“Avid-friendly codec” for PC

[Michael Kammes]

DNxHD, which is Avid’s HD codec.

In a perfect world, the DNxHD codec would be in an MXF wrapper, however, few programs can do both a DNxHD encode AND place it into an MXF wrapper. Thus, best practice is to create a DNxHD Quicktime file into a format, that Avid can FAST IMPORT.

Shameless Self Promotion: I penned an article on it, which outlines how to do it and why: https://michaelkammes.com/encoding/avid-is-self-aware-fast-import/

This allows Avid to import a file into an MXF wrapper, which performs better than the Avid 5.0+ AMA via Quicktime workflow.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[John Pale]

You did not specify whether its HD or SD.

Avid DNXHD is HD only, unlike Apple ProRes.

If its SD, you will want to use Meridien 1:1.

This is all in the Avid Quicktime Codec package.

[Michael Kammes]

Correct. However, the original poster did say HD.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Bob Cole]

[Michael Kammes] “However, the original poster did say HD.”

Thanks very much to you both. Actually I edited the post to add “HD” after a couple of minutes, so John was probably right too.

The instructions in the article were absolutely over-the-top helpful and excellent, with links and everything. It worked!

Thank you so much for an excellent reply.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

I downloaded the Avid HD codec and thought I had followed the recommendations in Michael’s guide, but the Avid editor just sent me some frame grabs which show that only the top half of the video frame came through. Does that ring a bell?

Bob C

[Michael Kammes]

I would verify what version of Avid DNxHD codec package you have on your system…your codec pack may be older than the ones on his system. Avid has made slight changes to the DNxHD codec over the past few years, that could be the culprit.

https://www.avid.com/US/industries/workflow/DNxHD-Codec

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .

[Bob Cole]

Thanks Michael. I will try to figure out the exact Avid codec. There is also the possibility that the Avid editor has an older codec.

What do you think would be the safest file format in which to export my Final Cut Pro movies? Is there some universal format which Avid editors can import?

Bob C

[Michael Kammes]

That’s a loaded question.

Avid v 5.0+ can use AMA to link to almost ANY QT based file, without having to re-import it. Thus, you can export almost any format from FCP, and Avid will see it. The only hitch being there has to be the same codec on both machine.

The safest bet is to skip AMA, and use the old reliable method and import. Best practice to generate a file for fastest import into Avid, and is listed in one of my initial replies to this thread:

https://michaelkammes.com/encoding/avid-is-self-aware-fast-import/

DNxHD is probably your best bet, all Avid’s made in the past 5 years understand it.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .