Michael Hancock
Forum Replies Created
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Glad you finally got it working. Thanks for updating us, and best of luck cutting!
Mike.
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Does Xpress Pro 4.8.2 have quality settings? That is, a green, green/yellow, yellow button in the timeline? You’ll have to forgive me–I just started using Xpress Pro from version 5.2 on a PC, so I’m not entirely familiar with what’s new and what’s not. If you have the option to change the playback quality, set it to Yellow–lowest quality. This should facilitate playback and may help the lag. I just cut a 2 hour show at 15:1s from a firewire drive and had problems getting video playback from unless I dropped to Yellow. If that’s an option, give it a shot.
Otherwise, I’m not sure what to tell you. I assume you brought everything in with Timecode and well names tapes–the only thing I can suggest from here (but I’ll keep searching for an answer) is to redigitize on a system you know will give you working footage. Transfer the project or bin, Batch Capture, and hopefully it’s not an enormous amount of footage (although I’m sure since it’s 15:1s it’s probably a lot).
Good luck, and let me know if you figure it out. I’ll keep trying to find you an answer.
Mike.
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To be perfectly honest, I’m terrible when it comes to Macs. I only worked on one for a year, and the only thing I used was the word processor–still struggled with it (after 15 years of PCs only I found it hard to make the switch). Kept hitting the wrong shortcuts and screwing everything up.
That said, I’ll do my best. Do you have Mojo running on your Mac? If so, try disconnecting the Mojo and plugging your external drive into the firewire slot your Mojo was in. Also, how did you get footage to your Mac before? I assume it wasn’t from the Meridien system.
One more thing–under Media Creation, check to be sure you don’t have Filter Based on Resolution checked. If you do, uncheck it. Otherwise, I would suggest trying to post this same problem in the Avid forums–there are a lot of Mac gurus who post there who would be better suited to help you than I. Just be sure to come back to the COW for everything else! 🙂
What version of XPress are you running on the Mac? What OS version? Anything changed lately (something installed/uninstalled) that could have messed things up?
Mike.
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Are you storing the media on your Macs system drive? The same drive the Avid software is residing on? If so, that could be part of it. Your media shouldn’t be on the same drive as your program. If you’re trying to run it off your external (and it’s 15:1s) it might play back ok–depending on how many streams you’re trying to run. How complex is your project?
Mike.
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Check it out!
Click that link and download MediaSift–the download link is on the right.
It works much like Media Mover, but this little app is free and will tell you exactly how much space every single project is taking up, then will Sift that media into it’s own folder (folder is named after the project), copy that media to another drive or another location on the same drive, or move the media entirely. Best of all, if you don’t want to do any of the above, you can just close it after you see how much space your project is using.
To get the most from the cool little program, delete your media database files in your OMFI media folder (msmMMOB.mdb and msmFMID.pmr files), the start the Avid. It will rebuild the databases. Start MediaSift. Select the drives you want information on and click “Scan Drives”. On the right, every project currently in your Avid will show up with a total of how much space that project is taking on your drives.
I use it all the time. Definitely worth looking at.
Mike.
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I believe it’s 4 total in a group clip now, regardless of multicam editing. Before you could group many more, but now it’s been limited due to a coding oversight (according to some knowledgeable folks in the Avid forums). It’s supposed to be on the list to fix. There has been a workaround discovered–I haven’t tried it (don’t have to–don’t have 5.5 yet), but it’s worth a try.
https://www.avid.com/exchange/forums/thread/133939.aspx
See the 2nd to last post for the workaround. Seems like a bit of hassle, but at least it’s something to get you going.
If you use Group Clips in large numbers as an integral part of your workflow, don’t upgrade until this is fixed, unless you need something provided in the upgrade that’s even more important.
Those are my 2 cents.
Mike.
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Are you using an mp3? If so, don’t. AE hates them and doesn’t usually play nice. Try converting the mp3 to a .wav or aiff file. Also, let your RAM preview play a few times through–if I have a complicated scene I’m working on it sometimes takes it a fews loops until it’s in sync. Bit of a pain, but eventually it gets there.
Mike.
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You can crop with Ultimatte. I would apply your reformat effect, then Ultimatte, forgetting about cropping it with another effect. When you open Ultimatte you should be able to pull in the sides of your clip (I can’t remember exactly how and I’m not in front of the system). This will let you crop within the Plug-In. Check the help files of Ultimatte for specifics.
If that doesn’t work then create a matte with the title tool to knock out the areas you don’t want:
1. Add your reformat effect, Ultimatte–get a good key–then on the track above it apply a black and white Title with Black representing the areas you want to crop, white the area you want to keep.
1.1 The easiest way to do this title is to make one big white rectangle that covers the areas you want to keep in your key, then turn off the V in the title tool. The background will default to black.
2. Remove the Title Matte Key Effect, leaving you with only the black and white fill–drop a Matte Key effect on this and it should crop out the bad areas of your Keyed clip.
Let me know if it works. And if you know of any good tutorials for Ultimatte, let me know. I’ve got it, but I can’t for life of me figure out how to get a good key. Clearly operator error. Thanks!
Mike.
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If you’re going with Avid, go with a certified workstation. You’ll spend a little more up front, but the likelihood that you’re going have downtime due to troubleshooting drops drastically if you go certified, and less downtime means more editing time, which translates to more money.
We just purchased two new Avid systems at work–an Xpress Pro HD setup on the HP xw8200 and a Media Composer Adrenaline, also on an HP xw8200. Both with nVidia 1400 cards running the graphics drivers that Avid provides when you install their products. Our problems? None, as far as the system is concerned. The only problems we’ve had with our setups have been software related involving known issues for the versions we’re running, and we’re upgrading as soon as we have some downtime (yeah right, downtime). As an aside, these issues have very simple workarounds that don’t interrupt our workflow at all.
As far a laptop goes: you can go with a laptop, but I wouldn’t. Certifying laptops has been a sorespot for some because of their short shelf life. If it’s not imperative that you have a mobile editing station, I’d avoid the laptops. Desktops give you much more horsepower and a wider range of options, especially when it comes to updating or swapping out compoenents, if need be.
If you can wait a while on your purchase, I would. The chatter on the Avid forums is that Avid is working on certifying the new HP xw8400. If it’s approved, it’ll give you more power than the current xw8200s. However, if you need to buy now, I’d go with the HP’s. Nothing against Dell–I have a few Dells at home (desktop and laptop) for personal use and they’ve been workhorses, but HP has always served me well for Avid.
One last thought–the beauty of Avid is that the system you purchase now to run the version of Avid you’re purchasing now will always run that version as long as your computer runs. Granted, sometimes new upgrades of Avid software mean you’ll need a video card, or different drivers, or more RAM, but if you have a solid station that fills your needs, you can use it until you break it. Example–I use an Xpress Meridien at work that has been rock solid every day I’ve been on it. We can’t upgrade it anymore–it’s a hardware based system that Avid no longer makes–but I don’t need to because it gets the job done. I’d love to have a newer system–more realtime streams, more resolution options, more realtime effects, etc…but until the budget allows I’m on the Meridien, and I expect we’ll get at least 2-5+ more years out of it. Heck, there are still editors out there cutting on even older Avid equipment, and they’re making a good living at it.
Got a bit off topic there, but hopefully there’s some useful information here. Post back if you have more questions, and enjoy your new system!
Mike.
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You can always make your lower third in Marquee and save it out as a static frame, then drop it into your timeline, open your effect editor and promote it to 3D. That way you can keyframe position, add a trail, drop shadow, etc…, fade them on and off, rotate them in 3D space, etc… It saves a lot of time over animating and rendering out of marquee. Also, you don’t say what you don’t like about the titles you’re making in Marquee. A lot of editors still don’t use Marquee because the interface is weird, and it’s not for everyone.
Tell you bosses you need After Effects on your system ASAP. If you already know that, I’d stick to it. It’s more intuitive than Marquee and (in my opinion) easier to use with a better end result.
Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of Avid!
Mike.