Archive for the ‘Avid’ Category
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Suppose you have multiple AVid projects on the go. By default, all of the media from those projects will be stored in one file path: [Avid MediaFiles]. If you have more than one volume connected having this folder, then it gets more complicated - e.g. if Avid can’t find sufficient room on one such volume then it will try the next one (etc.). Avid provides tools for media management but it can get messy when you need to keep connecting different drives to see if they contain your required media. Instead, it is helpful to be able to store media for different projects in different “lumps”, be they volumes or folders. From web research (below), it seems there are a number of possible, though kludg-ey, workarounds, mainly based on temporarily renaming AVid media folders/subfolders… Nice to know, until such time as Avid provides a tidier solution to this requirement.
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Posted in MXF, Media Composer, tidy, Avid | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Posted in moviemaking, Avid | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
These are standalone tools I have seen (on web) others using to transcode from various formats into Avid formats such as DNxHD. Of course, that’s also achievable from within Media Composer (e.g. by its Consolidate/Transcode feature), but a stand-alone tool encourages parallel, and hence possibly collaborative, workflows in post-production.
- Metafuze - Avid’s own such program
- TMPGEnc Xpress
- MPEG StreamClip ?
Posted in transcode, Encoding, Media Composer, DNxHD, Avid, Mpeg StreamClip, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Possibilities:
- My presumption (yet to be tried):
- Edit in Avid with AMA link to Cineform files and FirstLight open (simultaneously). Do the primary grading in FirstLight, possibly via a parallel/collaborative workflow.
- Later, Avid-import as Avid controlled media, at which point the Cineform files get transcoded to DNxHD or whatever and the primary grading gets baked-in (but can of course still be further tweaked in Avid). For resilience and flexibility, retain the Cineform files (or at least the ability to regenerate them) and the FirstLight project file (which stores the grading data).
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Posted in MetaFuze, Media Composer, DNxHD, Avid, Cineform | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
- http://techblog.cineform.com/?p=3137
- (The original article includes dialog screen-shots, maybe these give extra info/insight)
- 1. File->Export
- 2. Select “Send to QT Movie” in the Export Setting dropdown at the
- bottom of the export window.
- 3. Select an output location and input output file name.
- 4. Click “Options” to the right of the Export Setting dropdown
- In the “Options” window:
- - Export As: “QuickTime Movie”
- - Width x Height: match your source or input desired scale size
- - Select “601/709″ if you have NOT selected “Enable 4:4:4 encoding”. If you have, select “RGB”
- - Display Aspect Ratio: “Native Dimensions” if you are not scaling, desired output if you are.
- 5. Click “Format Options…”
- - Sound: Checked, uncompressed, 48kHz, 16-bit, Stereo
- 6. Click “Settings”
- - Compression Type: CineForm HD/4K/3D
- - Frame Rate: Current
- - Depth: Millions of Colors+
- - Quality (Set at user discretion, recommended “High” or “Best”)
- 7. Quality Options: “Enable 4:4:4 encoding” and “Interlaced video source” are options to use at your discretion
- 8. Click “OK” as you navigate back to the original “Export” window, and click “OK” again to start your export.
- 9. Upon completion, go back to your project bin, right-click and select “Link to AMA File(s)…” and navigate to your new file.
- For 3D projects, you will want to do one of these renders for each eye, then mux the outputs back together for a 3D master, as described here: http://techblog.cineform.com/?p=3071
- http://cstest.avid.com/forums/p/99404/572126.aspx
- Joachim Claus (Aug 2011) Re: MC 5.5.2 and CineForm Codec
- If you need a QT-Cineform file format, I recommend o export a QT Reference and then use QT-Prof for transcoding to Cineform.
- I have tested QT-export with Cineform Codec (GoPro-Cineform HD/4K/3D). It worked flawlessly from a HD720P50 timeline. However, the export is slow. For a 1:03 minute timeline (coded in DNxHD120), the encoding took 5:21 minute.
- In another test, I exported a QT-Reference file from the same timeline, imported it into QT-Prof. and exported the file with Cineform Codec as above. In this case, the encoding took 2:49 minute.
Posted in Media Composer, QuickTime, Avid, Cineform | No Comments »
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Doh! I only just finished installing MC 5.5.2… Shouldn’t take long though… On the other hand it apparently introduces a problem with GenArts Sapphire.
- http://community.avid.com/forums/t/99771.aspx
- This is a “maintenance release” of the Media Composer (Mac and PC) , Symphony (Mac and PC) and NewsCutter (PC) editing software.
- Customers currently running Media Composer 5.5.x, Symphony 5.5.x or NewsCutter 9.5.x are entitled to download and install the 5.5.3 or 9.5.3 release free of charge.
- There are well over 75 + bug fixes and enhancements in the 5.5.3/9.5.3 Maintenance release. You should download and read the ReadMe file before installing.
- There are both full installers (Mac and PC) AND patch installers (PC) provided for the v5.5.3 and v9.5.3 release.
- For PC Users: If you are using any of the Helper Applications (Avid EDL Manager, Avid FilmScribe, Avid Log Exchange, Avid MetaSync, or Avid Media Log), you must install the patch updates for these applications. Further, if you are using Nitris DX, Mojo DX, or Avid DNA hardware, you must update the hardware drivers. Download the installer for your appropriate hardware and OS on the
- Sony has released a new version of the AMA plug-ins for XDCAM and XDCAM EX. Version 1.2 is now available from Sony’s website and is supported with MC 5.5.x, Symphony 5.5.x, and NewsCutter 9.5.x releases. More information can be found on the Knowledge Base here: http://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=394827
- http://community.avid.com/forums/t/99876.aspx
- GeorgeD: AFter I installed the upgrade patch the Sapphire effects stack won’t pass through the Alpha channel. Any other effect put on top of MakeRGB does not see the Alpha channel anymore. MakeRGB by itself still works.
- Larry Rubin: Reported to GenArts Product Support
Posted in Media Composer, XDCAM EX, Avid | No Comments »
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
- http://community.avid.com/forums/p/83962/471997.aspx (Posts of May 2011)
- Douglas
- The (free) upgrades apply only to BCC AVX bought from Boris (or a Boris dealer) at the regular price.
- For an upgrade from BCC 6 to BCC 7 via Avid, you will have to wait until it is included in a future Productivity Pack and then buy the new pack. Still a lot cheaper than via Boris as it also would probably include any newer versions of Squeeze etc. The only thing you need now is patience.
- Dean
- I asked them about the BCC7 upgrade and they confirmed that bundled products are not eligiable.
- http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/news/story/boris_continuum_complete_7_avx_now_available/ (Article of August 2010)
- Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, today announced that Boris Continuum Complete 7 AVX (BCC 7 AVX) is now available. BCC 7 AVX brings over 200 filters to Avid Media Composer and Avid Symphony. The new release features lens blur effects, a video noise reduction tool, a new OpenGL particle engine, and new on-screen overlay control widgets for streamlined workflow.
- Boris Continuum Complete 7 AVX is available immediately through the Boris FX worldwide reseller channel and direct through the Boris FX web site at http://www.borisfx.com for an MSRP of $1,995 USD. Owners of previous versions of BCC AVX may upgrade for an MSRP of $599 USD.
- {Prices may have changed since then}
- http://www.motionmedia.com/Boris-Continuum-Complete-7-AVX-for-Avid-Media-Comp-p/borccavxmcs-dvd.htm (as of this post)
- Boris Continuum Complete 7 AVX for Avid Media Comp Our Price: $1,895.00
Posted in Media Composer, Boris, Avid | No Comments »
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
BorisFX’s BCC can be used as plug-in to various NLE’s, where it can be used for motion-tracking (among other things).
- From Sony Vegas 10
- From Avid Media Composer
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-V_tdjw2Mw
- Most Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) filters include a built-in motion tracker which can be used to control the position of the PixelChooser mask or matte or to position the light source of a Light effect. For example, you can attach a light to a moving object in one easy step. In addition, BCC includes powerful, specialized filters that allow you to recover motion data from a clip and then use the data to apply effects. For example, BCC Witness Protection allows you to track a person’s face and apply a mosaic effect to obscure it; BCC Match Move locks the movement of one image clip to another image clip; and BCC Corner Pin allows you to map media to a specific area on a moving object in a media file.
Posted in motion tracking, tracking, Boris, Avid, Sony Vegas | No Comments »
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb8LqUY1q34
- AMA and Media Management - Media Composer Cutting Edge
- Suppose you start with a Project having a Sequence of clips from a Bin, these clips directly linked (via AMA) to original media-recordings in a camera’s native format.
- “There are still going to be times when you want to integrate that media in your local or shared AVid storage”.
- This can be done easily via the Consolidate and Transcode features:
- Sequence: RightClick > Consolidate/Transcode
- Consolidate/Transcode:
- I THINK BUT UNSURE:
- Select Consolidate if you just want the camera’s native format re-wrapped in MXF
- Select Transcode if you want it transcoded e.g. into DNxHD
- In both cases, you end up with a new sequence, of clips which are now:
- On the Avid Media storage (MXF). Better performance (?), better media management (by Avid) and ability to do some things that AMA can’t, such as multi-camera.
- Only the subsets (of original footage) needed by the sequence (plus handles). Saves disk space.
- Settings:
- “Video and audio on same drive”: YES
- Select required target drive
- Define Handle Length (e.g. two seconds’ worth of frames).
- (Implies that Consolidate will only ingest the subsets of clips actually referenced in the Sequence)
- “Create new sequence”: YES
- “Delete original media files when done”: NO
- “Skip media files already open on the target drive”: YES
- (Thinks: what if they already exist on some other drive (that’s connected) ?)
- “Relink selected clips to target drive before skipping”: YES
- Click “go-button” (labelled Consolidate or Transcode).
- If at any subsequent stage you want to re-edit:
- Re-mount the original camera volumes (e.g. disk drive/drives).
- Re-link your sequence to them (via AMA ?).
- {Subsequently, presumably re- Consolidate or Transcode }
- {Presumably if all you did was add something, the only action performed will be the Consolidate/Transcode of that very addition}
- {What if existing clips are trimmed (up or down) in the sequence? Will the corresponding existing Consolidate/Transcode product be appended/reduced/replaced as necessary (is AVid “clever” about all this? Or will a new one co-exist alongside the old one (which then just wastes space) ? }
- {Does an Avid-managed file act like an object, i.e. exists so long as something (bin or sequence) points at it, otherwise is deleted by some “garbage collection” ?}
- ReLink is also handy for Offline-Online conversion. Example:
- A remote cameraman delivers (e.g. via DigiDelivery) a set of XDCAM-HD Proxies.
- Editor receives proxies and Imports them into Avid.
- Some time later the Online files arrive (e.g. by physical delivery of disks).
- Avid’s ReLink function matches the offline proxy sequence, frame-for-frame, with the newly-avaiable HD footage.
Posted in offline, consolidate, transcode, Media Composer, XDCAM EX, Avid | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
Installed SmartSound Sonicfire (”The Music Score for Your Vision”). Wanted to install version 5.5.2, from Avid MC 5.0 install disk (it is unchanged in MC 5.5), but the installation hung (problem with disk or at least incompatible with my MBP’s reader?). No download was available for this product on my Avid Download account, while on the SmartSound website, only the latest version (update), namely 5.7.0 (on Windows, else 5.7.1 for Mac) could be downloaded. However that downloaded and installed fine. The Sonicfire app also pulled in some additions to its sound library, initially from the web and subsequently from SmartSound’s Core Sessions disk (which was fully readable); spontaneously once I inserted it.
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Posted in audio, Sonicfire, Media Composer, Music, Avid, Uncategorized | No Comments »