I've read the page about Encore CS4 but I can't quite work out what new features (if any) and enhancements (if any) have been added.

Could JBowden, or someone else in the know, elucidate on CS4?

Thanks in advance!
Dee.

A quote <http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?14@@.59b5a465/4> from Joe Bowden:

"Encore CS4 hasn't been released yet. Until it is...
Anybody who knows, can't say. Anyone who says, doesn't know.

<http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/encore/features/?view=all>

That's the only feature listing available right now...some stuff is listed as new, some listed as enhanced.

I know that the Flash/SWF output gives you a few more customization options (like a page background, for instance...which you could do in the HTML code previously anyway). And the Blu Ray menu stuff is much improved.

Also, Dynamic Link goes a little further now and allows you to import Premiere Pro sequences without rendering, the same way you could do before with After Effects compositions. Very cool, good for time savings and preserving disk space.

I don't know any other big "wow" factors, probably not too many since it's a secondary application to Premiere Pro now.

If the only enchancements are the ones listed in the feature list Encore CS4 is a major disapointment. Product management promissed it already for two versions, but there is still no angle support, no buttons over video, and no way to define the menu button link per chapter marker (which Apple's Studio Pro all can do).

Further I was hoping to get a setting that allows export/import of menus with it's routing and link settings (to recover from a typical corrupted Encore project)

Here's a short video at DVconfidential by adobe project manager Nathan Gentner outlining the upgrades to encore cs4.

<http://www.dvconfidential.com/video/encore-cs4-feature-tour>

Nice to see that you can export SWF files up to (at least)
1280x960!

My Mac CS4 Encore crashes at startup. OSERROR 120.

Otherwise a FANTASTIC application!

Thanks Adobe for careful testing and not rushing this one out the door!

You rock!

Is this forum a paid service? Does Adobe need my credit card number?

Lance,

The vast majority of problems with Encore (and we could name many other Adobe programs here) is with hardware/software configurations. Things are easier on the Mac "side of the street," as there is greater control of both the hardware and the OS.

As I have never been on a Mac, I cannot address your particular issues. What I would suggest is that you start a new thread and list your equipment, your OS and give all details. It could be a simple setting in either the OS or in Encore. Now, you might need to wait a bit, as a majority of forum users are on the PC, and if they are like me, would never be able to see any possible problems, even if you list everything in great detail. I wouldn't know what is right, and what is wrong. Still, with the number of Mac users, since CS3, I'm sure that they can spot a problem and offer you suggestions on how to troubleshoot them. In a thread on CS4 Features, I doubt that many will even see your post.

Also, if you installed Encore and it never worked, please contact Adobe Technical Support. Installation issues are handled free. No need to give them a credit card. Last, Adobe has a 30-day money back guarantee.

Good luck,

Hunt

Thank you for your kind reply, Bill.

My message, I have to admit, was more political than technical.

Very few applications, especially expensive professional ones, crash on startup on a Mac.

Sincere thanks for your helpful comments and I will look into getting Encore to run at some point.

Lance

Lance,

Because of the tighter controls on the hardware, I would expect that there would be fewer problems on a Mac. I wish I had some worthwhile idea for you to persue, but I'm clueless. Hey, what would you expect, I'm a PC guy...

If you are successful, please report back, as this could well help others.

Do persue the Technical Support "installation" issue. I've only use them once for an upgrade from about AI3 to AI6 and my S/N was not in the internal upgrade database. In five minutes, including hold-time, they had me up and running. Now, that was some many years ago, but I was impressed with my one dealing with them. May you be so fortunate. It's probably (hopefully) something very simple, that can be handled in one quick phone call.

Good luck,

Hunt

Lance,

I am currently running Encore CS4 without problems on both a Mac Pro 8-core (Early 2008) machine and on a new Macbook Pro (Late 2000). I had CS3 Production Premium (which includes Encore) on both machines, but I removed them entirely before installing CS4. I would recommend the following: (1) Remove any CS3 applications that you may be running on your Mac using the Adobe Uninstall method (don't just drag them to the trash!). (2) Install your CS4 applications; (3) Run Repair Permissions. (4) Reboot your Mac. Then try Encore CS4.

If the above does not work, please post more details about your OS (version) and what Adobe softwre that you have on your machine.

I hope knowing that Encore CS4 can work on a Mac does help.

Tom