AVCHD and Avid

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mcstrangelove

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Is there a straightforward, rock solid workflow for using AVCHD media in Avid? I searched this site, Cow, Avid Knowledge Base and there is the occasional 2-3 year old post that relies more on shaky workarounds, rather than a proper workflow.

Specifically I'm looking for something similar to this amazingly thorough tapeless workflow tutorial by Shane Ross:

http://library.creativecow.net/ross_shane/tapeless-workflow_fcp-7/1

I love how it really covers EVERY base, which is even more important with software like Avid with its specific media management. Unfortunately, that tutorial is for FCP. Anything like this for Avid?
 
I don't know if you're before or after MC5, but like Matt posted above, the AVC to P2 transcoder was the pre MC5 workaround- I used it for a while.

But I don't think the transcoder is on Pana's site anymore, is it?
 
I saw that YouTube video several months ago. It's not applicable to MC 5.5 and Panasonic tech support (as of 2 days ago) says they no longer support the "AVCHD to P2 DVCProHD Transcoder." The rep seemed offended when I asked if Panasonic had any resources on how to use their AVCHD format on Avid.

While some say they have no problems importing, an equal number of others seem to have issues.
 
I have switched over to Avid Media Composer 5.5 from Final Cut Studio. I am still working on my workflow to go from my AF100 -> Avid -> Davinci Resolve -> Avid.

Do any of you more experienced Avid users recommend DNxHD--which would require an expensive $500 codec for Resolve--or would I be better off doing something else like Cineform?
 
Currently we are transcoding in FCP 7 from AVCHD to Prores 422 and ingesting this into AVID MC 5.5 via AMA. Is there a better way out there?
 
I don't know which is better, since I am new to Avid, but it looks like the options might be Prores, Avid's DNxHD, or Cineform.
 
For what it's worth, I put some time into researching all three options.

1. ProRes can only be encoded if you have Final Cut installed. It can be decoded without Final Cut in quicktime.

2. DNxHD already comes with Avid, as it is their competitor to ProRes and Cineform. You can also download the codec for free, and as such, it can be encoded or decoded without Avid. You can encode to DNxHD if you have the codec installed with programs like Adobe Media Encoder or Sorenson Squeeze.

3. Cineform also requires you to buy the codec to encode, and there is a free codec to decode. Under their new pricing, Neoscene is $129, and it can do what most AF100 users need, and the next step up is Neo for $299, which includes more advanced features like RAW 4:4:4 and 4K.

Davinci Resolve requires a $500 upgrade to work with DNxHD, probably over some licensing issue. Resolve can more easily work with DPXs, Cineform, or ProRes now.

I am going to get Cineform Neo for $299, because it can do a higher quality RAW 4k codec. It also has DPX conversion tools. It seems like a better buy, over paying even more money just to make another 4:2:2 codec (DNxHD) work in Resolve. This means I can work with 4:2:2 using Cineform with my AF100, and I have other options with Cineform down the road.
 
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Thanks for all the input. blackcat, that list really helps. Sounds like DNxHD is the way to go (for me) to keep it fully in Avid, since I don't use Resolve.

I just wonder why Avid and Panasonic are so elusive about working with each other in this particular codec. And I wonder when Avid will accept AVCHD as it is natively?
 
I am currently looking at purchasing an AF-100. I edit on Media Composer, so I'm wondering what the best workflow will be?
 
DNxHD appears to be a logical choice for doing 422 in post, and akin to editing with ProRes in Final Cut. That is unless you are using DaVinci Resolve, and you don't want to pay for the DNxHD upgrade.
 
mcstrangelove said:
Thanks for all the input. blackcat, that list really helps. Sounds like DNxHD is the way to go (for me) to keep it fully in Avid, since I don't use Resolve.
Click to expand...

That would be my choice with the AF100, if I was not using Resolve. Free is always better, especially if it provides similar results. That said, Cineform seems to be the best choice for my workflow.
 
My encoder at the moment is Adobe Media Encoder, since I dropped Apple. I can encode AVCHD to my installed codecs, including DVCPROHD, DNxHD, etc. You just have to select format "quicktime" then "video codec." It just depends on what codecs you have installed. If you have a decent encoding tool, you should be able to do the same with all of your installed codecs.
 
To clarify something, Avid MC 5.5 does import AVCHD natively to whatever format you're editing in (probably DNxHD). So the simplest way to convert AVCHD to DNxHD is to import the clips into Avid.
HOWEVER, and this is the big caveat - MC5.5 has some issues doing this. Specifically (and this seems to become increasingly likely the longer the clip is) the import will randomly hang. It will continue to count up time, but it will suddenly stop making progress. With clips shorter than 5 minutes long, this happens only rarely (say twice every hundred clips) but those clips will have to be skipped and reattempted. With clips in the 30+ minute range, MC5.5 seems almost guaranteed to hang. So for long files I convert to Cineform, and short files I import directly.
 
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