Michael Hancock
Forum Replies Created
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Keep in mind that FCP has a very open interface. Avid is a modal system–there is an effects mode, a segment mode (which lets you drag clips around the timeline), a trim mode, an edit mode.
Most people who come from FCP hate it, but it’s just a different way of editing. I personally love it, but it takes getting used to. From what I’ve found, the best way to edit on an Avid is to learn the keyboard very well. FCP seems very mouse oriented. Avid isn’t because clicking in and out of the modes would consume a lot of time. Map the modes to your keyboard–or learn where they’re already mapped–and you’ll be jumping in and out of them so fast you won’t notice, then you can drag stuff around all you want.
Good luck, and welcome to Avid. It’s a deep program, but Jon is right on when he said that trying to make Avid work like FCP will frustrate you. I suggest checking out some of the tutorials at https://www.avid.com/community/. They should help you with the transition.
Mike.
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When you export, open your sequence then make sure your timeline is selected and active when you choose Export. Sometimes you’ll actually have a bin selected and it will give that error–it’s happened to me. Opening the sequence, selecting all tracks, then double checking to ensure the timeline window is active before exporting.
Mike.
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If you have a Mojo output from a standalone DVD player through the Mojo component if you have the Avid component cables–if you don’t, S-video. Failing that, Composite. Turn off deck control in the Avid, hit record, hit play on the DVD player, capture. Done.
If you don’t have a Mojo but you have a DVD player with firewire out, capture through the firewire port of your computer. If you don’t have a DVD player with firewire out but you have a digital video camera you could try what someone else suggested–line the DVD player into the digital video camera, then firewire out of the camera into your computer. Again, turn off deck control and hope your camera is a decent analogue to digital converter.
There are also .vob converters on the market, as someone else suggested–I haven’t used them, but do a Google search and you’ll find something.
One thing that has worked for me is to copy the .vob from a DVD to the desktop, change the file extension to .mpeg, then use Sorenson Squeeze to convert the mpeg to a more Avid friendly format.
Mike.
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It can also help to duplicate your sequence then do a Video and Audio Mixdown, then export that as a Qtime Reference file. Especially if you mix DV and 1:1 footage or have gaps of filler anywhere between clips.
Mike.
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Have you tried rending a targa or png sequence? Also, make sure you’re rending to fields, and the proper field order (are you NTSC or PAL?). Then tell your editors that you rendered in square pixels, and the field order. That way they can set their import options correctly. Animation, as John suggested, is also almost always foolproof with great quality. Oh yeah, Avid prefers Straight alphas. Not premultiplied.
Mike.
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Exactly what Mark said, but I’d like to add one thing. If you chose a brand/identity/logo etc… that’s currently different than the one you’re using, do not air your new stuff until you are 100% ready to roll with it. That means all news opens, reopens, ID’s, lower thirds, decals on trucks, mic flags, equipement, station leaderhead–everything needs to reflect your new change. Mixing the old with the new will only make your look unsure of what you represent and will likely confuse the audience. Do that and you may as well hand the reins over to the new guys.
Also, should you choose a look that’s much different than what you have now, be prepared for an uphill battle, especially if you’ve been around for a while. Any change is tough and takes a lot–A LOT–of preplanning. If you can’t get all the department heads on the same page then change nothing. You could have the best marketing in the world but if the reporters and anchors and news director aren’t sold they’ll whip the rug out from under you.
It is a team effort for sure, but it can also be a lot of fun. I’ve worked at stations where we underwent major changes–some were executed well, other’s nearly a disaster. The difference was in the planning–every change necessary should be written down, people assigned to making those changes, and then held accountable if they aren’t done. Don’t go live with new slogans/logos/etc… until every bit of your station reflects it.
Good luck and have fun!
Mike.
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Pick what your station represents, make sure it does/can actually represent that, then promote the hell out of it.
The worst thing you can do is try to be everything to everyone. If you have the most local news, go that route. If you have the most advanced weather technology, pound it into the ground. Make it seem like certain death and destruction if people tune to any station other than yours for weather. If your station specializes in investigative, in-your-face reporting then brand yourself as the only place in town that can protect the viewer from the never ending assault of con men and scam artists–you are the line of defense hunting these people down to protect the honest, hard working viewer.
It can be tiring and sometimes difficult to force yourself to put together yet another promo extolling your virtues as the most trusted news station in town, but when the ratings come in and you find yourself starting to climb it makes it easier to handle.
Do you guys have a marketing manager? If you don’t have one, get one. If you can’t afford one start taking marketing classes, search google for news marketing tips–Graeme Newell has some really good stuff.
https://www.602communications.com/pages/team/graeme-newell.php
We get DVDs from Lee Hunt every once in a while that showcase some of the best TV station marketing out there–it can be really inspirational. I think this is the website: https://www.leehunt.com/brandstrategy.htmlOverall I would say decide what your station represents, work hard every day to prove it, and remind viewers what you stand for and why.
My 2 cents.
Mike.
PS. Where are you located?
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Assuming you’re already working at online resolution (which in this case sounds like it’s going to be DV 411), just copy the media and project files to your Symphony and color correct. If you render everything in the symphony you can take it back to the Xpress and it will look the same. However, change one thing that causes it to lose a render and anything that is available on the Symphony but not on the Xpress system will be lost. Until you open it back up on a Symphony.
To take it to Final Cut use Automatic Duck. There’s a forum here for it, and it ports Avid timelines to FCP. I don’t know if it ports FCP to Avid, however, so taking your sequence back could be a hassle, likely involving the export of a huge quicktime–losing all Timecode in the process. I would stay away from FCP if you’re starting and wanting to finish in Avid. They don’t play nice together.
I do have to ask though–why in the world would you use FCP for your color correction? Unless you have some sort of third party plug in that gives you more control you’d do better to Color Correct in Xpress. With a Symphony you have true secondary color correction–as far as I know, in FCP, you don’t even get close. In fact, I don’t even think you get Curves.
If your guy is unfamiliar with his Symphony you might want to find someone who isn’t. You’ll get better results, and if you’re paying for a Symphony you’ll want the best operate you can afford. Also, don’t take it to the Symphony until all of your edits are done or you’ll likely have to take it back to rerender everything.
My thoughts on the issue, and best of luck with whatever you do.
Mike.
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I believe you’re right–it won’t. I think 1:1 typically requires a RAID, but I could be wrong. We use 4 drive SCSI RAIDs on our machines here (all PC). I’ve never had luck with 1:1 from a firewire drive–2:1, yes, but only very simple projects.
Mike.
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Exactly. Unselect all tracks with Ctrl+Shift+A, then hit the hotkey for the track you want. Open your keyboard settings to see where the video tracks are currently mapped, and if they aren’t mapped then hit Ctrl+3 to open your command palette and map them wherever you want. Remember, if you hold Shift you get a second row of buttons to map them to. Have fun.
Mike.