New Version of Avid Media Composer Now Available!

Avid Media Composer v3.0.1 is now available for Avid Media Composer Adrenaline and Avid Media Composer with Mojo/Mojo SDI on Mac
OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger)

Customers with Avid Media Composer Adrenaline, Mojo/Mojo SDI systems running Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger) operating system can now join the Avid Media Composer 3.0 revolution thanks to the release of Avid Media Composer v3.0.1 (Mac). Customers using these systems are now able to upgrade to the latest v3 software while remaining on OS X 10.4.11 and will benefit from full Avid qualification. Note that Avid Media Composer Adrenaline and Mojo/Mojo SDI systems are NOT qualified on the current Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) due to an issue with the OS X 10.5 FireWire driver and therefore customers should NOT upgrade their OS X past 10.4.11. Further, new Apple workstations shipping with Max OS X 10.5 (Leopard) are not qualified with Adrenaline and Mojo classic systems.

Please note: this release is ONLY for Media Composer Adrenaline/Mojo/Mojo SDI customers on the Mac. All other customers should continue to use v3.0. The following table summarizes compatibility.

Important information about Avid Xpress Studio and Avid Studio Toolkit compatibility with Avid Media Composer v3.0, Avid NewsCutter v7.0 and Avid Symphony v3.0

If you are a customer of Avid Studio Toolkit v5.7, compatibility will remain as follows:

• Avid DVD by Sonic can continue to be used with the Avid Media Composer v3.0 family of products.
  
• Avid FX can continue to be used with the Avid Media Composer v3.0 family of products
  
• Avid 3D file interoperability via MXF/AAF can continue to be used with the Avid Media Composer v3.0 family of products. However, video I/O through the hardware is no longer supported. Avid 3D must be installed directly from the Avid 3D folder on the install disk rather than the master installer to avoid installing the Avid v5.7 DIO which is not compatible with the latest software.

There will not be an upgrade to Avid Studio Toolkit as a separate product. With the v3.0/v7.0 software, Avid will be including Avid FX and Avid DVD by Sonic directly with all Avid Media Composer, Avid Symphony and Avid NewsCutter editor sales. Avid 3D will no longer be bundled, and there will be no further development on Avid 3D.

For existing Avid Xpress Studio customers, the above statements on compatibility of Avid DVD by Sonic, Avid FX and Avid 3D apply. With regards to Pro Tools LE, there is no version of Pro Tools LE that has been qualified for co-installation with Avid Media Composer v3.0. Customers have the following options:

• Remain on Avid Xpress Pro v5.8 or Avid Media Composer v2.8 with Pro Tools LE v7.3.1 which are qualified for co-installation.
• Upgrade to the latest versions of Pro Tools LE and Avid Media Composer, but run Pro Tools LE and Avid Media Composer on separate system partitions (this is required since Pro Tools LE and Avid Media Composer share the same system audio and video drivers and cannot run with incompatible versions installed).

The above applies to Studio configurations only where Pro Tools LE and Xpress Pro / Media Composer are co-installed on the same machine. File interoperability between Media Composer and Pro Tools on separate machines and the use of Mojo/Mojo SDI with Pro Tools systems remain fully qualified.

Quick Tips and Tricks

Maximize your P2-workflow knowledge! In this video, learn how to change the frame rate of a P2 clip using DVFilm's Raylight MXFX, and edit with it in Avid Media Composer.

Watch the Tutorial

Explore an XDCAM media workflow; from setting up your equipment, to importing and editing XDCAM media, to conforming to high-resolution media, and finally finishing your sequence.

Watch The Tutorial

New Version of Sony XDCAM EX Browser Software Released

New Improvements in version 2.0 include:

• Avid AAF export – converts from OP1A to OP1Atom and MXF files in a single step export that allows files to then drag and drop into the AVID bin- works on both PC and MA
• DV conversion to AVI and Raw files
• Optional – XDCAM file converion to 420 or 422 files – requires optional chargeable software
• Optional – MP4 and web file exports – requires optional chargeable software
• Improved Copy with CRC check
• Improved look and feel GUI
• Improved metadata search - handling and input
• Improved essence mark handling - add/delete
• Full screen display with on screen playback control display
• Still frame grab – grabs native resolution stills to BMP files
• JKL control

Download Sony XDCAM EX Software

Useful Console Commands - Media Composer, NewsCutter or Symphony.

A subset of console commands (P) = Persistent, (NP) = Non-Persistent.

A detailed description of some useful console commands is available below. Help Commands - List all console commands.

1. To write the full list out to a file, use:
   • Log
   • Help Commands
   • Log

AcplGpuEffects true - displays current state of ACPL GPU effects processing and if installed graphics card is qualified to do so.

BackRevCC - Allows Nitris and Adrenaline (ver 2.x) Color Correction effects in the currently loaded sequence to be saved in a format compatible with Meridien (NP)

CheckSequences - Checks all sequences for internal inconsistencies

DumpFXSummary - Effects contained in a sequence are printed to the Console, new in MC3

DumpSourceSummary - Sources contained in a sequence are printed to the Console, new in MC v3 Edo any/acplcpu/acplgpu/hw/sw - "Effect Domain Override"; forces effects processing to occur in the specified domain. Any = default. (NP)

RepairSequences - Attempts to repair sequences with internal inconsistencies

Subsys monpane debug - Allows precomputes to be loaded into source window (NP)

ToggleHWDecode - Disables the hardware codecs (NP)

WatchSequence - Continually check the sequence in the timeline for internal inconsistencies, popping up a message the moment one is detected.

Troubleshooting

Hardware underrun when performing a Digital Cut on a HP xw8400

On a Dual Core HP xw8400, only the built-in Firewire connector is supported for connection of an Avid Mojo or an Avid Adrenaline. This is also true even if the built-in Ethernet port is in use.

On a Dual Quad-Core HP xw8400 the built-in Firewire port is NOT supported for connection of an Avid Mojo or an Avid Adrenaline.
A special Firewire card is needed in slot #1 (PCI 32-bit 33MHz). Currently qualified

Firewire cards for this CPU are:

1. H.P. p/n PA997A (Avid P/N 7030-20154-01) 1394a Firewire Card, PCI 32-bit/33MHz
   Click here for details
2. Sonnet Technologies Allegro FW400 1394a PCI 32-bit/33MHz
   Click here for details

Does Media Composer support AVCHD?
 
The AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) is used by different manufacturers such as Panasonic or Sony.
You cannot import this format directly into an Avid application.  Panasonic offers a free of charge software that transcodes AVCHD clips recorded by Panasonic cameras into P2 DVCPRO HD clips. The files get a P2 like structure that enables users to edit the clips in Xpress Pro and Media Composer. Supported project formats are 1080i/59.94 and 1080i/50.
You may download the software here:
 
Download The AVCHD Transcoder Software
 
What do I use now that Hyperterminal is no longer included in Windows Vista?

Now that Hyperterminal is no longer bundled with the Windows OS (Vista), you must download an application to access your COM port (in order to configure your Avid VideoRaid, for example.) There are a number of applications available, however one that some customers have found success with is Putty, located here:

Download Putty from Freeware Home.com

This application is free and fairly easy to use.

Another alternative is TeraTerm which is also free of charge and available here:

Download TeraTerm from Ayera.com

If you chose to stick with Hyperterminal, however, you can purchase the latest version of the application, which supports Vista:

Purchase Hyperterminal

Why do I get a message "Exception: AsyncFileIOHelper:: ReadStreamAsync async file system error."?

The error occured while playing back files from a connected Videoraid RTR.
If you are running on a Mac Pro Intel "Harpertown" with an Atto UL5D board installed you should update the Atto driver version to 4.3. This version is available on http://www.attotech.com/. This Atto driver version is just necessary if you are running on Mac OS 10.5.3.

No Color Correction is possible on a grouped (multicam) clip

Place a grouped (multicam) clip in the timeline and enable the "Color Correction Mode". When you try to change any parameter you will get the error message "To apply Correction to nested segments use Step in".

This has been reproduced on Symphony Nitris DX 3.0. There is no issue with this workflow with Symphony Nitris 1.81 and prior.

A workaround is to "enablecommitmulticam" in the console. This is the detailed steps to do the work around for this issue:

1. open the console
2. type "enablecommitmulticam" then press enter.
3. Right click on your edited sequence in the bin.
4. Select "Commit Multicam Edits" from the menu.
   RESULT: A copy of your sequence will be made with a ".NoGroups.Copy.01"
   appended to the end.
5. Load that sequence and you should be able to use relationships as well as not having to use the CC effect.

You will still have your original sequence with the grouped clips as well.

Is NVIDIA driver 169.96 supported?

The latest driver released by NVIDIA - 169.96 - and recommended for use with the FX3700 graphics card is NOT supported by Avid at this time. Customers who install this driver will see a degradation in performance and their systems will not operate at optimal levels.

Customers should not upgrade to this driver - 169.96 - at this time; only the supported driver for their version of software should be installed. Please refer to the ReadMe for each software version to determine the supported driver (for Media Composer 3.0, Symphony 3.0, and Newscutter 7.0, the supported driver version is 169.47.)

Can I download the Latest Updates and Hot fixes for Microsoft Windows on my Avid system?

Click the link below for Avid's latest supported Microsoft Service Packs and Hot fixes.

Microsoft Service Pack and Security Bulletin Support Addendum

Current Avid Software Releases

Below is a list of Avid software downloads currently available with their release dates:

Please note that software downloads are typically available for customers with an active Avid Assurance contract or customers who have purchased an upgrade. There are some free upgrade downloads available for certain Avid products (Click link below). Customers on Unity products should check release notes for all storage and attached client systems before upgrading any software.

Access the Avid Download Center