tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80785922012-02-02T16:23:24.360+11:00Tips, tricks & techniques for using Avid Media Composer and Media Composer AdrenalineKyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18313435071790659033noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-68008931833486131212011-06-16T07:36:00.000+10:002011-06-16T07:36:00.873+10:00

Hi all, I started this site a few years ago as a way to share interesting Avid tips as I discovered them during my day-to-day editing.  I rapidly became too busy to give the site the attention it deserved and then I made a radical left-turn last year and am now enjoying life as full-time carer to my two lovely children.  Although this is a temporary step away from editing I've decided I'd like

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-41003739284514438302010-05-04T12:24:00.000+10:002010-05-04T12:24:54.037+10:00

My previous post described a cue sheet that adds itself up using custom functions in Open Office, a technique that would work equally well in Excel.  I took this approach because I was unaware that Google Docs has a scripting function that lets me do the same thing. To cut a long story short, I've created a Spreadsheet template in the Google Docs template gallery that will add up your text

Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-46615263808281906242010-03-29T12:47:00.006+11:002010-03-29T13:35:34.094+11:00

Cue sheets are a fairly bread & butter part of an online editor's life. The last thing I do when I've completed an online job is to printout a copy of the show's cue sheet and place it in the box with the tape. Broadcasters and clients expect it to be there, and it can become an essential tool for other post-production people further down the line, such as other editors who may have to be

Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-28152209861407711242009-03-24T13:28:00.001+11:002009-03-24T13:29:49.678+11:00

...with a strict 'tips only' policy.You can find me here.

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-62813728377834975922008-12-02T18:56:00.002+11:002008-12-02T19:04:20.090+11:00

This falls slightly outside of the purview of Avid Tips, but if you use checklists and to-do lists as religiously as I do in my day-to-day editing, then this might just interest you.Just stumbled across a new webapp called Checkvist.  I've used (and abandoned) quite a few similar applications like Remember the Milk and Todoist simply because they weren't exactly what I needed.  Well, I've been

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-56886342469867222172008-11-13T12:45:00.008+11:002008-11-13T13:04:24.986+11:00

Software: Avid (all with Marquee)Platform: AnySkill Level: IntermediateOne slightly annoying thing about Marquee, is that it won't display a 4:3 safe / title action grid inside a 16:9 aperture, the way that Avid's inbuilt grid will.To get around this, I've made a marquee title that includes a 4:3 aperture grid which you can compose with, and then turn off when you save the final title.  I've only

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-7258556620751951462008-09-29T15:42:00.001+10:002008-09-29T15:44:08.405+10:00

This is an excellent technique for simulating everything from painting on an image to writing text on as if it were handwriting.

Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-71773593214032452162008-09-29T11:55:00.002+10:002008-09-29T11:58:22.069+10:00

Benjamin Hershleder has just launched a range of clothing and other products for the fashion conscious Avid Editors amongst you. I'm particularly fond of the 'Media Offline' mousepads. Check it out.

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-90195796752907977442008-02-21T20:45:00.009+11:002008-02-21T21:12:04.617+11:00

Software: Avid (All)Platform: AllSkill Level: BasicNot a tip, sorry - and a long time since my last post - but I just wanted to draw your attention to a useful bit of hardware that might assist smaller productions like my own when Unity or other media space gets tight.The item in question is a Drobo.  This is essentially an empty box into which you can place any combination of SATA (or SATA II)

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-53763369889338497142007-06-26T07:39:00.000+10:002007-06-26T09:53:50.173+10:00

This post isn't really a tip, it's an invitation to add your thoughts to improvements that could be made in the whole Avid Title Tool / Marquee environment for adding text to video. I've been having a sort of blog conversation with Steven Cohen over at Splice Here (an excellent editing blog if you haven't already discovered it) about the pretty woeful nature of the whole text on graphics

Grantnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-2470473574386061502007-05-10T11:35:00.000+10:002008-12-11T19:12:36.163+11:00

Software: AvidPlatform: AllSkill Level: BasicI thought I'd share some of my smaller but no less useful tips.1. If you can't play a sequence in Avid, it's often because of corrupt media, so use the binary chop to find where that niggly piece of media is hiding. Mark an in/out on half of your sequence. Press play in-out (usually 6 on most keyboards). If that half plays, then the corrupt media

Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-33936456516573176912007-01-15T17:22:00.000+11:002007-01-15T17:48:19.114+11:00

Software: Avid (All versions)Platform: WindowsSkill Level: IntermediateA lot of my editing time is spent using the same bins over and over: Graphics bins, Voiceover bins etc. I edit a weekly show, and I used to automate the opening of these bins by creating a template project and then copying that project name to the weekly series name each time I needed it (I wrote a Windows script that made

Grantnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1136952155773896122006-01-11T15:02:00.000+11:002006-01-11T15:02:35.783+11:00

I've just discovered motionscript.com run by Dan Ebberts, a site devoted purely to After Effects scripting and expressions - a topic that will be dear to the heart of many editors.

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1133912920885245412005-12-07T10:37:00.000+11:002005-12-07T12:02:10.346+11:00

Software: Xpress, Media Composer, Adrenaline, SymphonyPlatform: Windows / MacSkill Level: IntermediateFrame without vignetteFrame with vignetteA very common effect in film and television is the creation of a vignette to focus the viewers attention on a particular part of the frame. Although probably overused in some ways, this is still a very useful technique to add to your arsenal. I'll be

Grantnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1133146484930106952005-11-28T13:50:00.000+11:002005-11-28T13:54:44.930+11:00

Software: AvidPlatform: WindowsSkill Level: AllGo here for an excellent windows-based timecode calculator. This isn't exactly a replacement for the built in Avid Calculator - more of an enhancement; but very useful nonetheless. I've been using the Palm version of this for a while now and I'm glad to see a Windows version.Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1133146070379317102005-11-28T13:34:00.000+11:002005-11-28T13:47:50.420+11:00

Software: AvidPlatform: AllSkill Level: AllAlmost any editor using Avid will have heard of Adobe's outstanding compositing and effects package After Effects. I use this software daily for tasks that simply are too difficult to achieve inside Avid itself. After Effects has one of the most well-sorted interfaces I've ever used (how I wish Avid keyframes were as flexible) and very tight integration

Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1129619968539171412005-10-18T17:17:00.000+10:002005-10-18T17:19:54.773+10:00

Software: AvidPlatform: Windows / MacSkill Level: IntermediateIn the same spirit as the last post - here is an excellent free plugin from Digidesign. This one does warn you that it's not qualified when you use it with AudioSuite in Adrenaline, but it still seems to work fine.Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1129593083594845372005-10-18T09:49:00.000+10:002005-10-18T09:51:40.020+10:00

Software: AvidPlatform: WindowsIf you need to move media, and you're using Windows, check out this new free application. Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1123639245240270562005-08-10T11:58:00.000+10:002005-08-10T12:01:40.540+10:00

Software: Avid Adrenaline 1.xPlatform: Windows XPSkill Level: IntermediateI've just noticed that Avid has recommended activating Hyperthreading for Adrenaline on the XP platform, with some caveats. As this advice runs counter to what they initially advised, I thought it was worth posting.Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1123638514500435372005-08-10T10:56:00.000+10:002005-08-11T12:08:02.413+10:00

Software: Avid Media ComposerPlatform: All PlatformsSkill Level: Intermediate I apologize for the possibly arcane nature of this post, but this is a technique I use in virtually every online I do, and it's a real timesaver. I often create or borrow custom wipes that I animate onto screen, and at a specific time (i.e. 10 frames) the wipe covers the entire frame. So that I can easily position these

Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1115086973027368102005-05-03T12:20:00.000+10:002005-05-03T12:24:06.690+10:00

Software: Avid (all versions)Platform: All OS'esSkill Level: Intermediate This is an undocumented tip from the Avid Website that prompts me to say just one thing really. "Holy crap - why isn't this documented?" Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1111029825250684362005-03-17T14:19:00.000+11:002005-03-17T14:23:45.253+11:00

Benjamin Hershleder has just written to tell me that he has a competition on his site to win a set of Editors Keys for AVID Xpress DV. I think you should go there. Now.

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1110170642651193422005-03-07T15:44:00.000+11:002005-03-07T16:08:46.090+11:00

Software: Avid Adrenaline / Meridien / XpressPlatform: Windows / MacSkill Level: IntermediateIf you have ever wanted to create a selective colour effect like the one above, then it can be done using the Chroma Key effect in AVID combined with the Colour Effect or the Colour Correction Tools.The key to this process is to have a good source such as the one below, where there is an object such as

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1095310196955997322004-09-16T14:44:00.000+10:002004-09-17T11:03:03.116+10:00

Software: Avid Adrenaline Platform: Windows / Mac Skill Level: Intermediate The following tip was a revelation to me, but may be quite old hat to some of you. So if this is bleeding obvious, my apologies, but I use this tip every single day. Thanks to Julian at Backyard Blitz for this ripper. One of my very common workflows is to capture material at a low res (i.e. 15:1s), cut the offline and

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1094433859654267372004-09-06T11:16:00.000+10:002004-09-06T14:03:38.060+10:00

Software: Avid (all versions), Adobe Photoshop Platform: Windows / Mac Skill Level: Advanced I got this great tip from Jorgen, who goes by the username rebusfilm on the Avid Commmunity Forums. These forums are an excellent resource for anyone needing help on Avid, so get over there if you haven't discovered them already. But now for the tip. One of the most common uses of Photoshop with Avid is

Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1093575362364929052004-09-01T15:20:00.000+10:002004-09-01T15:19:38.916+10:00

Software: Avid Media Composer Platform: Windows / Mac Skill Level: Basic Three of my favourite short tips today: 1.) Copy material to the clipboard and load in the source monitor in one step. This is a great way to quickly duplicate a section of your sequence. 1. Select the required tracks on your timeline. 2. Set Mark In and Mark Out points. 3. Press CTRL-ALT-C (Windows) or APPLE-OPTION-C

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1093832442277911762004-08-30T12:15:00.000+10:002004-08-30T12:21:24.403+10:00

Software: Avid / After Effects Platform: Windows / Mac Skill Level: Advanced This is an excellent tutorial from Wes Plate, maker of the superb Automatic Duck timeline translation tools. This tutorial show you how to create a slick animation of a Web Page for use in Avid. Wes has plenty of other excellent tips and tutorials on his personal site. Disclaimer

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1093482984710490072004-08-26T11:03:00.000+10:002004-08-26T16:25:22.986+10:00

Software: Avid Adrenaline 1.3.5 Platform: Windows / Mac Skill Level: Basic Avid offers many ways to organise master clip information, but this is one of my favourite quick ways of creating a visual catalog of shots in a master clip. 1. Load the master clip you want to catalog into the source monitor. 2. View the clip using the standard AVID techniques (i.e. J-K-L). 3. Mark the shots you are

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1093481694888806792004-08-26T10:44:00.000+10:002005-11-28T13:56:14.176+11:00

a.) I am not associated with Avid Technology Inc. and have never been employed by them, directly or indirectly. All tips, tricks, techniques and opinions expressed on this site are purely my own.b.) Whilst I have tried all of the tips, tricks and techniques published on this site, I make no representations as to their effectiveness. You are using the information from this site purely at your own

Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078592.post-1133999408728972092004-07-01T10:31:00.001+10:002008-11-13T13:07:51.341+11:00

A little resource for Marquee (Safe Title / Action)Using locator images to catalog master clipsSlick web page animationsThree shortiesGetting your Photoshop Graphics to key "properly"Reconforming Video only...the easy waySelective colour in Avid using the Chroma KeySaving Custom Quick transitionsEasy Custom wipes with Sync Point EditingFree program for moving mediaFree Parametric EQ plugin from

Grantnoreply@blogger.com0