AF 100/AVID Workflow
- Thread starter dhart1949
- Start date
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
There can be, depending on what version of Avid Media Composer you're talking about. The biggest issue that I'm aware of is that Avid doesn't yet play nice with LPCM audio from the AF-100 on Import. I've had a couple of clients ask me about strange audio issues with imported clips, and they've found that using AC3 audio with Avid Media Composer solves the issue.
If you'll tell us more about your system (version, etc.), we can probably give you better feedback.
If you'll tell us more about your system (version, etc.), we can probably give you better feedback.
I'm on Avid MC 5.X (went back to it from 5.5), and originally did some imports from the onboard codec to MC. It just takes a really long time for Avid to convert that Long GOP to DNx. I quickly decided after my first project and the 3:1 import time to get a Nanoflash, and do everything I-Frame MXF with that. Much better. But as far as the AVCHD is concerned, once it actually transcoded to DNx, it was fine. Side issue - But another issue for me and the transoding of camera video starting out at 30 mb/s, is not what it looks like out of the camera, but how does it hold up after that DNx transcode, then render some color correction or effects, then encode to MPEG-2 dvd or Bluray. That's where the differences in acquisition come in to play, and aside from workflow, another reason I bought Nano. Just FYI.
groveChuck
U-matic Member
bhdfield- do you find the Nano MXF holds up significantly better to grading and effects than the DNx?
Jesse Brauning
Well-known member
I'd love to hear feedback on this as well.
My mission in all this is some clients (perhaps misguided, just kidding) use an AVID. I hand them the day's footage on their hard drive (via NEXTO) and off they go. I need to be prepared for any transcoding issues that might arise. That's why I thoroughly tested the FCP import, transcode and edit. No question transcode to FCP is much longer than real time, but I let it go on in the background and go off and do other things. But if you have a ton of footage it's going to slow things down. I await drag and drop.
I suspect most editors will spring for new FCP coming out soon (only $400) that handles AF 100 footage natively. I realize more current versions of AVID cost way more than that, so there is a tendency for AVID editors not to have the latest version. Understandable.
Interesting points about Nano and well taken. Another good point about AC3 audio. That's the kind of stuff I need to be prepared for.
I suspect most editors will spring for new FCP coming out soon (only $400) that handles AF 100 footage natively. I realize more current versions of AVID cost way more than that, so there is a tendency for AVID editors not to have the latest version. Understandable.
Interesting points about Nano and well taken. Another good point about AC3 audio. That's the kind of stuff I need to be prepared for.
I've found that once the transcode is done, it cuts well in MC5. My biggiest issue is the transcode eats up time and more importantly disc space, so 250gig of avchd ends up around 1tb of space. Add in renders, precomputes etc and you need to make sure you have plenty of hard drve space available, and not on swappable drives but all accessible simultaneously. Interestingly, i tried switching to Premiere CS 5.5 to take advantage of the natice avchd support, and though you avoid any transcode issues, it doesn't perform all that well - much more laggy than Avid (which i still love, sue me FCP fans!). I think a Ki Pro or Nanoflash is definitely the solution if you can afford it, until then just make sure you transcode overnight and all will be fine.