Browse Library
Sign In Start Free Trial
Close icon Search icon
Account
Browse Library Sign In Start Free Trial

Add to playlist

Create a Playlist

Modal Close icon
You need to login to use this feature.
  • Book Overview & Buying Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook
  • Table Of Contents Toc
Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

By : Benjamin Hershleder
5 (19)
Buy this Book
close
close
Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

5 (19)
By: Benjamin Hershleder
Buy this Book

Overview of this book

Avid Media Composer has become the tool of choice by editing professionals worldwide. Whether your project involves editing television programming, independent films, corporate industrials or commercials, this cookbook shows you exactly how to do so in a step-by-step and practical manner, and get the most out of Avid Media Composer editing. "Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook" is an expert, clear and logically-sequenced resource with highly effective recipes for learning Avid Media Composer essentials and beyond. It's task-based approach will help users at all experience levels gain a deeper, more thorough understanding of the software. It will help you master the essential, core editing features as well as reveal numerous tips and tricks that editors can benefit from immediately. Just some of the topics include understanding Import settings, mixing frame rates and understanding AMA (Avid Media Access), along with thorough explanations of Trim Mode, Segment Mode, and the Smart Tool. You will learn to customize your work environment with Workspaces, Bin Layouts, Timeline Views, Bin Views, Keyboard Mapping, and much more. The recipes inside are packed with practical examples, time-saving tools and methods to get you working faster and more confidently so that you can spend less time dealing with technical and operational issues and instead focusing on being creative.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
close
close
close
Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook
Icon
Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook
Credits
Icon
Credits
About the Author
Icon
About the Author
Acknowledgement
Icon
Acknowledgement
About the Reviewers
Icon
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Icon
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Icon
Preface
Lock Free Chapter
1
Getting Assets into Your Media Composer Project
chevron up
Icon
Getting Assets into Your Media Composer Project
Icon
Introduction
Icon
A strategy for project organization at the desktop level
Icon
Understanding Media Creation settings
Icon
Mixing frame rates
Icon
Tape capture tip: Adding Markers while Capturing
Icon
Tape capture tip: Making Subclips while Capturing
Icon
Logging clips tip: Logging from the keyboard
Icon
Logging clips tip: Keeping the Capture Tool active after logging a clip
Icon
Quickly calculating total duration of clips (or any items in a bin)
Icon
Combining available drive space and/or controlling where media is stored
Icon
Making sure your Batch Capture continues without you
Icon
Modifying clips before capture
Icon
Modifying clips after capture: Adding tracks
Icon
Modifying clips after capture: Deleting tracks
Icon
Capturing and editing at the same time
Icon
Preparing to use AMA (Avid Media Access): Getting the plug-ins
Icon
AMA (Avid Media Access) linking
Icon
Getting the AMA file's image to display as desired
Icon
Consolidating (copying) AMA Master Clips
Icon
Transcoding AMA Master Clips before beginning to edit
Icon
Transcoding AMA Master Clips after editing has begun
Icon
Consolidating an AMA sequence or subclips
Icon
Transcoding an AMA sequence
Icon
Importing stills and video files such as QuickTime
Icon
Importing audio
Icon
Adjusting audio levels before editing
Icon
Adjusting audio pan settings before editing
Icon
Setting stereo-audio tracks
2
Customizing Your Work Environment
Icon
Customizing Your Work Environment
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Settings overview
Icon
Creating Site Settings
Icon
User Profile Settings – transferring to another workstation
Icon
Interface settings
Icon
Font size adjustment
Icon
Creating Bin Views
Icon
Creating Timeline Views
Icon
Customizing Workspaces
Icon
Creating Bin Layouts
Icon
Linking Bin Layouts with Workspaces
Icon
Linking other settings with Workspaces
Icon
Mapping Workspaces and Bin Layouts
Icon
Mapping buttons and menu selections
3
Polishing Gems
Icon
Polishing Gems
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Understanding Track Sensitivity
Icon
Snapping actions for the Position Indicator and in Segment Mode
Icon
Enabling and disabling all Track Selectors from the keyboard
Icon
Enabling and disabling Track Selectors using the Shift key plus drag method
Icon
Enabling and disabling Track Selectors using the Lasso
Icon
Replace Edit: How and why
Icon
Sync Point Editing: How and why
Icon
Seeing source material in the Timeline Window
Icon
Clipboard tips
Icon
Using the Match Frame function
Icon
Using the Reverse Match Frame function
Icon
Setting clip colors in a bin
Icon
Setting clip colors in the Timeline Window
4
Creating Split Edits
Icon
Creating Split Edits
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Creating a Split Edit with Double Roller or Overwrite Trim
Icon
Creating a Split Edit with the Extend function
Icon
Creating a Split Edit with Asymmetric Trimming
5
Maintaining and Regaining Sync
Icon
Maintaining and Regaining Sync
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Adding Filler within a sequence with Splice or Overwrite
Icon
Adding Filler at the end of a sequence
Icon
Sync Break Indicators: Understanding them and making your own
Icon
Splicing and Extracting: Methods for staying in sync without Sync Locks
Icon
Segment Mode: Methods for staying in sync
Icon
Using the option/Alt + Add Edit method to stay in sync in Trim Mode
Icon
Asymmetric Trimming type 1: A-Side/B-Side
Icon
Asymmetric Trimming type 2: Two Heads/Two Tails
Icon
Opening up the sequence using Splice with Sync Locks enabled
Icon
Extracting with Sync Locks enabled
Icon
Extending using Ripple Trim with Sync Locks enabled
Icon
Shortening using Ripple Trim with Sync Locks enabled
Icon
Getting back in sync
6
Managing Your Media Files
Icon
Managing Your Media Files
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Moving media files
Icon
Copying a borrowed clip's media
Icon
Sharing clips/backing-up clips
Icon
Consolidating Subclips
Icon
Consolidating Sequences
Icon
Transcoding Sequences for archiving or before up-res
Icon
Transcoding Sequences of mixed SD and HD video
Icon
Changing the Sample Rate of clips in a bin before editing them into your Sequence
Icon
Changing the mismatched audio that has been edited into your Sequence
Icon
Prevent editing with audio that does not match the Project's Sample Rate
Icon
Setting the Media Tool display
Icon
Borrowing a clip from another Project
Icon
How to determine where media files are stored and how to move them
Icon
Isolating video of a specific resolution
Icon
Deleting specific media files from clips (for example, just the A3 and A4 files)
Icon
Deleting unused media files: Just Master Clips, just Precomputes, or both
Icon
Locking Clips and Sequences
Icon
Locking sequences to make them less easily editable
7
Mono and Stereo Audio Mixing
Icon
Mono and Stereo Audio Mixing
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Understanding the Track Control Panel and Keyframe Selection Tool
Icon
Understanding the Audio Mixer Tool – Clip Mode
Icon
Understanding the Audio Mixer Tool – Auto Mode
Icon
Understanding the Audio Tool (Audio Meters)
Icon
Understanding Clip Gain and Pan versus Volume and Pan Automation
Icon
Understanding Audio Project Settings
Icon
Performing audio scrubbing: digital type scrubbing
Icon
Performing audio scrubbing: analogue type scrubbing
Icon
Displaying Audio Waveforms ( also known as Sample Plot)
Icon
Displaying Clip Gain, Volume Automation, and Pan Automation in the Timeline
Icon
Clip Mode Level and Pan Adjustments
Icon
Using Clip Mode with Dissolves to smooth Level and Pan adjustments
Icon
Clip Mode: Setting a common Level or Pan to multiple segments
Icon
Clip Mode: Adjusting multiple segments by a uniform amount
Icon
Manually adding and adjusting Volume and Pan Automation keyframes
Icon
Removing/Deleting Volume and Pan Automation Keyframes
Icon
Adjusting multiple audio keyframes simultaneously
Icon
Real Time Volume and Pan Adjustment
Icon
Creating Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 ("Multichannel") Tracks in a Sequence
Icon
Converting a multichannel track into mono tracks in a Sequence
Icon
Making Multichannel Clips (Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1)
Icon
Using AudioSuite Plug-ins
Icon
Removing AudioSuite plug-ins
Icon
Saving and Applying AudioSuite Templates
Icon
Using Real Time Audio Suite (RTAS) Plug-Ins
Icon
Removing RTAS plug-ins
Icon
Saving and Applying RTAS Effect Templates
Icon
Copying RTAS Effects between Tracks
8
Editing with Group Clips and MultiCamera Mode
Icon
Editing with Group Clips and MultiCamera Mode
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Syncing and Grouping clips with common timecode
9
Output Tips and Tricks
Icon
Output Tips and Tricks
Icon
Introduction
Icon
Creating accurate Color Bars and Tone
Icon
Methods for setting Sequence Timecode
Icon
Adding Filler for Color Bars, Tone, and Slate
Icon
Exporting a still image
Icon
Exporting multiple still images using Markers
Icon
Exporting a QuickTime Reference Movie
Icon
Exporting a QuickTime Movie (Self Contained)
Icon
Using the Timecode Burn-In effect
1
Additional Tips, Tricks, and Explanations
Icon
Additional Tips, Tricks, and Explanations
Icon
Find Bin Function Tips
Icon
Moving around: Methods and tips
Icon
Getting more use from the Grid
Icon
cmd/Ctrl + L and K: Several uses
Icon
Locking and unlocking
2
Details on Trimming, Slipping, Sliding, and Segment Mode
Icon
Details on Trimming, Slipping, Sliding, and Segment Mode
Icon
Trimming terminology
Icon
Trimming icons and colors
Icon
How Trimming works
Icon
Enabling and configuring the Trimming Tools
Icon
Trimming methods
Icon
Monitoring during Trimming
Icon
Slipping with Trim Mode
Icon
Slipping outside of Trim Mode
Icon
Sliding in Trim Mode
Icon
Trimming and effects
Icon
Smart Tool overview
Icon
Using the Trim functions in the Smart Tool
Icon
Using Segment Mode with the Smart Tool
Icon
Nine Segment Mode Tips
3
Helpful Details about MultiCamera Editing
Icon
Helpful Details about MultiCamera Editing
Icon
Uses for Group Clips and MultiCamera Mode
Icon
Definition of a Group Clip
Icon
Definition of a MultiGroupClip
Icon
Definition of MultiCamera Mode
Icon
Overview: Syncing Methods
Icon
Editing multiple camera angles without Group Clips
Icon
MultipleCamera Editing Resolutions
Icon
Understanding System Performance with Group Clips and MultiCamera Mode
4
Index
Icon
Index

Transcoding an AMA sequence

Before Transcoding a sequence, it is recommended that you carry out a small test of the process to familiarize yourself with additional options and results. These additional options include, but are not limited to, Debayer settings (found in the Media Creation settings) for RED footage, which also need to be configured. The steps that follow focus on only one specific result. Ideally, you would be able to perform your small-scale test prior to receiving the mission-critical files and prior to the intensity of working under a deadline.

Some formats cannot be Consolidated (copied) using their original codec, and Media Composer will alert you that they will also need to have their codec (also known as resolution) changed during the copy process. This is referred to as Transcoding.

Transcoding a sequence simply means that you'll be making copies of only the portions of the media files that are being referred to by your sequence. (Essentially, Media Composer will take each shot used in the sequence and make a brand new Master Clip for it.) Further, as it generates new media files, it will also be changing the media files' codec.

Unlike Consolidating, Transcoding does not offer the option to delete the original media files after it has completed the Transcoding process.

Getting ready

Before Transcoding a sequence, it is a very wise idea to first make a backup copy and place it in its own well-labeled bin (for example, My Movie Before Transcode). This extra version protects you in case you make an error, and will help to keep your project organized for future reference.

How to do it…

The steps to Transcode an AMA linked sequence are as follows:

  1. First, review the information presented earlier in this chapter, in the Transcoding AMA Master Clips before beginning to edit recipe.

  2. In the Project Window select the Format tab.

  3. Select the Project Type and Aspect Ratio.

    Important note from Avid Technology:

    New clips created through the Transcode operation are in the project format. When you transcode a clip across formats, for example if you transcode a 16:9 clip in a 4:3 project, the Reformat bin setting determines how the clip is conformed to the new format.

    Note

    For details on the Reformat option, see the Getting the AMA file's image to display as desired recipe.

  4. Select the sequence in the bin.

  5. Clip menu | Consolidate/Transcode (you may also right-click on the sequence).

  6. In the top left of the Consolidate/Transcode window, select Transcode.

  7. In the Video/Data region of the window, select the drive you want the copied files to be stored.

  8. In the Handle Length entry box, enter the number of frames you want added to the head and tail of each new Master Clip.

  9. Be sure to select the Create new sequence check box. Even though I suggested earlier that you make a backup copy manually prior to the Transcode process, this provides an additional layer of protection.

  10. Click on the Transcode button at the bottom of the window.

  11. The Transcode process begins.

  12. On completion of the process you will have the following:

    • Master Clips that have the extension .new added to them. The duration of each clip will be whatever it is in the sequence plus the added duration of the handles.

    • A new sequence with the addition of .Transcoded at the end. This sequence is linked to the .new clips.

    • Your original sequence will remain linked to the original Master Clips that you edited from.

CONTINUE READING
83
Tech Concepts
36
Programming languages
73
Tech Tools
Icon Unlimited access to the largest independent learning library in tech of over 8,000 expert-authored tech books and videos.
Icon Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.
Icon 50+ new titles added per month and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.
Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook
End of Section 1
Next Section
notes
bookmark Notes and Bookmarks search Search in title playlist Add to playlist font-size Font size

Change the font size

margin-width Margin width

Change margin width

day-mode Day/Sepia/Night Modes

Change background colour

Close icon Search
Country selected
Close icon Your notes and bookmarks

Confirmation

Modal Close icon
claim successful
Order Page Read Now

Buy this book with your credits?

Modal Close icon
Are you sure you want to buy this book with one of your credits?
Close
YES, BUY

Submit Your Feedback

Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon