AVID Xpress DV Project to Symphony

[Bill Stephan]

We do this all the time and it works well. On Xpress DV, put the a copy of the final sequence into a new bin. Then exit the Avid software and, then find the project folder and the bin file inside it on the PC/Mac. The file has the name you gave the bin in Xpress DV. Copy this file onto whatever media the on-line facility wants (floppy, zip disk, etc.). If your Xpress DV is PC, use a PC-formatted disk; if on Mac, use Mac formatted. Do not match the on-line facility’s system or your sequence may be unusable.

Everything carries over into the sequence on Symphony (even audio levels, color corrections, effects, etc.) Problems arise where an effect was used in off-line that is not available in the on-line system. Symphony has the Xpress set of effects available, but if you used any kind of plug-in like Boris Efx or BCC, talk to your on-line editor.

To avoid delay and difficulty, send a disk with your sequence to the on-line facility in advance of your session to make sure they can load it in their Symphony.

Always bring a paper printout of your EDL (make in EDL Manager) plus a copy of the off-line cut on videotape.

Bill Stephan
Senior Editor/DVD Author
USA Studios
New York City

[Nick]

Thanks! The bin conform worked well. About the only problem I had was that I didn’t have a two-pop and so the editor manually re-synced the audio. Only had to find one sync point as the rest fell into place.

I stuck with standard Avid Xpress DV effects and they recreated well exactly the same on the Symphony. I color corrected a couple of shots on the Symphony and I was all set.

Output the 16:9 source video as 16:9 and in 1:77 using a symphony effect and I was done!

Thanks,
Nikhil