Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

S

Smithhouse

Well-known member
Looking at buying Avid with mojo... My dillema. I'm looking for good 3rd party software for special effects, burning dvds, and I also need something for music(the score). I Will be editing music vids, shorts, and features... any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Editing = Avid with Mojo
Special Effects =
Music=
Dvd's=
Other=

Can you please fill in the blanks with your recommendations. I heard someone mention in another thread about combustion (does that do slo-mo effects?) I really would like to work with something that does slo-mo) Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you guys and gals.

Thanks,
Trey
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Something you might consider is looking at buying Avid Xpress Studio Complete. It comes with Xpress Pro, Mojo, Avid FX, Avid 3D, Avid DVD, ProTools, and a Digi002. It breaks down like this in your workflow:

Editing = Xpress Pro with Mojo
Effects = Avid FX / Avid 3D (Avid FX is the same as Boris Red, Avid 3D is based on Softimage)
Music =
DVDs = Avid DVD
Other = ProTools and the Digi002

You're still missing something to create soundtracks, but you'll be in a better place to do audio work with the addition of ProTools and the Digi002. If I were just building a suite it would be hard for me to pass up Studio Complete.

In case Studio isn't an option then I would presonally recommend Combustion for FX (yes, you can do slow motion). DVD-Lab for DVD authoring ($100 and more features than most). Music ... I don't have too much experience doing my own music. Maybe Acid? Other could include an MPEG-2 encoder, but as long as you're buying the commercial version of Xpress Pro (instead of the Educational Version) then it comes with Sorenson Squeeze, which does a fairly good job at encoding.

Hope that helps.

Chris
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Appreciate the info Chris

I'm drooling over Avid's complete studio, but that so not an option right now(m.o.n.e.y.). Even the essential studio is too rich because I want to have the mojo. I was actually considering Combustion (heard a lot about it) The other stuff I will look into... So I've got:

Avid w/ Mojo
Combusition
Dvd Lab

Will combustion take care titling or do I need something else for that... Also considering magic bullet.

What do you think?

Thanks,
Trey
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

[quote author=krestofre link=board=Avid;num=1101102444;start=0#1 date=11/22/04 at 07:12:20]You're still missing something to create soundtracks, but you'll be in a better place to do audio work with the addition of ProTools and the Digi002. [/quote]

Xpress Pro as well as Xpress Studio (essentials and complete) come with SmartSound SonicFire Pro for music soundtrack creation.

Michael
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Thanks Michael,

Can you answer me this?

Which would you prefer out of these possibities, for special effects (mainly walking through walls and things dissovling into energy fields, slo-mo), Titling, and enhancing the "film'" look.

After Effects Pro / Boris Red / Boris Continuum / Combustion / Magic bullet

Which would you get individually or in combination - ease of use is important. I would like to do the effects within the NLE.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

If you want to do the effect in the NLE then you have to go with Avid FX, Boris Red, or Continuum Complete. The others that you mentioned do not work as a plug-in.

I didn't know the Studio packages came with SonicFire ... good to know.

Chris

P.S. I've never used it but I've heard that Magic Bullet's render times are absolutely insane.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

I just had another throught, and I'm really boards, so I did some math.

Avid Xpress Pro + Mojo = $3,000
Combustion = $800
DVD-Lab = $100

Total = $3,900

Avid Xpress Studio Essentials = $3,995

You're not that far off on price. The 002 probably makes Studio Complete out of reach, but based on the info you've given so far I would bet that Studio Essentials is in your budget.

Chris
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Should have been "really bored." I'm apparently really tired too. :)
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Krestofre

Any suggestions on something other than magic bullet (because of the render times)
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Sorry, but I don't have any. Film look is the Holy Grail of the low-budget feature. Even if you could find the tomb there would be many, many cups that you could choose from ... but choose wisely. ;)

Chris
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Well the first thing to do is shoot 24 frames with the DVX100. The rest is done with framing, lighting, depth of field control etc. From there you can color correct and add filters. A while ago I posted a quick "how to" on a project I was working on:

http://www.24p.com/colorcorrection.htm

From there you can add some grain from the Boris FX package or Saphire, both AVX.

Michael
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Many thanks Michael, I guess I can do without Magic Bullet (providing I can get results like yours).

Can you tell me if Boris Continuum and Combustion basically serve the same purpose. Meaning, if I have continuum would there be any for me to have combustion as well (seen some insane special effects with combustion). Any thoughts?

Thanks again,
Trey
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Magic Bullet is comprised of two parts - one is the rendering engine that takes 60 field material and creates 24p. There is a similar effect in XPress Pro called FluidFilm which creates 24p (with pulldown) from 60 field material. By adding in the 2:3 pulldown, it stays in sync with its corresponding audio.

There are other applications that do this, there is one in Boris as well as Twixtor.

The other part of Magic Bullet is a preset of filters for "looks". Much of this is done via color correction and filters but they provide a great starting point for drag and drop. In this case, Boris Continuum has many of the same or Digital Film Tools etc.

In one case, it is all within the same UI, the other is a series of filters you apply as needed. Saphire has a great film look set of tools which are available as AVX as well.

As far as combustion, it is more akin to an After Effects for deep compisiting and particle/3D generation. This type of work goes beyond what I use these tools for so that is a matter of personal preference and feature set. There are other forums that are dedicated to After Effects and Combustion you might want to visit.

Michael
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Thanks for the info, Michael. I pretty much have my sights on Continuum. I'm glad you mentioned it as one of your options.

Happy holidays
Trey
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

I am thinking of buying the Avid Xpress Pro with Avid Mojo together from the Avid shop. But can someone tell me wich version of Xpress pro I get with that package? I live in the Netherlands, so we are working with PAL here, does it make any difference for the mojo?

Because ordering from the Avid shop seams a lot cheaper then buying it here in the Netherlands, even when tax has to be payed back here when the product is arriving.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Just make sure you have the proper power supply but since it is a DC powered device. THere is no specific Mojo for Pal or NTSC. It gets updated as needed via the firmware which is part of the software installer. Current shipping versions are 4.6.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Does the mojo has a automatic switch for 110 - 220v?
Or are there 110 and 220v versions?
Because if it has an automatic switch, then I only need a different powerplug.

I have e-mailed them, but get no answer yet.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Since it is DC powered, 120 or 220 is not an issue. It needs the right number of volts via a DC connecter.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

If still have no answer from them.
Do you have a proper e-mail adress for me so I can ask them about the Mojo.
 
Re: Avid + Mojo + ? - need help

Now I have mojo, but the picture and sound is stuttering. I have tried different pci slots and with and without other pci cards, but all with the same results. I have connected the mojo to the pyro 64 firewirecard and to a MSI motherboard.
Do someone know were the problem starts?
 
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