Michael Hancock
Forum Replies Created
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Did you install Avid EMP? It’s a seperate installer on your Avid install disk. Install that, then you have to go your AFX Preferences and set it to use the Mojo. It should work-we had it working at my last job.
Michael.
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Here’s a tutorial for Illustrator macros and After Effects.
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/rabinowitz_aharon/cartoon_look.php
Michael.
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What version of Xpress Pro are you running, what version of OS X are you running, and what version of Quicktime? Also, have you repaired disk permissions after you installed Avid? It might help.
Michael.
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I agree that Avid has been plagued with more and more bugs than when I first started using it (and that wasn’t that long ago–Media Composer 1.2 or something, if I remember right). I spent the last two years cutting primarily on an Xpress Meridien and it was rock solid (much like your old Symphony, I assume). Their latest releases/upgrades have been primarily bug fixes with nothing new added. That’s bad, especially when the competition fixes some bugs and throws in a lot of extra stuff with almost every new release.
Apple is on its way to having a great NLE and has grown leaps and bounds, but with all the flash and flair they’re adding they’re failing to fix simple things that are paramount to a top quality professional editing app (in my opinion). You still can’t monitor audio on capture, media management is a joke, they just now got mixed resolution timelines (and from what I’ve read, they aren’t handling mixed frame sizes properly), and roundtripping everything to seperate apps is a cumbersome workflow, particularly when it requires seperate renders from those programs.
While the competition from Apple has been great at driving Avid’s prices down, I wish one of the two companies would start borrowing even more ideas from the other to make the world’s best NLE. Or they can join forces.
Apple needs Avid’s media management something fierce. Avid needs Apple’s protocol for adding more and more features with each release. Avid’s multi-tiered product line is hurting them, especially considering the negligable differences between Xpress Pro and Media Composer. Apple needs to port FCP to the PC (and I’m not joking, actually. If it was on a PC I would have started learning it long ago).
It will be interesting to see what the future brings. Hopefully 2008 will be the year Avid revives and starts competing seriously again, and Apple will answer their call. Better products and lower prices all around for us, and then we all win.
Michael.
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Yes.
The software is identical on the PC and Mac (shortcuts are different, but otherwise the exact same), and the Adrenaline is only a breakout box.
Since version 2.5 you can use Media Composer with or without an Adrenaline box, Mojo SDI, or Mojo Analog. Projects carry from one box to another without problems.
Michael.
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[grinner] “I’ve not heard the laundry list from final cut pro users of things advertised that are not the case. I’ve built my own with Adrenaline. First hand experience is all I can really trust.”
Pop over to the FCP forum and look around. There are plenty of issues with FCP.
I don’t even cut on Avid anymore–using FCP 4.5. Trust me, I would much, much, much rather be working on an Avid. All around it feels like a much more solid editor and the media management alone is worth the extra cost. I know the media management hasn’t been fixed in Final Cut Studio 2, but maybe the editor has gotten better. Can’t say, I’m using an old version, but compared to Avid it still feels like a toy to me. Maybe as I get more into it I’ll change my mind, but right now it’s not for me. Not my choice though.
Regarding the disclaimer in Avid’s annual report–ever notice that every single car ad tells you it’s a professional driving on a closed course and not to try this at home? Yeah, no kidding! Of course it’s a professional driver and they shut off the highway so they could take turns at 80 miles an hour. It’s expected, but in a country as sue-friendly as ours it’s required to disclaim every stupid little thing. The day someone releases a piece of software with absolutely no bugs and never introduces any as they upgrade will be the day pigs fly and hell freezes over. In the meantime, disclaim everything and cover your butt.
Michael.
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Here are the system requirements for Media Composer on a Mac:
https://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/qualified_mac_workstations.pdf
There are three iMacs on the list–check them out, and if you go with one make sure it’s up to spec. The problem with the iMac is that is isn’t exactly upgradable in a a lost respects, and if you have a problem with your monitor your whole system is dead.
If you want to go with a MacbookPro, check these system requirements:
https://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/qualified_mac_notebooks.pdf
There are quite a few listed–again, just make sure it meets the Avid specs. The problem with the MacbookPro is that it’s going to be limited as far as future upgrades go. I’d go with a tower you can add more hard drives to, easily upgrade the graphics card, and use any monitors you may already have.
Otherwise, consider a PC unless you have to have the Mac for some Mac specific apps. Prices for an Avid qualified PC may be cheaper (may not–I haven’t priced compared the two lately), if you’re on a tight budget.
Michael.
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If After Effects or Compressor or any other program you’re wanting to take a Quicktime Reference to is installed on the same system as your Media Composer, or is sharing the same storage, you can export a quicktime reference.
Select the clip or sequence you want to export, go to File–Export. In your export settings choose Quicktime Reference. You can click the Options button to choose whether it exports between In and Outs or the entire clip/sequence regardless of In/Outs. It will reference the original OMF or MXF media but be wrapped in a Quicktime format.
Michael.
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A dialog box was what I was expecting when I moved to FCP. I came from Avid, and they offer a “Quick Transition” button. Park your playhead where you want your transition, hit the Quick Transition key, a dialog box pops up that lets you set the duration, where it starts in relation to the cut, and you can choose whether you want a dissolve, film dissolve, fade from color, fade to color, or dip to color. Plus you can save custom transitions to show up in the list.
Where is the link to the FCP feedback forum? I’d love to see this option available in FCP. It sames an enormous amount of time.
Michael.
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When will Avid support it? Who knows. Anyone who might know isn’t talking.
This format has been hotly debated on the Avid forums. Apparently it was promised about two years ago, if I remember right, but nothing has come of it. Avid dropped the ball big time on this one, and they made a lot of people mad then they did. Hopefully, with new management coming in, they’re going to do something to support more formats and compete more aggressively.
Time will be the only telling factor on when 720p/25 will be supported. In the meantime, use FCP. When it’s supported, come back to Avid.
Good luck,
Michael.