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Consolidate vs Transcode a very specific question
I know the difference between the two for the most part, what I’m confused on is if consolidating AMA linked footage into your avid media folder creates MFX files or leaves them as is wherein one would still need to choose selects and transcode for the all the reasons we do that for.
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2 Replies
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If the codec exists as part of the Avid native codec library, then the clips will basically be a copy wrapped im MXF and managed in the Avid MediaFiles/MXF/ folder structure. If the codec is not, then consolidate will also include a transcode.
A transcode is always converting to the target codec choice for any source codec regardless of being native or not unless they match exactly.
When you select transcode, you can see a list of codecs that are considered native to Media Composer. If your originating codec is not thee, then consolidate will include a transcode. An obvious example would be an R3D file from RED. You can select entire clips, spans of clips (IN-OUT), etc, and the consolidation process will include a transcode to your selected natively supported codec.
Michael
Michael Phillips
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When you go to consolidate, it will ask you where you want the new media to go. (you have to select a drive, or the consolidate button won’t highlight) The idea of transcode is to get the footage into the box for an easier edit session. AMA is great for a while, but sooner or later just starts to bog you down.
Consolidate is more for the end process, when your decisions are made and you want to get rid of all the transcoded or imported footage that you no longer need. You want to keep the final project on your box, but you don’t want to keep all 32 hours of original material for that final 30 seconds of perfection- you only want to keep the final 30 seconds worth of footage. (plus handles)
It might seem on the surface like they do the same thing, but they do have different purposes.
Glenn
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