Premiere Pro: Peaks and Perils

Peaks and perils, highs and lows, pros and cons: all synonyms for the driving forces behind decision-making. Which university will you choose to attend? Is it time to start a new job or should you keep the one you have? Should you utilize a more complex and capable editing software over a simpler one?

Full disclosure, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of my favorite Adobe tools thus far. It functions like simpler editing softwares, which is a huge asset in my book. The fact that I don't have to learn an entirely new interface or editing method is absolutely wonderful.

Unlike InDesign where I generally am unaware of its capabilities, I feel as though I understand what Premier Pro is capable of. At this point moving forward into my PR career, I feel as though I need to decide if I want to fully graduate to Premiere Pro or stick with the simpler softwares.That said, I wanted to list a few of my thoughts on the software as a whole, pro/con style:

PEAKS

1. Software capabilities

Adobe Premiere Pro is quite the mammoth as far as video editing capabilities go. It is clear just by simply looking at the program that it's capabilities are likely endless. Though my video editing goals may not tap into the valuable resources the software has to offer, that doesn't diminish the sheer magnitude of everything this software can do.

I imagine Premiere Pro is a lot like an iceberg: many people only scratch the surface, as I have, but there is so much more waiting to be unlocked beyond what's at the surface.

2. Similarity to simpler programs

I'm not sure which came first, Adobe Premiere or the simpler video editing tools, chicken or the egg; regardless, the fact that the softwares tend to mirror and mimic one other is a huge asset in learning how to use these tools.

Because I have experience with simpler editing tools, graduating to Premiere Pro isn't as much of a shock. I don't feel like I've been thrown into learning the software unprepared. My familiarity with video editing has served as a life-vest in learning Premiere. I understand what the software is capable of (based solely upon what I've seen in other softwares,) so now it's just a matter of figuring out how to get the program to do what I want it to.

PERILS

1. Complexity

I cannot deny the software is complex. Just by looking at it, there is a dashboard full of tools that I'm not entirely sure how to use. I try not to let my brain get overwhelmed by what I don't know, and I try to focus on what I do know instead.

When I focus on the video editing skills I'm familiar with, the software definitely seems less daunting. However, it doesn't override the fact that the software is generally enigmatic and nearly impossible to learn without formal instruction or the help of a professional.

2. Not the most intuitive program

Ok, Adobe Premiere Pro...I'm addressing you directly now: why on earth would you think I'd be able to figure out that an apostrophe would extract a clip from a sequence? How was I supposed to figure that out on my own? That is definitely not where my brain goes. Things like this lead me to believe this software is impossible to navigate without the help of an older, wiser Premiere Pro professional.

Again, I knew going into this that there had to be a way to extract a clip from a sequence, but figuring out how to do so was the trick. I honestly think there is some Premiere Pro programmer out there laughing as he designs this program. Surely he knows he has created a modern paradox: a cutting-edge, powerful, modern editing software that can only be passed down through an archaic form of oral tradition. One simply cannot learn this program without the help of the Premier Pro ancestors who came before them.

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?

In all honesty, I'm not entirely sure yet. From what I have learned watching the Lynda.com videos has been extremely helpful, and I feel as though I have a solid grasp on the basics of Premiere Pro. Actually utilizing the software will most definitely put my latent knowledge to the test.

If I'm right and I do mostly understand how to utilize the basic tools in Premiere Pro, I'm interested to see if I continue to learn and grow in the program. I honestly cannot speak to my desire to become a Premiere pro (...see what I did there...) but I will say this software, out of any thus far, is the most promising.

Though I don't have a constant need to edit video footage, I do see the inherent value in acquiring this skill and I am interested to see if future-me chooses to invest in learning it fully. Only time will tell! Stay tuned.

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