See our other plug-ins, too! CreativEase Powerful Video Effects Suite NEW! 3D Six-Pack Beautiful 3D Transitions NEW! AnyFX Accelerated, Open FX Engine Questions? Email us		FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) . "Why Buy?" Questions . Compatibility Questions . DEMO Questions . Download Questions . Purchase Questions . Technical Support Questions "Why Buy?" Questions I have hundreds of transitions, most of which I do not use. Why would I want SpiceMASTER? SpiceMASTER's transitions are uniquely soft/organic AND fully customizable -- thus subtle, beautiful and tailored to your visuals, unlike the usual hard-edged standard transitions in your video editing software. SpiceMASTER's transitions are therefore much more USEFUL. Also, SpiceMASTER does more than transitions. SpiceMASTER animates any OTHER effects in your video editing system, such as color changes, blurs, etc. -- greatly multiplying the creative power of your other effects. And the PRO version also includes the amazing MIXER for FILM dissolves and effect customization, amd soft/organic effects for PIPs and titles/backgrounds. Why would I want SpiceMASTER if I mostly use only cuts and dissolves? See the above answer. Also keep in mind that SpiceMASTER's ultra-soft 'directional' dissolves are a compelling alternative to standard dissolves/fades, adding a subtle hint of movement or geometry to lead the viewer's eye. Directional dissolves are great for everything from cuts & dissolves work to indie films to corporate projects to wedding videography. The PRO version adds true FILM dissolves and other filmic looks. I have Boris FX or RED. Why would I want SpiceMASTER 2.5? Lots of users have Boris AND SpiceMASTER, using Boris for 3D effects and SpiceMASTER for most everything else. With effort, you can create some custom 2D transitions in Boris. But their complex interface and slower render times are not optimized for that. Is SpiceMASTER a clip effect or a transition between clips? Both, so you can apply it in any timeline arrangement. (except in Ulead MediaStudio/VideoStudio due to their plug-in architecture.) Is SpiceMASTER real-time? SpiceMASTER previews real-time in its built-in preview (on most computers) AND real-time from the timeline of Adobe Premiere Pro* and Sony Vegas. SpiceMASTER's intuitive interface also reduces your effect setup time, an especially important factor when creating complex effects. * Certain RT video boards (i.e. Matrox) may require Premiere settings that defeat Premiere's native real-time previewing. In that case, SpiceMASTER's built-in preview can be real-time. If your system does not preview real-time from the timeline, note that SpiceMASTER is one of the fastest rendering plug-ins in digital video. It is also multiprocessor optimized. It reduces your TOTAL EFFECTS CREATION time -- the time needed to: a) wisely compare and choose an effect from lots of alternatives; b) set up and customize the effect for your specific scene; c) preview interactively to fine-tune the effect; and d) render the effect (if necessary). The many minutes/hours SpiceMASTER saves in (a), (b), and (c) usually far exceed the short time of (d) the end of the process. Also, built-in transitions/effects (especially in hardware-based RT editing systems) are NOT very adjustable or soft/organic -- thus usually NOT very useful. They will never give you the creative flexibility and visual elegance of SpiceMASTER. This is important, because your distinctive touch will come from the rhythm, timing and the tweaking of effects to match your scene well, usually applied in a subtle manner. All are factors that SpiceMASTER excels in. Compatibility Questions Which editing software is compatible with SpiceMASTER? • Adobe After Effects: any PC version, including CS4 and CS5 • Adobe Premiere Pro: any PC version, including CS4 and CS5 • Adobe Premiere Elements: any version • Avid AVX systems: any PC version AVX 1.5 or 2.0 system except DS • Corel/Ulead MediaStudio: 5.2 or later • Corel/Ulead VideoStudio: 7 or later, including X2 and X3 • Sony Vegas: any version, including the latest 9.x (32-bit or 64-bit) • Sony Vegas Movie Studio: 6.0 or later, including version 10 Is SpiceMASTER compatible with Windows 7? Yes, if your video editing program that you use (see the above list) is compatible with Windows 7. Is SpiceMASTER an independent program or a plug-in? It is a plug-in that integrates into your video editing software. What are the differences between SpiceMASTER 2.5 TFX and PRO versions? Click here for a detailed feature comparison. Does SpiceMASTER have special hardware requirements? No. Any hardware that your PC video editing software works in, SpiceMASTER will plug into. Does SpiceMASTER output PAL, HD, etc.? Yes, SpiceMASTER 2.5 is resolution-independent. Any output standard of your video editing system will be handled fine. DEMO Questions Is installing the DEMO easy? Very easy -- just double-click the downloaded .exe demo file. That's all. Instructions on applying SpiceMASTER in your editing system are in the Please Read FIRST file that will appear after installation. How is the DEMO different from the purchased version? All SpiceMASTER features work in the demo for an unlimited time, but an X will appear over the effect and new saved settings cannot be created. Also, the PRO version's OrganicFX spice files can be viewed as small animations but not applied. How do I uninstall the SpiceFX Packs DEMO? Choose Uninstall SpiceMASTER from the ../Program Files/Pixelan/SpiceMASTER 2.5 DEMO folder in your Window's Start menu. Do I need to uninstall the demo before installing the purchased version? No, installing the purchased version will automatically remove the demo. Do you have a demo CD and/or product flyers you can mail to me? No, sorry. For ecological reasons we rely almost entirely on the Internet to get information and demos out to interested users. If you do not have an Internet connection that can handle a 5-7 MB download, then your best bet is to ask a friend to do it for you, or to contact your favorite reseller. I am having problems installing or using the demo. Who do I contact for help? Please visit our tech support page. Download Questions Is SpiceMASTER 2.5 only available as a download? Yes. This eliminates shipping charges/delays/problems for you! (Note: Online processing of your order may require as long as 24 hours before you receive your download info and serial number, although usually it is within an hour or two. That is because we use real people, not automated Internet processing -- to provide better service to you, especially when order questions and/or entry mistakes happen on the form.) Are any dongles or periodic activation codes required to run SpiceMASTER? No. You just need to enter your name/serial # when installing. That is all. I do not have an Internet connection on my video editing station. Can I transfer your download from one PC to another? Yes, no problem. The download arrives as a single .exe file (7-17 MB in size) that can be placed on a CD-R or other removable media for installing in a different PC. My organization doesn't allow FTP downloads. What should I do? We use http instead of ftp for our downloads, so you should have no problem. What happens if someday my computer crashes and I lose the file and/or serial #? Email us and we will happily resupply it to you. Or be extra safe and print your email and back-up your download. Purchase Questions What is the price of SpiceMASTER 2.5? See top-left above. For a different currency, visit this online converter. If I buy SpiceMASTER 2.5 TFX now, but later want the PRO version, how much will I have to pay to upgrade? You can upgrade to the PRO version for virtually just the difference in cost. I edit in more than one program (such as Premiere Pro AND Vegas). Do I need to buy two versions of SpiceMASTER? Yes, because each version of SpiceMASTER plugs into only one video editing program. However, each additional version after the first one you buy is only HALF-PRICE more. Will the After Effects version of SpiceMASTER also work in Premiere Pro? No, but you can get both versions (for Premiere Pro and AE) for only HALF-PRICE more than one. Does the Sony Vegas Movie Studio version also work in Sony Vegas? Yes. They are identical. Does the Ulead VideoStudio version also work in Ulead MediaStudio? Yes. They are identical. If I switch video editing systems someday (such as from Vegas to Adobe), will I need to purchase SpiceMASTER 2.5 again at full price? For HALF-PRICE, any registered SpiceMASTER 2.5 user can add the equivalent (TFX or PRO) for a different video editing system. Are special rates available for multiple-station purchases? If you have one editing station for work and one at home, a single SpiceMASTER license can be legally used in both computers by you, as long as they are not used at the same time to edit or output. For multiple editing stations in the same facility that will have simultaneous use of SpiceMASTER, please email us explaining the particulars of your situation and how many editing stations are involved. We will be happy to provide an nicely discounted quote. Technical Support Questions Upgrade Questions Back to top