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Exporting from Avid to FCP
I have been getting spots from an editor using Avid for playback in my FCP system and have been having a lot of trouble with very long render times and poor quality in the files they have been sending me. They are editing in HD and are sending me files as .mp4. the quality is poor, file size is really small, and they take forever to convert into something I can use. I don’t speak Avid and would like to get the files in a codec that is compatible with my system that is available on the Avid as well. I have told them to give me files as QT movies uncompressed 8bit 4:2:2 at the highest quality settings. They have sent me spots with an animation compression that seemed to have a weird codec that was unplayable. I have found that my system can take all kinds of spots with various types of compression and play it but things coming from an Avid cause a lot of problems.
I’m not trying to pick and Avid vs FCP fight. I simply need to know what file requirements to tell this guy editing on an Avid so that they play nice in FCP. Any help would be much appreciated.
thanks
Kevin -
6 Replies
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Have them export a Quicktime file either uncompressed or to the highest flavor of DNxHD their project supports.
If you get a file compressed to DNxHD, go to the Avid site and download the DNxHD codecs. They’re available for free for Mac and PC systems, and once installed your FCP system will see them. You can then run them through compressor if necessary to convert them to ProRes for output. Watch for gamma shifts, though.
Uncompressed would be your best option though, and if they keep delivering files other than what you request, go over the editors head to their supervisor. If a station requests a Beta dub and you send them a DVD they’ll reject it. You should reject what they send until they send what you request.
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Michael Hancock
http://www.oswaldcommunications.com -
I don’t know how the avid editor is exporting the file but he’s doing it wrong. Have him or her try this. Highlight the sequence, right click and choose Export. When the window opens change the export setting to ‘Fast Export Quicktime (NTSC OR PAL)’. Then click Options. Here you can change the settings to what you want. He should probably uncheck the ‘Use AVID DV codec’ box.
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If you want this to be SUPER easy, get Automatic Duck Pro Import. Then tell the Avid guy to make a sequence out of the footage…a string out. Then consolidate the footage to an external drive, and export an AAF of the sequence. Give the drive to you. You need to first install the Avid LE codecs (available from the Avid site), and then you can connect the drive, import the AAF using Automatic Duck, and BOOM! There is the sequence with all the footage. Media manage it to the format of your choosing, and you now have FCP media.
Act now…there is an NAB special of $100 off the Duck software.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
If the guy has the money it’s a good call, shane. Hey, I didn’t know you were an Avid guy now. Did you have to take the divided highway of needing to use both Avid and FCP?
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I started out as an Avid guy. Edited (or assisted) for 8 years before I moved to FCP. Now I go back and forth. And yes, I have needed to bridge the gap between the two for over 4 years now. And the Duck has always been my go-to tool. It has only gotten better, and easier. Now using it to edit in Media Composer, convert to FCP for grading in COLOR, and then output.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thanks for the suggestions. Regarding Automatic Duck, that’s a no go. They are delivering spots to us to air and should be able to deliver in a format that us universally accepted. We’ve been down this path before with this station and I wasn’t able to talk them through the export since I’ve never worked on an avid system. I think I’ll just forward the link to this thread and see what happens.
cheers
Kevin
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