Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Wasn’t sure what to do.
- 21:00 UK time, I phoned USA support-line, via Skype, they advised me as follows:
- Go to www.avid.com/upgrade
- Avid Media Composer System Upgrade
Trade Activation ID for Dongle Updater.avd
- Requires an Activation Code.
- That is the code beginning “MCA”, which came by email along with various product keys or whatever.
- My such email was from 23 Nov 2011.
- Also requires othe rinformation e.g. regarding the dongle “System ID” and “Serial No.”
- I did that and clicked the [Submit] button
…Nothing happened for a minute or two…
…Then eventually…
- Avid Media Composer System Upgrade PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
- Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded to Avid Media Composer 6.0.
- Click the Download button to generate your dongle updater file.
- System ID: xyz is now registered, including the customer information you have provided.
- Dongle Updater Instructions
Please follow the instructions below to update your dongle.
1.Save the dongle updater file to your system. This file authorizes your dongle for specific upgrades. The updater file extension is .avd.
2.Double-click DongleManager.exe. The Dongle Manager utility starts.
{ Mine is located at [C:\Program Files (x86)\Avid\Utilities\DongleManager] }
3.Click the Update tab.
4.Click the Open button, navigate to the dongle updater file, and then click Open.
5.Click the Upgrade button. Your dongle is updated.
6.Click the Scan tab to view the results of your dongle scan.
- For additional information or to download the latest Dongle Manager application, please refer to the following tech note.
(Current versions of the software come installed with the Dongle Manager.
- There is also a blow-by-blow tutorial on this procedure at www.avid.com/dongle , complete with download links for the Dongle Updater applications for Windows and Mac.
- It worked!
- As it turned out, the version on the laptop where I did that was MC 5.5, but it still ran OK with the MC-6.0-updated dongle.
Posted in Media Composer, Avid | No Comments »
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
These are the applications listed when, in my Windows VM on Mac, I did [RightClick>OpenWith] on a [.EDL] file:
Posted in EDL, ALE, Color, Apple, Avid, Mac | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Want a mobile “suitcase” editing system, something more (and more expandable) than a laptop but not too expensive. Primarily to be used for Adobe CS5.5 for media enhancement / editing / compositing etc.
Nearest I found was NextDimension’s range around $7000 I think (but just guesswork - could be way off - would need to get a quote). That would (if true) be around £4500 at current rates. Plus import… NextDimension call such machines “flextops” (Maybe they coined the term? Google searches on it mostly come up with them.)
Apart from the (mil/broadcast-lite but me-heavy) price, it might possibly be undesirably heavy to lug around much. If so (just guessing, not assuming), it would make more sense to go for a modular quick-setup system. So, starting to “think different” in this direction:
- Standard tower, capable of taking new CUDA etc. graphics cards etc. as they emerge, but no need for more than say a couple of disks, maybe if SSD could even get away with just a single disk? (For system and media - inadvisable for traditional disks of course, what about for SSD’s? I have much to learn about SSD’s though).
- “Laptop-Lite” to talk to it. With robust shuttered-stereoscopic HD monitor.
- Gigabit network to NAS fast storage (SSD and/or RAID ?).
Maybe in that case it would be far more logical/affordable to use an existing laptop as a client working together with a luggable tower server, sufficiently light and robust for frequent dis/re -connection and travel. And remote access of course (no heavy data to be exchanged, assume that’s already sync’d). And some means to easily swap/sync applications and projects (data) between laptop and tower, giving the option to use just the (old) laptop on its own if needed. All such options are handy for the travelling dude (working on train, social visits etc.) who also occasionally has to do heavy processing. Then would just need a protective suitcase for the tower, plus another one for a decent monitor for grading etc.
I certainly won’t be spending anything just yet, but it’s good to have at least some kind of “radar”.
(more…)
Posted in gigabit, Premiere, near-line, network, Adobe, building, RAID, offline, graphic card, Encoding, MacBook Pro, file mgt, ProRes, Avid, Networking, Video Computer Technology, backup, GPU, QuickTime, collaboration, remote access, Setup, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Posted in Media Composer, Avid | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Web-research about graphic tablets - having seen and heard of their use by many editors, e.g on Avid and Adobe. Bear in mind however that tablet computers like iPad might become (or already have become?) game-changers…
- Graphic / Pen Tablet:
- Google: [graphic tablet avid media composer]
- http://community.avid.com/forums/t/84575.aspx
- Mouse vs. Graphics Tablet
- CyberCat, Sun, Jun 6 2010 5:10 PM
- Has: Avid Media Composer 5.5.2 | Windows 7 x64 | i7-990x | GTX 580 | 24GB DDR3 | GA-X58A-UD3R
- Q: I’ve noticed that most editor’s I’ve worked with tend to use graphics tablets instead of mice for their input device. I would imagine there are many on this forum who do as well. I’m just curious why this is, are they just more comfortable to use, or more accurate or what? I’m considering getting one if they’re worth it.
- Responses:
- It’s just a matter of which tool you’re more comfortable with. If you’re considering installing a tablet, do some searches on this Forum for Waacom, as there have been conflicts using them, and specific driver versions needed to solve the problem
- I’ve used graphics tablets for many years and we have several here — 2 Wacoms, Calcomp large format and Acecat wired.. The Wacom Intuos 4 is excellent. It is indispensible for Photoshop, Painter, etc., and I feel lost without it regardless of the software http://intuos.wacom.com/Americas/?gclid=CMP6hMaQjKICFQNinAodNG0EUQ
- This link is to a great overview/chooser for a set of variants of the Intuos 4 tablet.
- I like the Wireless one. Seems the most useful when not at a desk
(e.g. in bed or on a train).
- Available from Amazon UK for under £300
- One user recommends putting acetate on its surface before use. This reduces scratches and also reduces nib wearout. Several users report (unexpectedly quick) nib wearout as an issue.
- Some users report issues with the wireless (BlueTooth). One responded with advice: Make sure on at least the first 4 charges, that you fully charge the battery, and use it till it runs out of battery (not just red light) rinse and repeat this process, and you’ll be fine with the wireless.
- Some users were concerned that the tablet doesn’t come with a bluetooth receiver (e.g. USB stick?). Not a concern for my MacBook which has it built-in.
- The Wacom Tablet changed the way I interact with the Avid application. For me, it’s much faster and intuitive for my hand to simply move right to the spot on the screen I need and click. No more dragging a mouse along. I feel like I’m moving faster and the carple tunnel I was developing has gone away.
- http://www.wacom.eu/index2.asp?pid=245&lang=en
- The Wacom Intuos4 pen tablet
Posted in Adobe, Media Composer, Avid | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1nl-LFwziI&feature=related
- MC 5.0
- User and Beta-Tester experiences.
- They like the (fairly new) Smart Tool
- AMA is useful for producing on-set rushes and quick edits
- They mention a Mac (..Book?) being used on-set, taking footage from a P2 card.
- They show a card from a DSLR being plugged into a Lexar outboard card-reader.
- {? I wonder if subsequently they ingest/import it in “traditional” fashion, e.g. to take advantage of media management and to minimise risks of obscure issues down the line ?}
- 01:50 shows Steven Sprung, ACE Editor (Dispatch, Entourage). He looks a bit like me.
- More than one editing-suite scene shows a graphic tablet being used.
- [02:12] shows some track labels/assignments.
- It can be instructive to see how others do it.
- [02:14] et seq: Smart Tool
- [02:14] Audio
- e.g. level meters on each track
- Track-based RTAS effects etc. are useful to help indicate to the sound department approximately what the editor requires artistically
- [03:48] Editors (can be) on set 12-14 hours/day might also take work home on laptop.
- [03:39] Graphic tablet shown as part of edit suite. Which one is it? How useful?
- [03:59] Matrox MXO Mini enables use of a standard TV as monitor, including calibration tools (what kind?).
Posted in workflow, Media Composer, moviemaking, Avid | No Comments »
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
First I installed it to my MacBook Pro, on the Mac OS side, where I have not previously installed any Avid applications. The latter is significant because from reading forums, it appears wise to remove all traces of any previous Avid installation (beyond what Avid’s Uninstaller does).
Installing and testing the basic Media Composer application:
- Installer stated (correctly) that I had MacOS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) yet the application was qualified for 10.7 (Lion). From searching, I discovered that some others were nevertheless running it under 10.6.
- The installer stated that the space requirement would be 6 GB.
- Installation took about 15 minutes.
- Then it did a system restart.
- On restart, an Avid MC icon was present in the Dock.
- Double-clicking the icon produced a prompt asking if I wanted on-line activation, use hardware dongle or 30-day trial. I selected the latter as it seemed the least-hassle option.
- Avid launch paused on an error message whose significance was not clear to me:
- “ArthurQuinell-DataTrans” is in use by another application and cannot be used by Deck Control.
- I am not sure what that means but vaguely remember naming one of my previous mobile phones as that (after an aldershot cat that used to “invade” our art-centre stage during performances, then sit washing in the spotlight - a born entertainer…).
- Clicked [OK] to let it continue…
- Got the same message about “Arthur…”. Clicked [OK] to continue…
- Finally the initial launch completed.
- Got the usual Project dialog. Chose [External]
- Actually, before that, it asked for a Projects Path.
- I defined it to be on my main external hard drive, a GRAID Mini, at the following location: [/Volumes/GRm HFS+/_App_Specific/Avid/Projects]
- I wonder if people generally tend to put their Avid project-folder somewhere like in their Documents directory. But my logic is that if I plug the hard drive into another Mac, it should still work there.
- Prompted for some basic project settings.
- Quaintly, its default display aspect ratio is 4:3 (how nostalgic!)
- As usual, clicked the wrong thing at the wring time, resulting in a new project called [New Project]. Oh well, I am only playing/testing…
- Selected the default Bin, [New Project Bin].
- With that Bin:
- Import an short existing MOV-DNxHD file.
- Double-click that file. It opened in the Monitor pane.
- Clicked the [Overwrite] button, it laid-down in the Timeline as expected.
- BUT there’s a missing expected pane at bottom-left corner. I can see through to the desktop background (purple galaxy-space etc.). Presumably OK but unsettling…
- Window panes act independently e.g. re being above/below any other apps. Similar to Final Cut. I hated that about Final Cut also…
- Is there a Preference for getting the whole app to work like “Single Document” ?
AMA Plugins
Effects
- AvidFX 6.0.1 64-Bit
- Available as a separate download, from (at time of writing):
- Boris?
- BCC
- I am mightily confused about this.
- Avid has a download page for Boris BCC 8, at:
- But so also does Boris
- I have downloaded both of them. I installed the one directly downloaded from Boris. That one gave me the option to generate a unique product ID that I could present to Boris.
- Boris has FEC = Final Effects Complete for Avid = Visual Effects Filters and Transitions for Avid
- Installer said “FEC5 AVX 2 MC 2.5, XPressPro 5.5 or later:”
- Makes me wonder if there is a later version for MC 6.0
- I installed it but no “FEC” items showed up in Avid’s Effects Pallete.
- Maybe it’s 32-bit and MC 6 only recognises 64-bit effects?
Posted in Media Composer, XDCAM EX, Avid, Sony EX XDCAM | No Comments »
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
I phoned Avid for advice re Media Composer 6:
- Unlike (immediately) previous versions of MC, BCC is no longer included - it can be purchased separately (from Boris).
- If I upgrade my Dongle to MC version 6 then it will still activate my existing MC5.5 ?
{This is important to me since, as of now (December 2011), unlike MC5.5, MC6’s AMA does not yet recognize XDCAM-EX footage. I understand that it is planned for early 2012.}
- Answer: YES (the upgraded dongle is backwards-compatible)
- Phoned Avid.
- Douglas “Gaijin-Eyes” also confirmed he has been able to do this.
Posted in Media Composer, Boris, Avid | No Comments »