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Sending Files to/from After Effects w/ Avid compressors?
I’m wondering if anybody could describe a quick workflow for sending Avid clips/timelines to After Effects, then exporting a particular file for re-importing into Avid.
My Avid is a Meridien based system running Avid Xpress 4.6. It’s a Compaq Evo W8000 workstation.
I usually export from Avid using Quicktime, No compression. Then I export frmo AFX using QT, No compression. I noticed I have some Avid-labelled compressors available. Would using these give me a better quality import/export? Am I losing any quality if using Quicktime?
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6 Replies
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If your Avid and AFX software are on the same system, do this:
Export a Quicktime Reference from Avid. Import this into AE.
Do your compositing, effects, titling, etc…whatever you want in After Effects.
Render this out using the Avid Meridien Codecs. You say you have them. If your Avid project is 1:1 render using the Avid Meridien codec Uncompressed. If it’s any other resolution, use the Avid Meridien Codec Compressed.You can always continue with the way you’re doing it–there’s nothing wrong with it, and you’re really not losing quality. Quicktime uncompressed is just that–uncompressed, from what I understand. However, you’ll notice that your Avid makes a quicktime when you export–take a while. QT Reference is fast. Very fast. Then, when you import your quicktime uncompressed files the Avid spends some time rewrapping these files in an OMF wrapper. This can take a long while, depending on the size of the clip. Use the Avid Meridien codec and this import time with be slashed. I kid you not, I’ve seen files import in about :15 seconds with the meridien codec, whereas they took about 3+ minutes or so in regular quicktime format because of the conversion time. Huge timesaver, excellent quality.
Note: in case you don’t know, when you’re rending out of After Effects with an alpha, make it a straight alpha. It’s what Avid prefers. And render lower field first. Then, when importing into Avid, select lower field first and Use Existing Alpha. Edit into timeline and rock ‘n roll.
Mike.
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WOW!!@ Thanks so much for that info!! Never occured to me that QT Ref’s could be used in AFX, Taht’s awesome. Thx for opening my eyes to that.
I’ve had lots of troubles with AFX Compositions w/ Alphas and importing them into Avid ‘properly’. Thanks for your outline there too. Just one question: what do you mean by straight alpha? Is it an actual option “straight alpha”?
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When you open your output module in After Effects, where you select your export type (PNG Sequence, Quicktime Movie, etc…), select RGB+Alpha then (and I’ll double check this when I get to work and repost if I’m wrong) below that select Alpha (Straight). It will probably default to Alpha (Premultiplied). Change it to a straight alpha and you’re ready to go.
Really want to take the headache out of it all? Set it up several different ways and do a few simple test renders, noting exactly what your settings are. Import them into Avid. Decide which setting looks best, and save those settings. Mine are saved as Avid Compressed and Avid Uncompressed, so I can just flip from one to the other depending on my project. Saves a lot of time.
Hope this helps you and answers your question! Let me know if you have anymore.
Michael
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you can even export directly to an omfi file, which is, as far as I remember, even faster.. It’s in the “Output Module” settings. Format > OMF.
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NICE!! I’m going to have to give that a shot.
Mike.
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These are flattened OMF files..they dont have alpha channels. This may not work for you.
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