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Basic Question about Sequences
My editing experience is limited and comes mostly from Vegas Studio. I thought I would take a look at an alternate editor and download Avid Free DV. I know this version is very limited but the should suffice for my purpose of understanding alternate editing programs.
My question is very basic and relates to sequences. My understanding is that each project embodies one or more sequences which embody one or more clips. Each sequence allows or multiple tracks (only 2 in the free version). Do I have this much right?
If so, is the strategy then to break a project up into multiple sequences and then reasemble them? If so, does one ultimately create one large master sequence from the individual sequences such that all sequences are on a single timeline?
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10 Replies
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Well, you kind of have the right idea. It goes like this:
The Avid Basics (skip this if you already know it):
Project–>
In every project you have Bins, which hold effects, sequences, master clips (for Video, Audio, imported graphics, etc…). Essentially, everything in your project goes into a bin, and you can make as many bins as you want (I don’t think there’s a limit). This helps you organize your footage. You may have one bin for video, one for audio, one for effects, one for titles, one for imported graphics…Bins–>
These hold your master clips, which are pointers to your media files (which are stored on your media drive in a folder called OMFI MediaFiles if you’re dealing with OMF footage, or MXF folders if you’re dealing with MXF). More on media files later. Back to bins.
You can also store effects in your bins, so if you have an effect you plan on using often you can make a bin for it and stick it in there. You can mix and match anything you want in a bin–you can put sequences in with audio and titles. Bins are like folders in a filing cabinet and allow you to organize your footage, etc…Media Files–>
All of your media is stored in an OMFI MediaFiles folder at the root of your media drives (i.e. M:\OMFI MediaFiles). Avid uses OMF and MXF format–don’t ask me the difference because I don’t know. I use OMF–MXF is (I think) for 10Bit files, HD, etc… When you import an avi or quicktime, Avid converts it to an OMF or MXF file and files it away with all your other media. This is nice because you no longer have to worry about the original file being moved somewhere and losing your link (unless you need to reimport it–then you have to go find it if you’ve moved it. If you haven’t moved it Avid will remember where it was). Avid’s media management is the best in the business.Clips–>
The Audio and Video you capture or import into your system. These can also be imported graphics, titles you make within the Avid, etc…In Answer to Your Question about Sequences:
Sequences–>
A sequence is your edit, basically. You take your clips, your audio, your graphics, your titles and anything else you want and you put it into a sequence. You can make a sequence as long or as short as you want (although I’ve heard that Avid with Mojo will only play out 3 hours at a time, and Avid with Adrenaline will play 6. I don’t, I haven’t tested it because I don’t have tapes that run that long).
Sequences can consist of up to (I think) 16 tracks of video and audio on an Xpress Pro system, or 24 tracks of audio and video on Media Composer. Symphony and Nitris–I’m not sure. Of course, once you learn how to nest tracks you’ll soon realize you have an unlimited number of them, but that discussion is for another day.
How you do your edit is up to you. If you’re doing a short form piece or a commercial for broadcast you’re looking for anything from :10 seconds to 10 minutes or longer. For short pieces like this I use one sequence for my edit. If I decide to play around with the edit but don’t want to lose what I’ve already done I simply select the sequence and hit Ctrl+D to duplicate it. Now I can play in that one without affecting the original. You can make unlimited sequences, allowing you the freedom to try everything under the sun without affecting your original cut.
For long form pieces (say an hour long short or a 2 hour movie) you might find it beneficial to break each sequence down into a scene. Say this sequence is called Part 1 (how’s that for a generic name?)–this may be everything up until the first commercial break (for an TV show). Edit away. When you want to work on the second part, make a new sequence, called Part 2. When you’re ready to put it all together into one master sequence, do this:
Take your sequence for Part 1 and drag it from your bin to your Source Monitor (the one on the left). It is now loaded as if it’s a clip. Cut it into a new sequence called Master. Drag Part 2 to your source monitor (or Ctrl+Alt+Double Click to open it in it’s own monitor) and cut that into your Master Sequence, after Part 1. Continue until everything is in order.
Now some systems allow for nested sequences–Nest Sequence 1 into Sequence 2. Make a change in Sequence 1 and it changes in Sequence 2. Avid doesn’t do this. If you make a change to a sequence the change effects that sequence only.That, in a very large nutshell, is the world’s most basic overview of Avid, and how sequences can work for you. Cut everything into one big line, or divide it up by scene and combine them later–the choice is entirely yours. If you have anymore questions, I promise my answer will be shorter and more concise in the future, and if I have mistakes in here other’s will help to correct them.
Mike.
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Thank you for a very comprehensive answer to my question. That is exactly what I was looking for.
Avid seems to work a bit differently from what I am used to. Its not entrely intuitive as your lenghty response suggests. Its great that Avid puts a free version out there that is relatively faithful to the more function versions, but without documentation explaining what just explained, evaluating Free Dv can be a time consuming exercise in frustration.
I’m not sure that Avid will be my first choice editor, but your answers will allow me to evaluate further.
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arthur144 wrote: “Its not entrely intuitive as your lenghty response suggests.” LOL. It was a rather lengthy response, wasn’t it?
You’re right though, Avid isn’t as intuitive as many other editing apps. I’ve dabbled in Premiere Pro, FCP, and Media 100 and was up and running rather quickly, I originally but learned to edit on an Avid and have been cutting on an Avid for the two years fulltime.
It helps to have someone show you the ropes–Avid is an incredibly deep program, but once you quit trying to make it work like another editor it gets easier (and trying to forget everything you’re used to from another editing app is easier said than done!!).
I would suggest you spend a little more time with it, and remember–when something doesn’t seem to make sense, or you can’t figure something out or just want to know why…post here. There are Avid gurus who haunt these forums (see all their pics at the top) and they’re here to help you progress. It may never be your editor of choice, but it’s well worth it to spend a little more time familiarizing yourself with it.
Best of luck, post if you have more questions, and happy cutting!
Mike.
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Thanks again, Mike.
One of the things that drew me to try Avid was that while I have both a PC and a Mac, I wanted to favor editing on a Mac. I am also looking for an intermediate level editor so, without getting involved with some of the Open Source efforts, that pretty much leaves Avid and FCE as the options. Imovie is a nice throw-in with OSX, but a bit too simplistic. If they would made Imovie in the spirit of what Garageband is for audio, that might hit the spot.
In any case, since Avid cleverly offers Free DV to experience their interface I figured why not? Evrn in its limited form, I can see what you mean by Avid being a “deep” program. From my also limited Vegas (Studio) experience, Avid seems more “granular”. What I mean is that there seem to be more steps in the overall editing process, offering more media control at the expense of complexity.
Also ironic is the fact that, as a Mac owner, I am leaning towards a PC for editing. I am also considering at the moment Premiere Elements versus Vegas Studio, both of which seem to have the intermediate capability that I am looking for. I originally thought the Premiere Elements was also simplistic, but apparently it has really matured. Vegas Studio, which I learned when it was a Sonic Foundry product with a different name is my fallback position. Whatever I know about video editing I learned from Vegas Studio, so I have a special allegiance to it. However, since I would like to find a native solution for the Mac, Avid remains in the picture.
Logically, I should just pick an editor and run with it rather than spend time evaluating software. My intent though is to learn more about editing as merely opposed to needing to produce full length video.
Thanks again for your “tutorial” on Avid. I otherwise may have dismissed Avid right away.
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You wrote: “Logically, I should just pick an editor and run with it rather than spend time evaluating software.”
I disagree here and think you’re going about it exactly as you should–try every edit system you can get your hands on before you buy. I would never dream of buying an editing system without a test drive–just like I wouldn’t dream of buying a car without putting it through the paces.
Keep poking around in the Avid and if you know someone with FCP or Premiere sweet talk them into giving you a crash course and some time to play. After trying them all you may end up loving Avid or you may end up hating it. Doesn’t matter what you go with, as long you can get the job done.
Test all the software you can legally get your hands on before you start spending money. That way you can make an informed decision and will have a system you feel at home on.
Mike.
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Mike –
What a great post! I wish we had stickies here. This definitely belongs in an “Everything you wanted to know about the Avid” sticky.
Jon
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Thanks.
For a while I’ve been thinking about writing a general overview of Avid software–more or less an Intro to Avid. Not an end all user manual by any means, but something that new users of Avid could review to get them started…much like the many video tutorials available here, but as a printable pdf. Avid is such a deep and sometimes complicated program that an easy to understand “Getting Started” manual might be of help. Think it would be worth the time and effort, or is it easier for people to just post here when they have questions?
Mike.
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I certainly think you should at least submit this as a tutororial. After ‘using’ Avid for 11 years, it’s easy to forget newbies my have trouble with the terminology, and even the reason why it’s called a bin. Basic overviews like this are invaluable, and I’d hate to see it get buried in the forum.
Jon
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The response to my basic Avid question definitely qualifies as a “sticky” if that facility exists on the forum. Regardless of what editor(s) I end up using, I am glas I asked the question as apparently the answer is involved.
Thanks again for the support you guys provide.
– Arthur
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You can create as many sequences as you want in a project. Yes, they are made from clips. You could construct the entire project in one sequence if you want. Or you can take sequences of sections of the project and lay them all out into one sequence to create the completed project.
Chaz S.
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