digitizing in Avid, editing in FCP 5

[Steve Connor]

No.

[Shane Ross]

Really, it might depend on the version of Avid. Express Pro or Express DV, maybe, but not the higher end Avids.

But Steve is onto something. Never…and I mean NEVER…start a project on one platform and finish on another. Stick to one. If you are eventually going to edit and finish on FCP, why not start on FCP. If you are starting on an Avid, why not finish on one?

Mixing platforms can lead to serious complications and I for one am all about simplicity in the editing process. Don’t complicate your life.

Seriously.

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Walter Biscardi]

[hi focused] ”
So I have FCP 5 but a guy I’m going to start working for is on Avid. If we set up the drive to be Mac/Pc compatible will the clips that he digitizes in Avid work in FCP?”

If you use Automatic Duck on your end, you should be able to read the clips. There is an option to read the original Avid media when you import the project. But as I’ve never done this, I have no idea how well it would work.

We use the Duck all the time with Avid editors, but we always conform the project here so we’re re-capturing all new media on the FCP system.

Mixing the two NLE’s is probably not the best way to go without planning to re-conform.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Director, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

Now Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Peter Reventlow]

If you use Automatic Duck on your end, you should be able to read the clips. There is an option to read the original Avid media when you import the project.

Automatic Duck will only read your timelines and create QT media clips of Master Clips edited into that sequence. Auto Duck will not read all the Master Clips that is within the whole Avid project. You could, however, get these clips across using Sebsky Tools (www.dharmafilm.com/sebskytools).

All in all, you COULD export all Master Clips from Avid as QuickTime files in a codec FCP can handle, and then add TC using Sebsky Tools – then export all sequences from Avid using Automatic Duck and finally reconnect the imported sequence to the qtfiles. However, given FCPs way of mediahandling, you get into trouble if subclips are used. And if clipnames are more than 31 characters, etc. etc. Also keep in mind that a lot of visual effects would have to be rebuild.

Going the other way, relinking imported sequences in Avid to existing media is a lot more stable.

I have digitized on Avid and transfered the media to FCP for editing on quite a few projects, and while it is possible, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, so unless you have a very compelling reason to do it, I would suggest that one of you change software.

All the best,

Peter