X to Avid – where do we stand?

[Jeff Markgraf]

Oliver-

Right. All the workflow articles mention that. I need to pay better attention!

Several questions:

1) I would be sending (mostly) MXF files to Resolve, and would be importing (via AAF) MXF files (DnX145) into Avid. Should I expect to see a loss in quality (compression artifacts, etc.)?

2) Do I specify the DnX145 in the export?

3) FCP imports the MXF files as separate audio & video. I then make a synchronized clip to edit. Will the audio stay attached through the Resolve in/out process? (Not very many synch sound clips, so not a deal-breaker.)

4) Isn’t it kinda late in Florida right now? 😉

[Oliver Peters]

[Jeff Markgraf] “1) I would be sending (mostly) MXF files to Resolve, and would be importing (via AAF) MXF files (DnX145) into Avid. Should I expect to see a loss in quality (compression artifacts, etc.)? “

I doubt you’d see any visible difference. Avid and Apple codecs are designed with concatenation in mind, meaning you take the biggest hit when it’s first compressed and then there’s less damage with subsequent re-compression generations. You could always export to a higher DNxHD setting, like 175/220. This would preserve a little more of what’s there, but it’s probably overkill, unless you are planning to go 5 gens or more.

[Jeff Markgraf] “2) Do I specify the DnX145 in the export? “

Yes.

[Jeff Markgraf] “3) FCP imports the MXF files as separate audio & video. I then make a synchronized clip to edit. Will the audio stay attached through the Resolve in/out process? (Not very many synch sound clips, so not a deal-breaker.)”

Honestly, I haven’t tested the workflow with sync sound, so I’m not sure. If it gets into Resolve properly, it should be OK on the export from Resolve, too. Otherwise, export audio stems from X (set up using roles) and then import and re-sync these tracks once you are in Avid.

[Jeff Markgraf] “4) Isn’t it kinda late in Florida right now? ;-)”

Yep. Baby-sitting some transcodes. H.264 from GoPros and 5D/7Ds to ProRes. I hate editing with native media made up of non-optimized codecs 😉

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com