From one Avid to another . . .

[DC]

For Xpress Pro HD:

Ok, the time has come for me to move a project from one Avid to another Avid. I've never actually done this before so I'm hoping somone can give me detailed step-by-step instructions.

I need to move all the associated media files from my friend's internal SATA drive to an external Firewire/USB drive. Then I need to bring that external drive to *my* Avid and dump the footage to an internal SATA drive. I know there must be an EDL/Project File to bring over too (we want the transition to the other Avid to be smooth).

We want to finish editing on my Avid because it is better suited for color-correction with my client monitor and DVD/VHS dumping via Mojo.

Thanks,

-DC-

 

[krestofre]

Here's the way I do it. There may be better ways.

Export the sequence as OMF 2.0 and choose to include all Video and Audio tracks. In the exporting options for video and audio tracks, choose Consolidate and link to Consolidated media. Then you'll be able to select the external drive to consolidate to. After you've made those settings changes, give the actual OMF file a distinct name and then export.

When that process is finished, take the external drive to your Avid, and import the OMF file with the distinct name that you previously exported. This will bring the sequence and the media online in your Avid, but it will still be on the external drive. You'll need to move that media over manaually and then Avid should connect to it.

Hope that helps.

Chris

 

[DC]

Thanks, Chris. Yes, that helps. A few of questions though.

1. To maintain my project EDL, do I simply copy the specific project folder over to my Avid? Or are there any extra steps?

2. Once the Firewire drive is connected to my Avid, what is the best way to manually move the media to the internal drives to maintain my EDL?

Bottom line, I want to be able to take this project and color-correct/edit further (if necessary) on my Avid.

Thanks,

-DC-

 

[krestofre]

1. To maintain my project EDL, do I simply copy the specific project folder over to my Avid? Or are there any extra steps?

That information is stored in the OMF file that is exported from Avid. Once you import that OMF then you'll have the exact timeline that is on Avid A on Avid B.

2. Once the Firewire drive is connected to my Avid, what is the best way to manually move the media to the internal drives to maintain my EDL?

After you import the OMF, then you can just drag and drop the media from the firewire drive to your internal drive. Then next time you launch Avid, it will rebuild the media database and still be connected. By EDL I assume that you mean the edits on the timeline as opposed to an actual Edit Decision List. If that's correct, then that is handled with the OMF file, not with the accompanying media.

edit further (if necessary) on my Avid.

Well, that complicates things a bit. The proceedure I gave you is really for picture lock when the only thing you'll be doing after that point is onlining the footage, CC, etc. The Consolidate step in my instructions truncates the media and creates media files that only represent what's on the timeline, therefore if you tried to trim, you wouldn't have any media to trim with. If you think that you'll be doing a lot of editing then instead of consolidating the media during the export set you can copy it and link to copied media. This will significantly increase the amount of space you'll need on that external firewire drive though.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to experiment with this process. Make a project on your Avid, pull in some media, make a quick timeline, then export it via OMF 2 like I explained. Then create a new project, import that file, and see what you've got. You'll have a better understanding of what Avid is doing and you'll understand what you have to work with and if that's enough.

If you just want a kill-all approach, then you can copy the project folder from C:\Avid\AvidXpressProHD\Avid Projects\ and then all of the OMFI folders on Avid A. Then move that to Avid B and open the project on Avid B just like it was created there. This will work if it's a short project, but if it's feature length then it's going to be huge! The advantage here is that you'll have EVERYTHING. All bins, all clips (master and sub), any alternate versions of the timeline, etc. With the OMF export method the only things you get are the clips, and the timeline.

Hope that helps.

Chris

 

[DC]

Chris:

Yes! That explains soooooo much. Thanks for clarifying. I now have a much better understanding of the differences in exporting.

Since this is only a 25 minute film, it should be relatively easy to just move EVERYTHING over to my Avid. I believe there is less than 70GB of media storage. So consolidating, etc. will not be necessary and I'll be able to keep all my options open.

Thanks again and cheers,

-DC-

 

[sink]

depending on how you are set up, if you still have the tapes and a deck on "Avid B" I find it much easier to just bring over the project folder and batch capture from the clips or the sequence depending on what you are doing, I like doing this cause then it is so fresh and so clean clean... though I wouldnt do this if I had like 30 source tapes... maybe 2..

 

[MichaelP]

Another way is to just consolidate the sequence with handles or the associated master clips of that sequence (menu - set bin display/show reference files). Target the destination of the consolidate to your shuttle drive.

Put the sequence in a new bin before doing this.

Then copy the entire project folder with bins to same drive.

Bring the drive to the other system, put the project and bins in the Avid Projects folder.
Copy the OMFI mediafiles to the new drive (or use this one if needed).

Open project
Open bin
Load sequence
Continue on