[Gary Hazen]

Try asking here.

https://forums.creativecow.net/discreet3dsmax

[Gary Hazen]

Have a look at Gridiron Flow. It appears to be designed for the purposes of tracking big projects with multiple graphics and animations.

https://www.gridironsoftware.com/products/flow-essentials/overview

[Gary Hazen]

[Geoff Roughface] “The system (Venus) can only import AVI files.”

If this is a Daktronics display with a Venus server/controller you should be rendering out uncompressed AVI files.

[Gary Hazen]

Sounds like a limitation of the trial version. Some demo plug-ins render with a red X, others add a large amount of noise and some limit the resolution of the output. I suspect you’re running into something similar. Typically with demo plug-ins there’s a read me file that states the limitations of the trial version.

[Gary Hazen]

Adding to those questions.

What are your Avid export settings?
What are the color management settings in AE?

There are several points along the journey to AE and back for the signal to get mucked up; Out of the Avid (export settings), improper color management in AE, AE render settings in AE and back into the Avid (import settings).

[Gary Hazen]

Patient: Doctor my arm hurts when I move it like this. ***patient moves arm*** What should I do?

Doctor: Stop moving your arm like that.

I think you should take the doctors advice and stop doing that. That is, stop using scale to fit. As was mentioned in the other thread your frame ratio’s don’t match. You’re pounding a round peg into a square hole and then asking why your peg doesn’t look so good. Stop using force to fit. Drop the 1680 x 1050 comp into the DV comp, scale it down to about 46% and live with the fact that you’re cropping a bit off the sides. Or scale it to 43% and live with black line at the top and bottom. Whatever you choose to do don’t use force to fit.

[Gary Hazen]

[Dylan Leeds] “Do most presentations build their assets entirely in real-time programs (e.g. VizRT), making the need for pre-rendered animations useless?”

VizRT isn’t the only player. Chyron and Avid CG’s are also used on OB trucks. I would say there still is a market for pre rendered animated sports graphics. However it’s a niche market, so it will help if you know someone on the inside.

[Dylan Leeds] ” are unique elements (team graphics, player names, stats) pre-rendered into the animation as well, or animated ‘on top’ of the pre-rendered later using broadcast software?”

Whenever possible text fields are created to accept real time data. The fields are auto filled based on information from an XML stream. During pre show production the RTD fields are positioned over the pre rendered base animations.

[Gary Hazen]

[Andrew Hamilton] “what is the best wireless transmission solution for low-end prosumer/high-end consumer video cameras.”

Given that you’re asking about low end and consumer grade cameras I would assume that you want a low budget solution as well. For wireless transmission it simply does not exist. RF wireless systems are very expensive.

[Gary Hazen]

I don’t know of any BluRay recorders that can directly record from an HD-SDI source.

If you convert the HD-SDI signal to an MPEG 2 transport stream you can record a live feed.
Feed HD-SDI into the Roland convertor and then run firewire from the Roland into a JVC BRD.

https://pro.jvc.com/pro/attributes/DVD/brochure/srhd1250_1500.pdf

https://www.roland.com/products/en/VC-50HD/

[Gary Hazen]

[Michael Mahoney Jr.] “How can they tell me that any bicycle-related movies I make, in my free time, with my own equipment, belong to them?”
How much money do you earn in your free time making these videos?

I’m not asking you to actually answer the question here, I’m asking you to evaluate the value of what you might be giving up. When making big life decisions like this you should take the time to lay out the pro’s and the con’s.

Hypothetically, let’s say you make 40k at your current job and supplement that with another 2k from videos made on your own time. Given that the company is unwavering you’re going to end up leaving something on the table. Do you walk away with your principles in tact and leave +38k on the table?
If the money you make during your off time is fairly significant you might consider having a go of it on your own by building up a business. Do you have other potential clients outside the niche of the bicycling community? You’ll need a decent client base to get off to a good start. What is the state of job market like in your area? Again, these are questions you should be asking yourself.

Maybe I’m reading your post wrong, but it sounds as if you made an emotional decision. You were upset because they are overreaching their control. Business is business. There’s no place for emotions in business decision making. If possible try to evaluate your situation without letting emotions factor into the process.