[Tom Witt]

I don’t know for sure…, but my “guess” would be that within certian previous versions there are smaller “retro” updates.

Some systems only work with certain versions. But within a lower numbered version there may still be “some” updates that are applicable. So, if it seemed safe to Avid to update a portion of a lower number version they may have done that after they updated a higer number. Thus the update time stamp shows it was more current on a lower version number.

I’m a PC guy and Avid itself seems like a Mac in terms of limitations and updates. You deal with things THEIR way.

[Tom Witt]

Yea, you (us) are like kids that the parents don’t want in the house alone. So you have to sit on the front porch until an adult comes home with the key. The whole “log in to use” is very frustrating.

I’m a retired TV Prod. teacher so I only get into my Avid First every so often (sometimes months apart). And when I do it seems to take an hour to update, correct errors, etc. every time I go to use it. If they are allowing use for FREE why not just make it work after registering and be done with that? As it is now (following my initial anology), it’s like the parents calling home every 15 minutes to see that the kids are staying out of trouble.

Far more than a bazillion features most people likely just want the product to work without frustrating issues. I hope Avid (and other NLE companies) are listening.

[Tom Witt]

The I-7 and 16 GB ram are fine. The Intel graphics are likely not (but I don’t know for sure). My son recently bought an Asus Republic of Gamers laptop that has an Nvidia GTX1060 install for a similar price. He edits with Resolve and doesn’t seem to have any issues.

Yes, in a desktop platform I have built a number of Avid systems at the bottom edge or even below their stated standards successfully with non-certified hardware. Of course that was SD footage. For that matter I’m currently running Avid First 8.9 on 8 GB, Core2Duo and a lowly business Quadro 2000. At least for SD footage it functions and I’ve got well under $100 in the whole thing.

I’ve always found that with editing to have a purpose built system that way email, anti virus and who knows what running in the background isn’t an issue.

[Tom Witt]

If I can give a word of advise…, I came from Decreet Logic Edit* background in the late 90’s. We hired a new lead faculty in the early 2000’s and she was trained in Avid. Needless to say you can guess where the college program went.

I found Avid utterly confounding. Worst yet, I was teaching this program (thankfully an Intro class) and the college offered absolutely no training. I was on my own to figure it out. And back then there wasn’t much if anything on the internet. So, a couple of things you are going to have to accept:

1. Avid came from the 1980’s. A lot of the processes, terminology etc. remain the same so as to not annoy the user base.

2. It’s Avid’s way or the highway. You have to (often begrudgingly accept) that you have to do steps Avid’s way. When you input a footage it is assigned a number that resembles a licence plate number regardless of what file name you use. It uses a reference pointer to find that “number.” Thus it can be nearly impossible to find that footage if you are looking on the hard drive itself.

This can be confounding to a user from other programs but in a large facility that may have multiple editors using the same footage off the server…, at the same time, it allows them to name the footage as they chose and it will still point back to the same captured clip.

If you don’t accept these you will always fight Avid. When most people left FCPX they seemed to migrate to Premiere. Was the move by your company to Avid a well thought out plan? A lot of people hear, “It’s the industry standard” and assume it is the best. Unfortunately making the the” best” for you (and the company) requires a lot of experience that isn’t gained over night nor transferred from a previous edit program.

My apology for not having a direct answer. I never used Avid in the manner you do. We had a Unity server and that was challenging enough even using DV in/out. My best advise is to study up when you can and learn on the fly. In a away file management is a whole subset of working with programs like Avid.

[Tom Witt]

A few guesses off the top of my head (long time since using MC myself):

Is the track locked? Is the track linked with a locked track. Meaning the audio is locked but linked with its associated video. Is the track active?

I’m old school from linear editing. Frankly I hate the red and yellow arrows. I usually pre-trim in the source window, then set the clip into the timeline. If I’m not satisfied and dealing with the head or tail of the clip in the timeline I mark In/Out points and then either lift (Z) or (more commonly) extract (X). If it gets rater finite I’ll go into the Trim window (the icon that looks like an old film canister).

Anyway, just quick thoughts off the top of my head. Hope you get it sorted.

[Tom Witt]

OK, well I hate to quit at problems so a few days later and I’m back at it. First I went from a Windows 10 to a Windows 7 install. Knowing that Avid is very driver particular I looked at what drivers a high end GTX (like the 1080) card used and noticed that they were not comparable with the older Quadro card I installed (3700).

I looked in the GTX 1080 “supported ” tab on the Nvidia site and found that I had one card that ran the same driver set. A (very, VERY) lowly GT 520. I was concern as to what driver to select and eventually decided on the driver that was released on the same day Avid First was released to the public (6-29-2017).

I again got the I-lok/Audio Effects not loading (but was allowed to proceed) and a Quicktime prompt. The first edit went well but opening the second clip caused a crash.

I went back and loaded Quicktime 7.7.9 and restarted. The I-lok prompts went away on the launch, the Audio Effects loaded and I got ten edits in without issues! I decided to end it there for today on a high note.

So, as far as I have deduced if you don’t have Quicktime 7.7.9 installed you will get the I-lok/no Audio Effect notices. Thus make sure you do that. The second thing is the video drivers are VERY IMPORTANT. Make sure your card supports the drivers that are related to the Avid. The GT 520 card I got to work is a whole lot less of a card than the older Quadro card I previously had installed. Yet it was the difference maker (“Go Figure”). Now rendering and effects with the GT 520 card are a whole different story. I don’t expect much. I’ll have my eyes out for something better.

Anyway, if your a “bottom feeder” old man like me, or some young kid with limited cash hopefully this will inspire you to persevere. I paid $40 for the Dell 960 with Windows 7, $25 for the 8 GB of RAM and all of $3 for the GT 520 card and I’m editing with Avid!

[Tom Witt]

OK, I found the equivalent folder in Windows 10. I left the plugins folder but removed all the plugins by cutting and pasting to a folder titled “Unused” in the same folder. I was denied the doing of that and then moved the “Unused” folder to another drive.

IMMEDIATELY after I closed the window after the plugins transferred the Application Manager in the tray disappeared. And attempts to launch it from the main menu failed. I restarted the computer and launched the Application Manager and it ran endlessly “Initializing.” I restarted again and got a prompt that the firewall was now blocking the Avid Help. I allowed that and the application manager loaded and showed my perpetual licence that is part of Avid First.

However, when I attempted to Launch Avid First it went looking for the install medium (DVD) as it was attempting to re-install Avid First. Apparently they have it set so you can’t alter ANYTHING or the program won’t run. Probably as a means of preventing adding in the missing elements and making Avid First a full blown MC.

Thank you for your time but frankly I’m “Done.” A product that runs right when it doesn’t load properly (lack of initializing Audio Effect) yet has issues when it eventually loads properly (stutter audio, locking screen) is just not worth the frustration. I have MC 2.7 running on an old XP computer and for my SD footage it will suffice. Free isn’t free when you spend 20+ hours trying to make it work – and it doesn’t.

[Tom Witt]

OK, I found the equivalent folder in Windows 10. I left the plugins folder but removed all the plugins by cutting and pasting to a folder titled “Unused.” I was denied the doing of that and then moved the “Unused” folder to another drive.

IMMEDIATELY after I closed the window after the plugins transferred the Application Manager in the tray disappeared. And attempts to launch it from the main menu failed. I restarted the computer and launched the Application Manager and it ran endlessly “Initializing.” I restarted again and got a prompt they the firewall was now blocking the Avid Help. I allowed that and the application manager loaded and show my perpetual licence that is part of Avid First.

However, when I attempted to Launch Avid First it went looking for the install medium (DVD) as it was attempting to re-install Avid First. Apparently they have it set so you can’t alter ANYTHING or the program won’t run. Probably as a means of preventing adding in the missing elements and making Avid First a full blown MC.

Thank you for your time but frankly I’m “Done.” A product that runs right when it doesn’t load properly (lack of initializing Audio Effect) yet has issues when it eventually loads properly (stutter audio, locking screen) is just not worth the frustration. I have MC 2.7 running on an old XP computer and for my SD footage it will suffice. Free isn’t free when you spend 20+ hours trying to make it work and it doesn’t.

[Tom Witt]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, what you describe is exactly what I am trying to do. I log into my Avid Master account. I select to link the account to a Forum account (that I have not yet created). I then attempt to create the forum account. I enter a user name, my email address and a password to create a Forum account. When I click “Submit” it returns with a unstated error. I’ve tried different passwords (including my Master password), different user names etc. to no avail.

I’ve also tried to create a Forum account without logging in to my Master account therefore trying to avoid initially linking a (Forum) account that is not yet created. But it routes me to log into the Master account log in first and thus can’t be avoided.

Regarding the function issues with Avid First:

It seems my only hope is that a major Windows update will render my I-Lok (for the Audio Effects) outdated. Then when I launch Avid First it won’t load the Audio Effects and the rest will function properly as it did before (less Audio Effects).

It seems an odd way of dealing with the problem but one that has proven to work. Now I just need to wait … .