Avid Resource Center
Moviola Digital Education Center is committed to providing useful information, both in the classroom and out. So, we're creating tutorials, tips & tricks and articles for Avid Media Composer (and by extension Avid Symphony and Avid Xpress Pro).
Tips & Tutorials
Avid's New Time Code Generator
New in Media Composer 3.0 is a Real Time time code generator that's sure to make getting your work done easier and faster.Avid Fills-In A Big Piece Of The Puzzle
New in Media Composer 3.0 is a Real Time Caption Generator allowing for, among other things, Open Captioning and creating files used for Closed Caption Encoding. Time-saving features include complete control over fonts, colors and text effects as well as personal Style-sheet libraries and the ability to make style changes that are applied instantly to all captions in the timeline.
ScriptSync
ScriptSync is a standard feature in Media Composer and Symphony Nitris systems. Available only from Avid, this innovative and unique technology is deal for documentaries, interviews, reality TV, feature films... essentially, any project where there is scripted or transcribed dialogue.
Avid article about ScriptSync »
"ScriptSync is... an absolute necessity... Every producer and director should know that Avid offers this capability and that no other system can even come close."
– Stuart Bass, Editor, Emmy nominee and ACE Eddie award winner for “Arrested Development.”
Robert Bramwell, Editor of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” talks about why he feels script based editing with ScriptSync is one of the most beneficial methods of editing and, unfortunately, one of the most overlooked.
StudioDaily also provides an overview video of the ScriptSync feature.
Three Avid Courses
The classes linked below will give you a small insight into just a few of the many topics covered in several of the Avid editing and Avid Certified Support Representative courses available.
Media Composer 101 course »
MC101 is four days of comprehensive immersion into the core features of the Avid Media Composer editing system.
Media Composer 110 course »
MC110 is a three day course that provides a solid introduction to creating effects in the Avid Media Composer editing system.
Media Composer 201 course »
MC201 is a three day course that takes users deeper into the tips, tricks and advanced functions of the Avid Media Composer editing system.
Organizations And Guilds
From the Motion Picture Editors Guild to Film Independent, here you'll find links to various guilds, unions and organizations in the world of content creation. read more »
Select Left/Select Right
There have been some new additions to Avid Media Composer recently. One of the more recent was included in the 3.0.5 release and is called Select Left/Select Right. If you have version 3.0.5 or above, you'll find it in the Tools Menu > Command Pallete > Edit Tab.
Select Left/Right adds some functionality that Final Cut Pro users have had for some time and which we Avid editors have coveted.
By way of the Avid Community web site comes a nice video demonstration by an Avid editor of implementing and using this new feature (opens in a new window).
Avid Goes Red
"Using RED camera files in Avid was flawless and as fast as any project I've edited. We lost no time and the RED files came into the Avid [editing system] without a hitch. The Avid workflow gave us the advantages of RED files with the professional support and flexibility of cutting on Avid." – Drake Silliman, A.C.E. Editor, Heist
• Visit Avid for details and a Workflow Guide »
• RED to Avid workflow on The Tracey Ullman Show »
New Icons: Goodbye Old Friends
There are quite a few new features and enhancements in Media Composer version 3.0. Over time we'll be examining some of them. But, right off you'll notice a change to more than a dozen icons. So, here's a quick guide to Avid's icon-makeover. Read more »
Avid Plug-In Effects
You may already be familiar with GenArts' Sapphire Effects, or the large array of effects available from Boris FX, but there are many companies who have created what amounts to thousands of transitions, image effects and effects tools. Here's a handy resource to find the Avid AVX effects available »
New Avid Community
As part of Avid’s commitment to the digital media production community, the company has launched a new online environment where Avid Users can connect with peers, share ideas, contribute content and receive recognition for their contributions. The first phase of the launch includes a new interface, industry and Avid-authored blogs and customer-submitted tips, tricks and tutorials.
Over the next few months, the Avid Community will expand further to offer:
- A video exchange – where customers can upload, share, rate, and comment on the work of their peers;
- Community portfolios – which allow customers to create personalized pages to share bios, resumes, and samples of their work;
- A blog network – that presents the latest thinking on industry topics in one place;
- Social networking features – that allow customers to interact and communicate more directly with one another from right within the Avid Community interface; and
- A job marketplace – to help connect industry employers with talented customers who are looking for employment.
