Lights, Camera, Action!



Author: Larry Kuhn

Date: September, 1993

Keywords: multimedia software program review application action! action
macromedia

Text:
Depending on who you ask, the term ''multimedia'' can generate a number
of responses. Like any other category of software, multimedia software
is really meant to address a set of specific software needs. People who
do accounting and bookkeeping work see multimedia as a solution in
search of a problem. Users who have the task of integrating pictures,
text, sounds, and video clips into presentations for groups or clients
see multimedia applications as 'the wave of the future'. 
The world of multimedia production on the Mac can trace it's roots back
to Apple's HyperCard program which let users build applications that
incorporated interactively, text, graphics and sound. A lot has changed
since 1987-88, and the Mac has grown up quite a bit. So has the
software.
As opposed to other categories of software, where most any Mac with a
couple megabytes of memory and a hard disk will do nicely, the world of
multimedia has stiff hardware requirements before you can truly get the
kind of results that make people go ''wow!''.
Entrance requirements; Macromedia Action requires 4 to 6 megabytes of
RAM (is you run System 7), a hard disk, and a Mac with a 68020
processor or better. It will run on a Classic II, Mac II, IIx, IIfx,
IIcx, IIci, IIsi, LC, LCII,LCII,SE/30 (w/ color monitor), PowerBook 140
or 170, or Quadra series. A set of external speakers is recommended for
sound output, and Macromedia's Macrecorder is recommended if you want
to capture your own sound sources. If you intend to print your
presentation to video, you'll need a NTSC video decoder card such as
the Radius Video Vision system, RasterOps 24STV and decoder, or another
third party device.
In reality, when it comes to doing multimedia work, the minimum amount
of RAM you want is 8-10 megabytes, at least 50 megabytes of free space
on your hard disk, and a 68030 or better processor. When it comes to
RAM and disk storage, you can never have enough of either when you do
multimedia work. 

What Action does: Action lets you create presentations that you can
print to video (if you have the proper hardware), or create
presentations that are on-screen and interactive. You can import PICT
files, sound edit and AIFF sound files, and QuickTime movies into
Action. The Action tool palette has a number of useful tools for
creating text, and regular polygon tools like squares and circles. Each
object can be manipulated in Action to have a specific duration, and
set of effects, such as wipes, dissolves, and other transitions. Any
object may be given a path to follow, making it easy to have text
appear from the right or left side of the screen. Action makes it easy
to do rolling credits using this feature.
An Action document is broken down into 'scenes'. The default for any
document is 4- one minute scenes, but you can edit the duration of a
scene to be as long as the objects in the scene, thus offering a lot of
flexibility. Assembling a scene is straightforward once you know what
you want to do. I usually start by importing a PICT file that I use for
a background. When you import or create an object in Action, the
default time of that object is 10 seconds. By double-clicking the
object with the selection tool, a dialog box appears where you can
easily modify the duration, and entrance and exit effects you want for
the object. I usually start by making my background duration one
minute.
Action offers a VCR-like control panel that advances the time in a
presentation. It is a floating palette like the tool palette, and is
easily moved around the screen. After I set a background, the next step
is to advance the time of the presentation a few seconds. Then, it is
easy to create text. There is a text tool and a text menu for selecting
font, size, style, and justification.
After using Action for a little, it is easy to create quick
presentations in about an hour. It helps to have a 'storyboard' written
out so you have a rough idea of what you want your presentation to look
like, and the kinds of transitions you want. If I have a good idea and
a storyboard, I can make a 2-4 minute presentation in about an hour.
This assumes that I have all the elements that I want to import (like
PICT files, QuickTime movies, and sounds) already done.
Action comes with a good set of 'templates' that allow you to just plug
in what you want to present. The templates are all very attractive and
there are a good variety to choose from. For 'quick and dirty'
presentations, using the templates can be helpful in cutting down
production time. Action also comes with a small (but good) set of
sounds that you can incorporate in your presentation.

Interactively: Action lets you create buttons that react to mouse
clicks. Although these buttons are not scriptable in the HyperCard
sense, they can be easy to use, and useful for creating simple
interactive presentations. A user might click on a sub-heading button,
and then the button links to another scene in the presentation.
Although this feature is limited compared to other environments, it is
useful, and easy to use.
What I really liked ;  There are lots of neat things in Action, the
best of which is the ease of use. It does what it does pretty well, and
it doesn't try to be all things at once. I really like the timeline
view for moving objects around. The ability to add sound to an object
is nice (if you have enough RAM) and the built in effects for objects
(like wipes, dissolves, movement on a path) is very slick.
What I didn't like ;  I want a little more support for import and
export of other file types, specifically import of MIDI files, and
export of Action documents to QuickTime. Support for a stand-alone run
time player needs to be included for distribution of Action documents.
The abilities of buttons were limited, and Action needs to be able to
have scenes and buttons call up other entire Action documents.
Currently, you can only link to other scenes in a document.

The documentation: The manual for Action is well written, but it is
required reading to get the most out of the program. It is well indexed
so if you have specific questions it is pretty easy to find out about a
specific topic. The manual is well illustrated with dialog boxes, and
step-by-step instructions. It is mercifully short (only 234 pages) and
well written. I give it a 4 out of 5

Ease of Use: Compared to MacroMedia's flagship program, Director,
Action is much easier to use. Overall, it has good interface features,
and after doing a few tutorial exercises and a presentation of your
own, there aren't any ugly surprises. One area that might cause initial
confusion is that a menu selection ''Template View'' must be selected
before you can change template objects. It would be nice if everything
were available to edit on the same level. I give it 4 out of 5.

Features: Action supporte to
have scenes and buttons call up other entire Action documents.
Currently, you can only link to other scenes in a document.

The documentation: The manual for Action is well written, but it is
required reading to get the most out of the program. It is well indexed
so if you have specific questions it is pretty easy to find out about a
specific topic. The manual is well illustrated with dialog boxes, and
step-by-step instructions. It is mercifully short (only 234 pages) and
well written. I give it a 4 out of 5

Ease of Use: Compared to MacroMedia's flagship program, Director,
Action is much easier to use. Overall, it has good interface features,
and after doing a few tutorial exercises and a presentation of your
own, there aren't any ugly surprises. One area that might cause initial
confusion is that a menu selection ''Template View'' must be selected
before you can change template objects. It would be nice if everything
were available to edit on the same level. I give it 4 out of 5.

Features: Action supports the needed features to be a useful multimedia
development tool. It is not Director, nor does it take as long to
learn. It supports  importing of important resource file types such as
PICT, QuickTime, Sound Edit and AIFF. Export features include numbered
PICT's and PICS files. It would be nice if it supported QuickTime
exporting, but users who need this capability can use Apple's Convert
to Movie program that converts PICS files to QuickTime. Support for
MIDI files would also be handy, but currently not supported. A useful
feature in Action is the Timeline View. This view makes it easy to see
objects in the context of time, and move them forward or backwards. It
is very useful for the 'fine-tuning'of a presentation. A feature that
would be well received in future versions would be support for
stand-alone support-like Director's 'player' program. As it stands, to
run an Action presentation, you need the program to do it. A run-time
environment would be useful for distribution of presentations. I'll
give Action 3 out of 5 in this category.

Performance: As with all the multimedia programs, Action is only as
good as the home you give it on your hardware. I wouldn't recommend
running it on an LC or even a IIsi. It works best with about 8
megabytes of RAM, and it will perform better with even more. Action
zooms right along on 68040 machines, and does pretty well on 68030
machines running at above 25 MH. Presentations with lots of sound
produce large files, and gobble up lots of RAM, so use audio with
caution, especially if you don't have a boatload of RAM to offer
Action. Overall performance is good, but very machine dependent. I give
it 3 out of 5.

Price: $349 retail (look around for deals on Action; it sometimes gets
bundled with digitizing boards like Video Spigot) 
Who should use this program? People who create advertising, those
making promotions that are video based, people creating sales and
training tools, marketing moguls, and educators.

Copyright © september, 1993 by Larry Kuhn