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Conforming an AVID project: problems
I don’t know how many of you work with projects originating from AVID but I’m currently working on my first AVID-to-Resolve project and I’m having the hardest time just getting started.
Unfortunately this is a feature length project so all of my issues are multiplied by 5 (reels).In AVID, I’ve gone through each reel and created sequences devoid of any holes, clips of different frame rates and clips with speed changes. To get rid of holes I imported a minute of black video and cut it into any blank spots in the timeline. To get rid of clips with different frame rates I transcoded any that I found into the project’s frame rate of 24fps and replaced the original clips in the timeline. To get rid of speed changes I created mixdowns of any speed change shots (with handles) and replaced the original clips in the timeline. My intention was to create sequences that were comprised of simple edits so the transition to Resolve would be as smooth as possible.
The AVID project uses DNxHD 175x media which we decided to work with instead of reimporting at 1:1. I have the DNxHD plugin for Resolve so that’s not a problem.
I exported AAFs of the final sequences and loaded them into Resolve using the option to set project settings and import media using the AAF.
The problem is that when checking the conforms I routinely come across clips that link to the wrong media, clips that need to be slipped and, even worse, clips that extend beyond their intended outpoints, which push the shots later down the timeline out of whack. I’m having to manually adjust outpoints, slip clips, and relink to correct media.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that the mixdowns I created are prime suspects for such weirdnesses, although I must say they don’t account for all of them. NONE of the clips in the media pool have “reel no” and the clips relating to the mixdowns have a blank value for “start TC” even though they have timecode values back in AVID.
If anyone has insight to share concerning prepping AVID sequences for Resolve I’m all ears.
Thanks,roman hankewycz
harbor film company // colorist -
5 Replies
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I am just finishing a 5 reel feature which was edited in Avid and conformed in Resolve from five EDL’s and 2K 35mm scan media from an Arriscan. I have very little issues with the whole process there were a few clips on a revised first reel I had to fix but that was mostly due to how we scanned the needed extra frames for that reel.
What kind of EDL are you sending to Resolve? I am using CMX 3600 on this are there multiples of the media in the media pool?
-Rob-
Robert Houllahan
Director / Colorist
Cinelab Inc.
http://www.cinelab.comMAHC-PRO 6-Core 3X GTX285 20Tb SAS Wave Panel Panny 11UK SDI Plasma.
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The update to resolve 8.1 which is due out any day now is supposed to have better avid round tripping ..
however it isn’t here yet and your project is …I have found that certain things cause the AAF import in DaVinci to behave in what I can only describe as a screwy way.
1) Transitions other than a simple fade (dips to colour included)2) FX but Motion effects especially … you have mixed these down so should be ok.
3) Non-alphanmumeric characters in clip names … this sometimes seems to be the case but not always
4) Different sized handles … has caused certain clips to be duplicated in my timeline … stretched to full handle length (pushing all other clips out of sync)
5) Sometimes resolve just plain doesn’t like a sequence and I have duplicated/renamed/mixed down portions/whole seqs (this will of course loose your handles) to try and get it work and the magic combination is in there somewhere but I haven’t cracked the exact combination yet.
Resolve renders do weird things with handles on the trip back to avid .. adds black if the handles are not long enough and then when you relink it starts at the (black) start of the handles not the clip start point.
Hope some of the above helps
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Yep, same problems here…but yes, 8.1 🙂
A slice of color…
DaVinci 8.0.1 OSX 10.7
MacPro 5.1 2×2,4 24GB
RAID0 8TB eSata 6TB
GTX 470 / GT 120
Extreme 3D+ WAVE -
If you’re using the Avid media anyway, why not just export a video mixdown from Avid along with an EDL and do a pre conform workflow?
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Hey guys,
Thanks for the feedback. Let me answer some of the questions:-I’m not using EDLs to go to Resolve I’m using AAFs but maybe I should give EDLs a try. I was under the impression that AAFs would give me better results because they carry more metadata.
-I’m not using the pre-conform approach because I know there will be thing’s I’ll need to tweak after grading so I want handles out of AVID which makes me worry about the Resolve-to-AVID issues Donal mentioned.
Also I’ve noticed that my conforming issues cluster around certain clips within certain scenes within the reels. Unfortunately I don’t have the time to narrow down the culprits. This film has been edited in a pretty unorganized manner and obviously I’m inheriting problems from an imperfect, offline workflow.
I guess I just have to push through this for now and hope the workflow gets ironed out before my next AVID-to-Resolve project.
Thanks a lot,roman hankewycz
harbor film company // colorist
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