Flip cameras

[Michael Kammes]

Media Composer v5 (released 6 months or so ago) via AMA can read Quicktime files. If you can double click on them on the desktop, you’re golden. You can bring them into Avid via AMA without transcoding.

v3.5 will not have the same ability, thus you will ahve to import it as you normally would.

Make sure you have the rigtht codec installed for the flip camera file. Quicktime or VLC, etc. will tell you if you do not have the codec installed.

Good Luck!

~Michael

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

[Scott Cumbo]

thanks for the responce. I was looking more for someone who has used them, and has some “watch out for this or that”

AMA is not always “if you can play them your good” I love Avid, but AMA still needs work.

thanks again

Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC

[Michael Kammes]

Like most things, it could use improvement. However, I think what Avid has been able to accomplish in the past 6 months with Quicktime via AMA (remember, this is the *first* quicktime AMA iteration), it’s pretty good.

I think what most fail to realize is that is is very rare to have camera manufacturers (especially consumer based ones) consider post. They are concerned with the cheapest parts , on the cheapest storage with ONLY topical (visual) image quality. While H.264 looks pretty good, but it’s god-awful in post, and falls apart quickly. Thus, NLEs – Avid, FCP, Vegas, Adobe (and others) all need to react. hard to be great when you’re always playing catch-up.

I wish it were a case of the tail wagging the dog, but alas Post is the proctologist of the industry: We’re at the ass end of the project.

/rant
/soapbox

~Michael

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

[Scott Cumbo]

I agree with you, and luckly I rarely have to deal with consumer/prosumer footage where i work.

That’s why i posted my original question. And i was considering the
flip camera cause i want something nice and cheap that my wife can use without issue. But i also don’t want a hassle if i want to cut a clip down to send to the grandparents or something.

I’m hoping i can take the files and just import them or use AMA and get’em into the avid quickly without having to transcode or jump through any other hoops. My educacted guess would is that it shouldn’t be a problem, BUT when dealing with files you never know.

Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC

[Kris Anderson]

I have done exactly the same thing…. works fine… over 170 imports so far… then I “archive” them to HDCam SR. I know…. overkill, but I do it because I can!

Leave them importing overnight and you’ll be fine.

[Scott Cumbo]

cool, thanks Kris

Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC