Avid Tip: The default settings that shouldn't be the default

If you are setting up a new Avid system, here is a list of settings I think you should immediately change. You can also use Site Settings to make them the defaults for all future projects on that system.

1. Capture

On some versions of Avid, the default maximum capture time is set to 30 minutes. I'd bump that up to at least 120 minutes. I also prefer to capture acroos timecode breaks. This will create multiple clips instead of stopping the capture.

2. Media Creation

First, I'd Filter Out Launch Drive and possible the System Drive. You should be saving your media to places other than the drive that your Avid and OS are running from. It would also be a good idea to check your default location for captures, renders, etc. If you have specific drives that you don't want Avid capturing to, you can unmout those drives by going to File -> unmount...

3. General

You should set your default timecode to 1hr or 10hr, which ever you use more often.

4. Bin

Drive space is cheap, bin data is small. I prefer to set the maximum bins in a projects attic to something like 1000 and the Max versions of those bins to at least 50, because $h!t happens. You may also want to adjust the Auto-save interval and Inactivity period to something more suitable to you needs.

Avid Tip: EDL Comments

You may have noticed that when you open up EDL Manager, one of the options is to display Comments. The Comments the EDL Manager is referring to are specific to the clips in the timeline, not the masterclips. Here's how you apply comments to your clips.

1. Highlight a clip in your sequence.
2. click the sequence title in the upper-right corner of your monitor window
3. Select Add Comments from the drop down window and add your comment in the dialogue box

Now when you create your EDL, any comments made to your clips will show up. You can put useful information like order codes for stock footage, clip descriptions or any other notes about that specific clip.

It's important to note that these comments are specific to that clip in that sequence and won't show up in other timelines where that source clip is used.

Fade In (1st Post)

So I've started a blog. A place to put my thoughts, tips and ramblings about working in post production. I come to you from the perspective of a working Editor / Assistant Editor whose trying to take the time to learn the best standards and practices of the post production world (that should make the cranky old-timers happy).

I'm under 30, but was lucky enough to get my first taste for editing by cutting 16mm film on a Steinbeck. From there I moved to Hi-8 tape, using deck to deck linear editing, one of the perks of an underfunded university Arts program. Eventually the university got some money and I started on Final Cut Pro. I've been using Final Cut for over six years and Avid for about two. I use Avid at work and FCP at home. I'll save the FCP vs Avid topic for future post.

Well, that's it for now. Stay tuned. I hope to post at least once a week... maybe more. (I may regret writing that when this blog doesn't get touch for 3 months)