does not perform fine editing or complex output; its main export methods are creating FCP XML or sending directly to Premiere Pro.
- Send to Adobe Premiere Pro: This is the most commonly used integrated workflow.
- In the Project panel, select the sequence or clip you want to send.
- Choose “File” > “Send to Adobe Premiere Pro”.
- In the dialog box that appears, you can choose to create a new Premiere Pro project or append to an existing project.
- Click “OK”, and Prelude will automatically launch Premiere Pro and import the selected assets and sequences (along with all log metadata) into it.
- Export as FCP XML: If you need to exchange with other non-Adobe software, choose “File” > “Export” > “Final Cut Pro XML…”.
Note: Prelude does not have a direct video file export function (such as MP4). Fine-tuning and final output should be completed in Premiere Pro.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
- Batch Logging: Select multiple clips in the Project panel, then fill in the information in the Log panel. This metadata will be applied to all selected clips at once, greatly improving efficiency.
- Keyword Sets: In the “Log” panel, you can create custom keyword sets. For example, create a set containing keywords such as “Actor A”, “Close-up”, and “Outdoor” for a scene, and then quickly add multiple tags to clips by dragging and dropping or clicking.
- Search and Filter: Use the search box at the top of the Record panel to quickly locate specific assets based on recorded metadata (such as scene number, keywords). The Project panel also provides filters based on file type and status.
- Custom Workspaces: Drag panel tabs to rearrange the interface layout. Go to “Window” > “Workspace” > “New Workspace” to save the current layout, adapting it to different work stages (such as logging stage, rough cut stage).
IV. Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to play certain video file formats | Missing corresponding codecs. | Ensure the necessary codec packages are installed on the system, or use Prelude’s “Ingest” feature to transcode assets into Prelude-compatible formats (such as QuickTime ProRes). |
| Ingest process is very slow | Transcoding settings are too complex, or source files are located on a slow hard drive. | 1. Check the ingest settings, select a transcode preset that matches the source quality, and avoid unnecessary quality upgrades. 2. Whenever possible, place source assets and destination locations on high-speed drives (such as SSDs). |
| After sending to Premiere Pro, assets show as Offline | Premiere Pro cannot find the asset file paths. | 1. Ensure the asset files used in Prelude have not been moved or deleted. 2. In Premiere Pro, right-click the offline asset, select “Link Media,” and manually locate the file location. |
| Markers or log information lost | The project may not have been saved properly, or metadata was not written to the files. | 1. Save the project regularly (Cmd + S).2. For important metadata, after performing operations in the Record panel, go to “File” > “Write Metadata to File” to save. |
| Clips on the timeline cannot be moved or edited | The “Lock Track” icon may have been accidentally clicked. | Check the track control area on the left side of the timeline and ensure the video and audio tracks are not locked (the lock icon should be in an unlit state). |
V. Keyboard Shortcuts Summary (Mac Version)
| Function Category | Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| File & Project | New Project | Cmd + N |
| Open Project | Cmd + O | |
| Save Project | Cmd + S | |
| Import File | Cmd + I | |
| Playback & Marking | Play/Pause | Spacebar |
| Set In Point | I | |
| Set Out Point | O | |
| Clear In/Out Points | Option + X | |
| Add Marker | M | |
| Go to Next Marker | Cmd + Right Arrow | |
| Editing Operations | Create Subclip | Cmd + U |
| Blade Tool | C | |
| Selection Tool | V | |
| Slip Tool | Y | |
| Insert into Timeline from Source Viewer | Comma (,) | |
| Navigation | Zoom In Timeline | Cmd + Plus (+) |
| Zoom Out Timeline | Cmd + Minus (-) | |
| Fit Timeline to Window | Backslash () | |
| Other | Show/Hide Record Panel | Cmd + 8 |
