[Declan Macerlane]

I haven’t heard that. I use AVI with DS quite a lot and haven’t had any problems… maybe I’m lucky.
I’d try bringing in the AVIs without scaling and then resize as necessary with the DS DVE, making sure to select Frame source (assuming the AVIs are frame based) and either bilinear if you’re scaling down, or bicubic if you’re scaling up, under the quality settings (in the general tab). That may help.
Good luck,
Dec

[Declan Macerlane]

Hi,

I am Avid certified and can train you in DS but you’d have to come to Dublin, Ireland 🙂

Otherwise your best bet is get another freelance certified trainer. Try DS google list. There are quite a few very knowledgable and helpful trainers there and I’m sure you could get someone local. The DS list is also a really helpful and friendly forum for anything DS related.

https://groups.google.com/group/ds-list

Good luck,
Dec

[Declan Macerlane]

Tom,
If you’re interested in an all in one solution, then have a serious look at Avid DS. It’s won’t give you everything, but then what will.
It is however an excellent editor, has first class 2d compositing with trees, an excellent graphics too and very good audio tools. It also has a 3d environment which can work well for some thing but is limited.
I’ve used it for offline and online. Film, broadcast drama and documentary, some corporate and even a wedding video 😉 It is a very versatile machine and really should be the only “finishing” system that Avid offers, now that MC and Symphony are so close.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Dec

[Declan Macerlane]

One of the strengths of DS is speed.

Everyone’s situation is different. In our situation, the money we could have saved with an AfterFX/NLE option, would have cost us big time down the line. We need to be able to deliver under tight deadlines, in an environment where last minute changes can often happen. Our clients know this and return having full confidence in our ability to do this (amongst many other things).

But it all depends on your own specific needs specific.

Those are good links Marianna posted, especialy the google list. Yes, we’re vocal about DS. Someone has to be 😉

:::waves at Marianna::::

Cheers,
Dec

[Declan Macerlane]

You’re right Simon. It is definitely a big step up.

As far as the steep learning curve goes, I’d say it is relatively easy to get up and running on DS, editing and simple titles. Then, take your time, explore, and enjoy.

And you can install it on your Mac as well which should be an incentive to FCP users…

Now if only Avid would step up and offer something similar to what they are doing with MC… Oh wait, I just saw some flying bacon 😉

Cheers,
Dec

[Declan Macerlane]

Hi,

I’ve been on DS since 2000.

The biggest shame for DS is the incredibley poor product management coming from Avid since they aquired it, and also the woeful marketing.
I found Smoke on a Mac to be no match for DS, but you compare the buzz around Smoke compared to DS and you immediately see Avid’s lack of ability or interest in marketing their own, should-be flag ship product.

All that may be changing (very slowly) now and there are some great people still involved with DS.

As an alternative to FCP I’d say it would be a better fit than MC in most areas. I strongly recommend it.

With the exception of multicam it is an excellent offline editor. I came to DS from Media Composer and quickly prefered and was faster with DS.

The 2d compositing, in particular with the Effects Tree (like Batch in Smoke) combined with layers, is excellent. Very fast and very intuitive.

The grading in DS is excellent. True it doesn’t have a tangent panel or similar (shameful) but I expect that this will change. DS does have realtime secondaries, as well as the ability to use an infinate amount of shapes (power windows?).

The graphics module is head and shoulders above the Autodesk products, with text, handwriting, cloning, shapes, alpha creation etc… It is perfectly suited to online. However DS does lack some of the presets which make motion graphics more suited to After Effects.

The 3dDVE is weak, and feels half finished. Like a lot of DS, it has been largely under developed since Avid bought it. It is shameful but true and they have squandered a terrific head start they had. DS lacks a comprehensive 3d Compositing environment; planar and 3d tracking; particles and some other niggley bits, although there are workarounds for most things.

There you go. That’s my honest and hopefuly balanced opinion. Over all DS is a very powerful and versatile tool. If I were moving from FCP it is definitely the direction I’d be going.

Cheers,
Dec