AMA vs IMPORT

[Danielle Warren]

Brilliant! That is so simple and easy to remember!

And I’m sure I’m totally over thinking it, that is my unfortunate nature 🙂

Thank you, that’s the best and easiest explanation yet!

[Michael Phillips]

I would add any audio file, especially BWF also be imported to Shane’s succinct rule of thumb.

Michael

[Danielle Warren]

Thanks Michael! Every little bit helps!

[Larry Asbell]

[Shane Ross] ” When to use AMA: When dealing with camera masters. Canon DSLR, AVCHD, P2, XDCAM, RED…

When to use IMPORT: When you have stand alone Quicktime files. Graphics with alphas.”

And when you have lengthy QT files from which you’ll be using short segments, AMA is good?

[Shane Ross]

[Larry Asbell] ”
And when you have lengthy QT files from which you’ll be using short segments, AMA is good?”

Yes.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Bill Ravens]

Shane has explained this at least once before, but, I think his point was missed, so I’ll reiterate what he said.

Let’s say you have 60 minutes of native footage in AVCHD. Now, let’s say that when you’re done editting, you’ll only be using 20 minutes of that native footage.

So, if you import all 60 minutes to DNxHD, it will take Avid some time to import/transcode all 60 minutes.
Now, if you AMA link to the 60 minutes of native AVCHD footage, put it on your timeline and cut out everything but the 20 minutes you need, now you can transcode it to DNxHD, and the transcode time will be much shorter because it’s only 20 minutes of footage instead of the original 60 minutes.

With the transcoded 20 minutes of .new footage, you can now edit and export to your hearts content.
Edit: Here’s a new wrinkle. Avid is reporting that their algorithms are different depending on whether the workflow is AMA Link>Transcode or straight Import. There is a reported quality loss when Importing. Transcoding from AMA is also faster than a straight import.

[Michael Phillips]

Keep in mind that editing directly from a single 60 minute source clip via AMA (or any single clip longer than 10 minutes or so) can affect overall performance while editing just to get to that 20 minute timeline. This is why it is such a gray area for many users. There is a lot of different criteria that affects a transcode all before or after decision.

Michael

[Shane Ross]

[Bill Ravens] ”
Let’s say you have 60 minutes of native footage in AVCHD. Now, let’s say that when you’re done editting, you’ll only be using 20 minutes of that native footage.”

I think you missed the point a little. In this description, you are editing the 60 min of AVCHD native in Avid. You need to transcode BEFORE you edit. So either transcode the full clip, or just the part you want to use.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Kenneth Maultsby]

DOn’t use Avid. Use Adobe Premiere. Avid doesn’t work the way you are used to working.

I have Avid and Premiere also and I was wondering the same between AMA and importing. I use a lot of AVCHD footage what our the advantages and dis-advantages in workflow between the two? I really don’t have an issue about transcoding before I have to edit.

[Danielle Warren]

As I said before, I appreciate the advice to use Premiere, but I’m not choosing Avid because that’s what I want to use. I’m choosing it because most places either use it or want to start using it in the future, so I would like to learn it to continue working at these places. Trust me, I’d happily use FCP forever, but this is the reality and I think it will be a positive thing to know Avid as well.