Audio tool and Timecode display questions

[Jon Zanone]

I don’t work with the new MC software – I’ve got an older Meridian and XPress 5.8. But I’ll take a stab at some of these…

[Jeffrey Di Lullo] “none of my time code displays in MC read the frames when I play my sequence.”

Try clicking on the TC display and selecting a new source. If its like the XPress software, it defaults to control track until you change it. I haven’t tried, but if you set up the timeline view it might keep the TC source constant(at the bottom of the timeline, there is a pulldown called ‘untitled’. Pulldown and save the view as ‘new’, or whatever, and see if that will do it).

[Jeffrey Di Lullo] “Why does the client monitor lag in relation to the composer window?”

In settings, go to display. I believe there is a desktop play delay you can play with. I don’t know where you would start – I use a Mojo, and it takes care of that problem.

[Jeffrey Di Lullo] “What am I missing by not running an Nvida card?”

Only support from Avid. If you were to use your 90 day support call, or bought support from Avid, they wouldn’t be able to diagnose any problems with your system.

I’ll look into the audio issue when I get in to work…

Hope this helps,

Jon

“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better”

[Jon Zanone]

[Jeffrey Di Lullo] “1) how do I recalibrate my audio tool so that -20db (digital) is equal to 0db analog?”

I checked the audio settings this PM on my Meridian MC system. It does have a way to change the calibration of the audio tool. I would think the software version would have that, unless of course it needs the Mojo for that…

Jon

“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better”

[Jeffrey Di lullo]

Jon,

Thanks for your posts. I’ve figure out the digital to analog calibration in the audio tool. In the “monitor menu” there was a line item to calibrate the reference level. bingo. -20dbFS = 0db. SWEET.

As for the issue of the timecode, I am still frustrated. I
checked (as per your instructions) and as far as I can tell I am definitely viewing timecode and not control track. I really think that I am missing something. Like I said, I can’t believe that AVID would design its flagship editing software to NOT show frames in the timecode display as I play the video back. “–” just doesn’t cut it for me. I also couldn’t find any mention of constant TC down in the sequence fast menu. Any Ideas?

Thanks for the info on the Nvidea cards. Since I don’t have a support contract it seem hardly worth it for me to replace my X800XT.

I also think that I have the client monitor issue figured out. It seems to me to be a philosophical issue with how the MC deals with non mojo/adrenaline firewire interfaces.

After reading the through the “advanced editing with MC” manual it really appears that there is no thought put into creating an editing environment where the 3rd party firewire interface (in my case a firewire enabled vtr) has similar interactivity as AVID’s hardware. The way in which the section about client monitor is written really makes me believe that AVID feels that a “software only” version of MC is more for “off-line” type work where using the “full screen preview” and system (i.e. computer) audio are adequate methods of video and audio playback.

In other words, AVID lets you hook up to firewire enabled VTR, it lets you capture full rez (dv25) from said VTR, it lets you print video back to tape via firewire (dv25), and even lets you work with 1:1 material in the time-line (which is previewed out via that VTR) BUT when you want to be able to interact with the client monitor (which is connected to the VTR) you have to put up with massive lag time. Fine. OK. Unfortunately my exact same computer running FCP lets me interact with the client monitor in synchronized bliss. Way to go AVID, way to go.

Jeffrey Di Lullo
BBC&S Video Communicaitons

[Jon Zanone]

[Jeffrey Di Lullo] “I also couldn’t find any mention of constant TC down in the sequence fast menu. Any Ideas?”

I’ll have my new MC software set up by the end of the week. I’ll do a little investigating regarding TC.

So MC doesn’t have desktop play delay? I know XPress has it. I’ve never played with it, but my understanding is it helps with your issue.

Jon

“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better”

[Jeffrey Di lullo]

Jon,

MC does have the desktop delay. My issue is not that I can’t play synced video, It does that; however the audio meters don’t sync with the client monitor OR the composer window when I enable the delay (my delay is set to 13 frames). My issue is related to scrubbing or shuttling. As I scrub, the client monitor stays on the frame that I started the scrub from. When I release the mouse, the client monitor then flys through the frames that I just scrubbed and comes to rest on the frame where I release the mouse. When I shuttle, the client window seems to keep up, until I stop the shuttle. Once I stop the shuttle, the client monitor jumps back in time the amount of the delay, so in my case it jumps backwards 13 frames. This is mostly an annoyance to how I work. I tend to look at and use the NTSC monitor quite a bit as I edit.

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I look forward to what you find out about the TC.

Have a great day!

Jeffrey Di Lullo
BBC&S Video Communicaitons

[Jeffrey Di lullo]

Jon,

Any word yet?

Jeffrey Di Lullo
BBC&S Video Communicaitons

[Jon Zanone]

It does seem the TC goes to hours:minutes when playing. I guess I never noticed – when I need TC, I stop the timeline and look at it….

Jon

“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better”