[David Dean]

Thanks, Andy (and everyone). I wound up rebuilding all my titles using Title 3D, and they look very nice. What I found odd, however, was that I tried to duplicate the basics of the text — the same font size, the same tracking, the same drop shadow data — in the Boris version, and then when I tried to line the new title up with the title created in the Text Generator, they didn’t match at all. I would think that a 48-point font would be the same in both generators, but Boris’ wound up bigger. Ah well. Moving on! Thanks again for everybody’s help.

[David Dean]

Thanks, Scott, Andy and Michael. I’ve been exploring Boris Title 3D, but since there’s nothing in the FCP User’s Guide regarding it (I’m looking elsewhere for a manual), let me ask one other question about it. In the project I’m currently working on, I’ve already created a slew of white titles using the FCP text generator. They’re positioned exactly where I want them. If I create a gradated sample title using Boris Title 3D, and save it as a style, can the color attributes be pasted onto all the titles I’ve already built, or do I have to start from scratch and re-create them all using Boris? I don’t seem to see that option when I try to copy and paste attributes.

Thanks again — and Scott, I do use the mouse to position my titles, but I do find that having to switch back and forth from the canvas with the mouse, to typing with the position controls in the viewer in order to place text precisely where I want it is much more complicated than using the arrow keys in the Avid; plus, I love being able to link multiple fonts and text sizes in a single saved title so I can reposition and resize the whole thing if I need to. Other than that, I love FCP.

[David Dean]

Thank you! So then I don’t have to worry about a compressed Easy Setup to save drive space, since I’m just reading what’s already on the drive? I choose the HD Easy Setup that matches the existing footage? (Apple XDCAM EX 1080p24) Again, many thanks, and especially for the speed of your reply.

[David Dean]

Thanks for responding so quickly, Christopher. What I’m trying to avoid is having several extra tracks added to my timeline just by opening up a clip in the viewer. Avid will let you modify a source clip after capture right in the bin (also freeing up drive space), which is what I’m trying to see if FCP will do.

[David Dean]

Hey, guess what? It’s not just me! Here’s a post from the Avid forum, dated in March:

“I have been very excited about the new AMA-feature of MC3.5. It’s a great way to access P2 and XDCAM EX-media!

However, my excitement has turned into disappointment in the last couple of days due to the discovery of two serious audio problems that are probably related.

1. When applying an audiosuite effect onto an AMA-linked clip the MC freezes. After downmixing the audio this works well. I have not had this confirmed from other users. Please report back!

2. This is the serious and almost unbelievable one! When editing with AMA-media from XDCAM EX it is not possible to move or edit the audio into other tracks than track 1 and 2. If the media ends up on other tracks than 1,2 it is MUTE! The wave forms show but playback is muted. This was pointed out to me by another user in this forum and I just confirmed it. More confirmations would be interesting.

I’d be very interested in confirmations on these two problems and especially would like to hear Avid’s view on this. How is it possible that you have released this feature without finding these problems?! When will they be fixed? As of now AMA is a useless feature.”

This fellow (in Sweden!) took the words right out of my mouth. Well, it seems that Avid checked it out and acknowledged the problem. They said in March that a fix would be forthcoming, but I’ve read nothing since. This is INCREDIBLY irritating and slows me down immeasurably, as I now have to do an audio mixdown of EVERY SINGLE CLIP I want to use in any track but A1 and A2 (good luck on that online, huh?). Thanks for responding, John, and if anyone else is having this problem and has a workaround solution, please let me know.

[David Dean]

Let me amend my post with something else that might be a clue. I’ve just tried an audio mixdown of two XDCAM tracks I cut directly into A1 and A2. The mixdown plays perfectly in all tracks. Does that help? Thanks!