Michael Hancock
Forum Replies Created
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Delete the .pmr and .mdb files. This will force the Avid to rebuild the media databases. If you don’t, the Avid might not recognize the new media files, therefore not relinking them. It’s a good thing to do anytime you delete a lot of stuff, or add new files via copy/paste.
Mike.
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In addition, you asked if you could bring a project from Avid Free to Xpress Pro. No. Nothing done in Avid Free will transfer to any other Avid system. You’ll have to recut everything to do that.
However, Avid Free is a great way to learn the interface, different modes, logging, capturing, importing, etc… While the video and audio tracks are extremely limited (2 of each I believe), you can do mixdowns of both, or collapse (nest) the video tracks. This gives you the opportunity to learn some of the finer points of the Avid interface and how it functions.
Like Jon said, many of the features are disabled, but the interface is exactly the same as Xpress Pro and Media Composer (and probably Symphony–I don’t know though, I’ve never had the chance to sit down in front of one).
Word of advice: don’t try to make the Avid act like FCP. It won’t. They are different programs, have different ways of doing things, and both have their strenghts and weaknesses. If you go into learning an Avid with the mindset of “This is an Avid. I will cut the Avid way and leave my FCP workflow to FCP” you will do fine. Best of luck, post back with questions!!
Mike.
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Make sure nothing is overlapping the composer window, not even the smallest bit. If it still doesn’t work, try restarting the program. Always fixes it for me.
Mike.
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That’s what was being asked, Peligro. And you’re right, you can’t import .wmv into the Avid…however, if you have a conversion program like Sorenson you can convert it to something the Avid can import (like a Quicktime file).
Mike.
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If you only have an edge on the left side, couldn’t you duplicate the layer, mask the bottom layer off on the left (leaving the right side visible), choke the top layer to get rid of the edge and mask it so only the left side is visible, making sure the two layers slightly overlap. This should give you a clean right side with the left side masked, then a clean left side with the right part masked. Unless you have an incredible amount of movement it probably wouldn’t take more than a few keyframes to keep the masks in the right general area.
Mike.
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Can you save it as a .png file? If the object is on a transparent background and you save it as a .png, you don’t have to worry about adding the alpha channel in Paintshop Pro…the Avid will recognize the transparency as the alpha, or something like that. It works, that much I know. How exactly, couldn’t tell you. Just remember to change your import settings to Invert Existing Alpha (or something worded similarly to that…I’m not in front of the system right now).
If you can’t save it as a .png, I can’t help you. Never used Paintshop Pro. If it’s like Photoshop, however, just select your graphic (in Photoshop it’s Load Selection or Ctrl+Click your Layer), go to the alpha channels, choose Add Channel or the Paintshop Pro equivalent and save.
Mike.
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Look up Consolidate in the help files. It will explain in detail how to do what you’re doing.
A brief overview before you hit the manual: Make a duplicate of the sequence you want to transfer to the other drive. Select it, then go to Clip–> Consolidate/Transcode (I think it’s under clip…it might be under Bin…not in front of the system right now). This will open up your options, such as Handle Length, converting audio bit depth and sample rate, allow you to select which drive you want to transfer the media to. It will essentially do what you want–copy just the media you used, with the handles you specify, to the drive of your choice.
Again, that’s an overview. Hit up the manual for a more in depth explanation, and post back if you have troubles.
Mike.
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If you want to run AE and Avid Xpress, buy a certified system for the Avid. AE will run on it fine. If you buy a system for AE and it’s not certified for Avid use or doesn’t exactly meet Avid specs, it probably won’t run Xpress. At least not without a lot of troubleshooting…cursing…kicking, screaming, pulling your hair out and missed deadlines. Since you say you don’t know much about computers, there should be no question. Go certified.
For a list of Avid certified computers visit http://www.avid.com Poke around the site…all the info’s there, and do a search on their forums for certified systems.
Mike.
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I don’t think Avid Xpress 4.8.4 will run on 10.4.7
It sounds like the same trouble this guy is having… https://creativecalf.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?forumid=45&postid=447
Do a search in the Avid forums or Avid knowledgebase. I can about guarantee you this problem is already posted somewhere there with a viable solution.
Mike.
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Yes. They are .omf files just like Media Composer 2.1, 1.8, the old Meridien systems, Xpress DV… The only thing you need to check is that you’re using a resolution that Xpress Pro will play–1:1 with Mojo, DV50 (or something like that) and DV25-411, if I remember right. If you’re using a resolution in Media Composer that isn’t supported on Xpress Pro, just transcode before you transfer the media.
Mike.