Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

Table of Contents

Avid Media Composer 6.x Cookbook

Credits

About the Author

Acknowledgement

About the Reviewers

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Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. Getting Assets into Your Media Composer Project

Introduction

A strategy for project organization at the desktop level

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding Media Creation settings

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Drive filtering and indexing

Video resolution

Video drive/Audio drive

Media type

Mixing frame rates

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Duplicating clips

Cloning clips

Sequences will never be Cloned

Motion Adapters

Tape capture tip: Adding Markers while Capturing

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more...

Adding notes in a marker during capture

Tape capture tip: Making Subclips while Capturing

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Logging clips tip: Logging from the keyboard

How to do it...

There's more...

See also

Logging clips tip: Keeping the Capture Tool active after logging a clip

How to do it...

See also

Quickly calculating total duration of clips (or any items in a bin)

How to do it...

There's more...

Combining available drive space and/or controlling where media is stored

How to do it...

See also

Making sure your Batch Capture continues without you

How to do it...

There's more...

Modifying clips before capture

How to do it...

Modifying clips after capture: Adding tracks

How to do it...

See also

Modifying clips after capture: Deleting tracks

How to do it...

Capturing and editing at the same time

How to do it...

Preparing to use AMA (Avid Media Access): Getting the plug-ins

How to do it...

There's more...

AMA (Avid Media Access) linking

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Linking to files on a camera card

Changing the link between different resolutions of media

Having trouble with AMA?

See also

Getting the AMA file's image to display as desired

How to do it...

How it works...

Consolidating (copying) AMA Master Clips

Getting ready

How to do it...

See also

Transcoding AMA Master Clips before beginning to edit

Getting ready

How to do it…

See also

Transcoding AMA Master Clips after editing has begun

Getting ready

How to do it…

Consolidating an AMA sequence or subclips

Getting ready

How to do it...

Transcoding an AMA sequence

Getting ready

How to do it…

Importing stills and video files such as QuickTime

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Image size adjustment

File Pixel to Video Mapping

Additional selections

Layered Photoshop files

See also

Importing audio

Getting ready

How to do it...

See also

Adjusting audio levels before editing

How to do it...

There's more...

Using Import settings

Using the Audio Mix tool

Adjusting audio pan settings before editing

How to do it...

There's more...

Using the Audio Mix tool

Using Import settings

Setting stereo-audio tracks

How to do it...

There's more...

Using Import Settings

During capture from tape

2. Customizing Your Work Environment

Introduction

Settings overview

Types of settings

Duplicating settings to create alternate versions

Naming settings

Activating alternate settings

Alternate settings ideas

Deleting settings and two warnings

Restoring a setting back to default

Creating Site Settings

User Profile Settings – transferring to another workstation

Getting ready

How to do it...

Interface settings

How to do it...

Font size adjustment

How to do it...

There's more...

Additional bin font programming

Effect Editor font size

Creating Bin Views

How to do it...

There's more...

Creating a custom column

Changing an existing Bin View

See also

Creating Timeline Views

How to do it...

There's more...

Default Timeline View

Updating Timeline Views

Offline warning

Timeline background color

Switch Timeline Views from the keyboard

More color selections

See also

Customizing Workspaces

How to do it...

There's more…

Workspace example

See also

Creating Bin Layouts

How to do it...

There's more...

Linking Bin Layouts with Workspaces

How to do it…

Linking other settings with Workspaces

How to do it…

Mapping Workspaces and Bin Layouts

How to do it…

See also

Mapping buttons and menu selections

How to do it...

There's more…

Mapping menu items using the command palette

Erasing a button

Moving a button

Copying a button

Keyboard mapping ideas

3. Polishing Gems

Introduction

Understanding Track Sensitivity

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more...

Fast Forward/Rewind

Mark Clip and Go to Previous/Next Edit

Snapping actions for the Position Indicator and in Segment Mode

How to do it...

There's more...

Enabling and disabling all Track Selectors from the keyboard

How to do it...

There's more...

Enabling and disabling Track Selectors using the Shift key plus drag method

How to do it...

How it works...

Enabling and disabling Track Selectors using the Lasso

How to do it...

How it works...

Replace Edit: How and why

How to do it...

There's more...

In and Out Marks work too

Syncing example with Replace Edit

Fast montage creation

See also

Sync Point Editing: How and why

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Seeing source material in the Timeline Window

How to do it…

Clipboard tips

How to do it…

There's more...

Making Copy To Clipboard faster and more efficient

Using Copy to Clipboard with Lift and Extract

Examples of using Copy To Clipboard

Using the Match Frame function

Getting Ready

How to do it…

There's more

Using the Reverse Match Frame function

Getting Ready

How to do it...

Setting clip colors in a bin

How to do it...

Setting clip colors in the Timeline Window

How to do it...

There's more...

4. Creating Split Edits

Introduction

Creating a Split Edit with Double Roller or Overwrite Trim

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

See also

Creating a Split Edit with the Extend function

Getting Ready

How to do it…

See also

Creating a Split Edit with Asymmetric Trimming

Getting ready

How to do it...

See also

5. Maintaining and Regaining Sync

Introduction

Adding Filler within a sequence with Splice or Overwrite

How to do it...

There's more...

Additional method for adding Filler at the beginning of a sequence

See also

Adding Filler at the end of a sequence

How to do it...

There's more

Sync Break Indicators: Understanding them and making your own

Getting ready

How to do it...

Splicing and Extracting: Methods for staying in sync without Sync Locks

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Segment Mode: Methods for staying in sync

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Using the option/Alt + Add Edit method to stay in sync in Trim Mode

How to do it...

How it works...

Asymmetric Trimming type 1: A-Side/B-Side

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more...

Asymmetric Trimming type 2: Two Heads/Two Tails

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more…

Alternate method

Quickly return to the last used Trim Roller configuration

Asymmetric Trimming with methods other than dragging

Opening up the sequence using Splice with Sync Locks enabled

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Extracting with Sync Locks enabled

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Extending using Ripple Trim with Sync Locks enabled

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Shortening using Ripple Trim with Sync Locks enabled

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

See also

Getting back in sync

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more

Method one: Undo (cmd/Ctrl + Z)

Method two: Slip/Slide

6. Managing Your Media Files

Introduction

Moving media files

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Copying a borrowed clip's media

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Sharing clips/backing-up clips

How to do it…

How it works...

Consolidating Subclips

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Consolidating Sequences

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Transcoding Sequences for archiving or before up-res

Getting ready

How to do it...

Transcoding Sequences of mixed SD and HD video

Getting ready…

How to do it...

Changing the Sample Rate of clips in a bin before editing them into your Sequence

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Changing the mismatched audio that has been edited into your Sequence

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Prevent editing with audio that does not match the Project's Sample Rate

How to do it...

How it works...

Setting the Media Tool display

How to do it...

How it works...

Borrowing a clip from another Project

How to do it…

How to determine where media files are stored and how to move them

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

Using the Sift feature

Isolating video of a specific resolution

Deleting specific media files from clips (for example, just the A3 and A4 files)

How to do it…

Deleting unused media files: Just Master Clips, just Precomputes, or both

Getting ready

How to do it…

Locking Clips and Sequences

How to do it...

Locking sequences to make them less easily editable

How to do it…

There's more...

7. Mono and Stereo Audio Mixing

Introduction

Understanding the Track Control Panel and Keyframe Selection Tool

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding the Audio Mixer Tool – Clip Mode

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding the Audio Mixer Tool – Auto Mode

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding the Audio Tool (Audio Meters)

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding Clip Gain and Pan versus Volume and Pan Automation

How to do it...

How it works...

Understanding Audio Project Settings

How to do it...

How it works...

Performing audio scrubbing: digital type scrubbing

How to do it...

Performing audio scrubbing: analogue type scrubbing

How to do it...

How it works…

Displaying Audio Waveforms ( also known as Sample Plot)

How to do it...

How it works…

There's more...

Displaying Waveforms for Source Material

Tips When Displaying Waveforms

Displaying Clip Gain, Volume Automation, and Pan Automation in the Timeline

Getting ready

How to do it...

Clip Mode Level and Pan Adjustments

How to do it...

How it works...

Using Clip Mode with Dissolves to smooth Level and Pan adjustments

How to do it...

How it works…

There's more...

Remove Match Frame Edits In Source/Record Mode

Remove Match Frame Edits In Trim Mode

Clip Mode: Setting a common Level or Pan to multiple segments

How to do it...

How it works...

Clip Mode: Adjusting multiple segments by a uniform amount

How to do it...

How it works...

Manually adding and adjusting Volume and Pan Automation keyframes

Getting ready

How to do it...

Removing/Deleting Volume and Pan Automation Keyframes

How to do it…

There's more...

How it works…

Adjusting multiple audio keyframes simultaneously

How to do it...

There's more

Real Time Volume and Pan Adjustment

How to do it...

How it works…

Creating Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 (Multichannel) Tracks in a Sequence

How to do it...

Converting a multichannel track into mono tracks in a Sequence

How to do it...

See also

Making Multichannel Clips (Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1)

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more

Making Multichannel Clips During Import

Making Multichannel Clips During Capture

Using AudioSuite Plug-ins

How to do it…

Removing AudioSuite plug-ins

How to do it…

There's more

Using The AudioSuite Window to remove effects

Using Segment Mode to remove effects

Saving and Applying AudioSuite Templates

How to do it…

Using Real Time Audio Suite (RTAS) Plug-Ins

How to do it…

There's more...

Applying RTAS Plug-ins in the Timeline

Applying RTAS Plug-ins from the Effect Palette

Removing RTAS plug-ins

How to do it…

Saving and Applying RTAS Effect Templates

How to do it…

Copying RTAS Effects between Tracks

How to do it…

8. Editing with Group Clips and MultiCamera Mode

Introduction

Syncing and Grouping clips with common timecode

Getting ready

How to do it...

There's more...

See also

Syncing and Grouping Clips with common reference points

Getting ready

How to do it...

See also

Creating a syncing Sequence for syncing and grouping clips

Getting ready

How to do it…

There's more...

Syncing Staggered Start and Stop Footage

Software Help

Using the Group Clip Menu

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more...

Using the Multicamera display and methods of switching camera angles

How to do it…

There's more...

How Split display affects Multicamera Mode

Setting-Up The MultiCamera (Quad Split and Nine Split) Displays

Situation 1 – Sorting before Grouping

Situation 2 – Customizing the Order

Swap Cam Bank: Toggling the MultiCamera Display

How to do it…

How it works...

Editing with a Group Clip – not using MultiCamera Mode

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more…

Premapping Edit Points (also known as Transitions)

Removing unwanted edit points

Details about the MultiCamera Angle Keys (The M Keys)

Color Coding Clips/Camera Angles

MultiCamera Mode Editing

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more...

Swap Cam Bank In MultiCamera Mode

See also

MultiCamera Mode Settings

How to do it...

9. Output Tips and Tricks

Introduction

Creating accurate Color Bars and Tone

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

There's more...

Accessing the Create Tone Media Dialog Window

The Test Pattern Files

Color Bars I and Q Blocks

Methods for setting Sequence Timecode

Getting ready

How to do it…

There's more...

Changing Timecode in the Bin

Setting a default starting Timecode value and type

See also

Adding Filler for Color Bars, Tone, and Slate

Getting ready

How to do it…

There's more...

See also

Exporting a still image

How to do it…

Exporting multiple still images using Markers

How to do it…

How it works...

Exporting a QuickTime Reference Movie

How to do it…

How it works...

Exporting a QuickTime Movie (Self Contained)

Getting ready

How to do it…

Using the Timecode Burn-In effect

How to do it...

Overview of Features

The other Timecode Burn-In effect

A. Additional Tips, Tricks, and Explanations

Find Bin Function Tips

The context

Method 1: Using the Source Window

Method 2: Directly from the Timeline

There's more...

Moving around: Methods and tips

Play Reverse, Pause, and Play Forward (also known as JKL or Three-Button Play)

Fast Forward and Rewind

Go to Previous/Next Edit

Home and End (also known as Go To Start and Go To End)

Frame Offset – Jumping Forward or Backward by Typing

Timecode

Step Forward and Step Backward by Frames

Step Forward and Step Backward by Fields

Getting more use from the Grid

cmd/Ctrl + L and K: Several uses

Enlarge/reduce display image tips:

More on track height:

Locking and unlocking

B. Details on Trimming, Slipping, Sliding, and Segment Mode

Trimming terminology

A-Side/B-Side

Handle

Trimming icons and colors

How Trimming works

Enabling and configuring the Trimming Tools

Methods for entering Trim Mode

Configuring the Trim Rollers

Trimming methods

Monitoring during Trimming

Slipping with Trim Mode

Slipping outside of Trim Mode

How to do it…

Sliding in Trim Mode

Trimming and effects

Smart Tool overview

Enabling/disabling the Smart Tool

Link Selection and Smart Tool functions