Michael Hancock
Forum Replies Created
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It sounds like you’re trying to export from Avid and into After Effects with an alpha, rather than export from After Effects and into Avid. Is this right?
If you are indeed trying to export video with an alpha from your Avid, I have some bad news. No can do. Avid works with alpha channels in the system, will recognize them on import, but will not export them. In order to export an alpha from Avid you need to export the video first, then a black and white matte of the alpha channel. Bring this into AE and use the black and white video as a luma matte for your video. That’s about the only way.
If you’re trying to go from AE to Avid with an alpha–have you tried a png sequence? They usually work a treat. Just make sure your animation really is over a transparent background, then render it out and invert alpha on import.
Mike.
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Here are a few options:
1. Use motion effects in Avid Xpress. You can’t keyframe these to change speed over time but you can cut from one speed to another, or dissolve from one to another. Not recommended.
2. If you have a decent budget for this upgrade to Media Composer Software. It will allow you to keyframe your timewarp effects and do exactly what you’re wanting, plus you get a lot of other stuff. This will set you back a few grand though for the upgrade ($3,000 maybe?). https://www.avid.com/promos/xproMoveUp/
3. Boris offers some timewarp effects via RED for sure. Possibly some of their other packages offer time remapping as well? http://www.borisfx.com
4. 3Prong’s SpeedRamp. I haven’t used this exact plugin, but i have their ColorFix effect and it’s really nice. You can download a demo to try out. Very reasonably priced too. http://www.3prong.com
5. After Effects. Export your clips as a Qtime or Qtime reference file (if you AE is on the same machine), then do your motion effects there. http://www.adobe.com
These are off the top of my head. There may be other plugins that offer time remapping too, but at least this list will get you started on your search. Good luck!
Michael.
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You should be able to do it. I take projects from our Xpress Meridien v6.1 to our Xpress Pro v5.6 and MC Adrenaline v2.6 all the time without problems.
When you transferred the media (OMFI and audio files) from the Meridien to the Adrenaline you put them directly into the OMFI MediaFiles folder of your media drive on the adrenaline, right? Not within their own OMFI folder within the OMFI folder? (You’d be surprised how often this happens).
If you did that, the media should be recognized.
As far as projects go–I wouldn’t try to open them on the MC. Importing the bins is the way to go, but calling it importing is kind of a misnomer.
What’s meant by importing bins isn’t to do a File–>Import, but rather create a new project by the exact same name as the project you’re bringing in from the Xpress, then do an Open Bin from your project window and navigate to the Bins from the Xpress projects. This will ensure you have a MC project and you’re only bringing in the Master clips from the Xpress bins, not all the antiquated Xpress project settings.
When I do this I will typically make new bins in the Media Composer after I open the Xpress bins, then I copy all master clips from the Xpress bins to the new bins so if anything is corrupted in the process I haven’t ruined the original clips. I’m paranoid too, though.
Once you do this you should be ready to go. You might have to do a File–>Reload Media Databases or Refresh (I can’t remember which), but it should link up. If it doesn’t, I’m not sure what’s going on.
Best of luck! Let us know how it turns out.
Michael.
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It’s probably too big. Most mail servers cap out at 10Mb, and Qtime files get much bigger than that very quickly. That’s why programs like Sorenson Squeeze are so nice–they compress large files to more manageable sizes while still maintaining the best quality possible (with the right settings, of course). How big is the file you’re trying to email?
Mike.
PS. Please don’t start another thread if your new problem is so directly related to your other one. This is directly related to your question about exporting (you’ve exported, now you need to email), and it would make it easier to follow if you keep the same thread going.
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Also, what programs do have running? Anti-virus? Photoshop? Have you tweaked your system for Avid?
System Tweaks: https://www.videoguys.com/WinXP.html
In addition, what video card exactly are you using? What exactly does the error message say?
Mike.
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Sounds like you’re exporting a quicktime reference file. I’m guessing it’s a really small file, right? Probably small enough to fit on a floppy disk?
If this is what’s happening, here’s why:
A quicktime reference file is literally a refence to your original OMF and audio files. It will play fine on the system you export it from because the OMF and audio files are still there. When you email, however, your client doesn’t have those same avid media files on their computer. A quicktime reference is like a master clip in the Avid–it’s just a pointer to the actual media file.
In order to email a quicktime you need to export a self-contained quicktime or use Sorenson Squeeze (or a similar conversion program) to turn your quicktime reference into a self-contained quicktime file, or another format your client’s can view (like an mpeg or wmv). To do this, hit F1 when your Avid is open and do a search for Export. There are a lot of options for exporting and the help file should explain them. Post back if you get stuck again.
Mike.
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It’s there, just not spelled out exactly. Here it is:
“To copy tracks from A1 to A2–stop copying and pasting. It will get you into trouble and isn’t very useful in Avid. Instead, select what you want to copy by marking an In and Out on the clip, then hit Alt+Ctrl+C to copy it to your source monitor. From there just patch your A1 track to your A2 track and cut it in. Much, much faster. Another option is to just hit C (the default for Copy to Clipboard) on your keyboard then open your Clipboard monitor. Select it, patch your audio track from A1 to A2 and cut it in. You can map your clipboard monitor to your keyboard too using the Menu to Button ReAssignment (mine is at Shift+C). The beauty of the clipboard is that everytime you cut or lift something it goes into the clipboard. Want to take out a shot and move it down the line and onto a higher track? Mark it, lift it, open the clipboard monitor, patch tracks and cut. Can be very useful.”
You need to load your clip into your source monitor or your clipboard, then open the sequence you want to cut it into, patch your tracks and insert or overwrite edit. Copy and Paste isn’t a good workflow in Avid because it’s so restricting and unpredictable.
As I’m sure you noticed, when you’re working on a sequence then open another one the original goes away, as if it’s been closed. In reality, unless you closed the bin the sequence was in, you actually have more than one sequence open at a time now. In your record window, in the upper right, you’ll see the name of your sequence. If you click on that name a drop down box will pop up with all the rest of the sequences you have open (note, when you close a bin with a sequence in it it will close that sequence). So, mark your clip, C or Ctrl+Alt+C to put it in your clipboard or source monitor, open the sequence you want it in by double clicking it from its bin or selecting it from the sequence list (if you’ve already opened it), and cut it in.
Also, concerning match frames–you can’t match frame both the In and Out point in 1 step. However, you can do what you’re wanting to do in just a few keystrokes. See, when you hit match frame it clears the In and Out points currently set in the source clip and replaces just the In point at the frame you matchframed. However, if you hold Alt when you hit Matchframe it will open the source clip with the playhead at the frame you matchframed but will maintain the In and Out points already marked in the source clip (if there are any). So, lets start with marking the in point. Go to the head of the clip you want to matchframe and hit the matchframe key. It will load the clip into the source monitor and mark an In. Now go to the tail of the that same clip in your timeline and hit Alt+Matchframe. This will load the source clip and keep the In point you just marked. Now mark an Out. Done!
Let us know if you have more questions!
Michael.
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Yes, they’re compatible. In fact, you can typically go from one version to another as well as one platform to another. Avid’s backward and cross platform compatability is pretty amazing, considering.
Michael.
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Search is your friend!
This thread covers your first question in detail:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/45/862040?univpostid=862040&pview=t
Concerning your second question–as far as I know you cannot maintain timecode on exports or imports.
Michael.
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Lecherro: “Make sure that if you made a black solid to check your look against or something like that that you turn it off before you render the millions+.”
Good point…I think we’ve all made that mistake more than we’d like to admit!
One thing to note–set your alpha to straight, not premultiplied. Avid prefers it that way. Also, which Avid codec exactly are you using? Try using the Avid Meridien Uncompressed codec, Millions+, Straight alpha. I’ve never had problems with it. Also, try the same thing with Quicktime Animation.
Another option is to render out an image sequence, like a targa sequence or (my favorite) a png sequence. And be sure to check that you do in fact have your animation over a transparent background. Good luck, and sorry to hear it isn’t working for you.
Mike.