[Lindsay Simpson]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your response. That is helpful and I will begin experimenting with the proxy. As for upgrading to 9, I wish that was an option. We purchased 8 shortly before 9 was released. At this point, I’m waiting to upgrade when CatDV programs support for Ikegami MXF structure. Hopefully that will show up in a new version sooner rather than later. Until then CatDV can only handle 2/3 of our media and I can’t justify the upgrade to those with the purse strings.

Thanks again,

Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Whoops! Got it sorted out. I deleted all my media directory files in AvidMediaFiles and got it back and running

[Lindsay Simpson]

Hmm…okay I am running into some issues in terms of being able to view thumbnails/previews. I can’t seem to see previews from any of my P2 media and the Ikegami media is variable.

As far as I know based on the CatDV manual etc., P2 media should preview as well as M-PEG2 files. I do have Calibrate MXF demo installed. The majority of the media P2 or Ikegami was consolidated or transcoded using the same methods/codec upon each import into Avid MC, but the variations in format particularly with the Ikegami media leads me to believe my colleague and/or I slipped up somewhere. Am I missing a step here?

Ooo and one more thing, how do you run a duplicate check/delete on a catalog?

Thanks,
Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

My apologies for the delayed response. I have been on the road for a couple of weeks now.

Well it turns out, the ALE import issue was a user error. I was able to import an Avid ALE into a blank catalog, but there doesn’t seem to be any video/audio associated with the list of assets imported via ALE. Is there a secondary step to connect the media?

Otherwise, I have also slowly been importing an individual numbered Avid MediaFiles MXF folder and subsequently dragging/dropping individual clips into subject specific catalogs. This is pretty time consuming though and it would be great to rely on the ALE method instead. Just to double check, when dragging and dropping does the associated audio MXF file go transfer with the video?

Also, I am finding the different types of files brought in via MXF directory import a bit confusing. For the most part I can differentiate the raw clips from the effects, sequences etc., but can you point me to a reference page in the CatDV manual that lists the different icons for file type? Also, it seems as though some of my P2 media are lacking thumbnail previews. I do still only have the trial version of Calibrated MXF.

And yes luckily Kevin, I did have the foresight to purchase the Cache-A option originally. I hope that will be a smooth process once I reach that point.

Thanks for any additional feedback!
Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Okay thanks for clarifying. Seems like an ALE won’t do me any good as most of my media is tapeless. Does CatDV import and read Avid AAFs? I’ll test it now.

Otherwise, can you move clips from one catalog to another? I think at this point that may be the only option. I think the workflow would go like this:

1)Import a single numbered Avid MediaFiles folder into a blank CatDV catalog.
2)Open a second blank catalog
3)identify common cilps via subject/location etc. and drag/drop etc. into the second blank catalog which will be focused on a specific subject/location etc.
4)Repeat for each numbered Avid MediaFiles folder until organized by category etc.

I haven’t even really touched on how to get all that media referenced in individual catalogs into the Cache-A for backup/archive yet. I keep trying to watch a cache-A/CatDV tutorial video, and alas my state computer prevents me from doing so…they are protecting us from ourselves I suppose, but it sure slows me down when it comes to troubleshooting etc.

Thanks again for your input! Let me know when MME goes the other way too!

Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Thanks for clarifying the format trick inside CatDV.

I believe I misinterpreted your first post regarding MME. Is MME’s compatibility with AAF out of Avid a current feature? I tried to convert an Avid AAF in MME and was prompted by MME that it did not recognize the file as a Final Cut Pro product. Or does something need to be ‘turned on’ in MME to specify Avid file ingestion/conversion?

I also tried to import an ALE file into CatDV with no luck reading it either. CatDV indicates that either the file is corrupt or the codec to read the media the missing. I suppose that’s related to another Calibrated plug-in necessity, specifically it looks like I would need calibrated’s ‘DV 100’ decoder. Though Calibrated MXF does indicate that it reads all the MXF formats that I am asking it too. So perhaps it’s really an ALE export problem in Media Composer?

Thanks again for your time and help,
Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your thoughtful. response. I found it very helpful and am headed in the right direction. I have taken a look at the MME website and it does seem like a very valuable tool. I’m going to download and demo it. I’ve also installed a demo of Calibrated MXF.

Oy, I didn’t realize I would need the extra plug-ins and will have to sell the need to my IT folks to hopefully get those purchased asap.

I went ahead a built a test catalog with one of the numbered folders in Avid MediaFiles (the smallest one) and was able to successfully import it, save the catalog, and after closing/opening CatDV following the Calibrated MXF install view the thumbnails.

This first catalog import did raise another question I have regarding Avid and CatDV. In some projects we have old DV footage mixed with new HD content. The project format is set to HD specifications and the SD clips formatted with filters to avoid distortion. I noticed the SD clips preview in CatDV, stretched, in a 16:9 format. Is this related to the Avid project format?

Thanks again, and I am sure there will be more questions to come!

Lindsay

Thanks!
Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Hi Bryson,

I can’t seem to get my browser to display your tutorial video. Can you send me a link at lindsay.b.simpson@gmail.com?

Sounds like it will be worth my while. I am in the process of setting up at CatDV/Cache-A system with PPro and Avid MC 5.5 with P2 and Ikegami media. Any other helpful tips or links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

Hmm, thanks for the input. My colleague says they had similar issues with the Adrenaline system and as you suggested, the fix seemed to be changing then restoring the output settings. I just tried that with no luck yet. I was able to remove the color tint by restoring the factory settings of the monitor itself, via the monitor’s menu, but now rather than a funky colored picture output all I get is black with a couple of white stripes. The monitor recognizes that there is a source connected that specific input and I have tested a couple of different cables and input/output ports on both the monitor and Nitris DX. I feel I can safely say it’s not a bad cable or cable connection. Any other suggestions? I guess I’m back to a sync issue and I’m not sure how to handle that.

Lindsay

[Lindsay Simpson]

whoops just saw your latest post before uploading my last post. We have the built in vectorscope in MC, but no freestanding scope unfortunately. Though I think I have narrowed the issue to a sync or maybe a bad cable issue? perhaps?

Thanks again for your input.