FCP edit to Avid for layoff

[Matt Davis]

I've completed a number of short movie sequences as part of a larger program, and the client's client wants the final compilation to be done at their choice of Avid suite (my guess is. My material includes strongly coloured (but broadcast safe) motion graphics which makes DV particularly unsuitable. Some elements of my movies (flying logos) have alpha channels, and I guess these want to be used in other parts of the program.

Question: Does Avid accept QuickTime formats such as DVCPro50 or PhotoJPEG at 90%? How about Animation with alpha channel?

Are there any particular combinations of Avid which are QuickTime unfriendly?

Their suggestion - to lay off my work to DigiBeta - isn't workable within the budget.

[David Parks]

Matt,

Avid Symphony/Media Composer/Xpress are very QT import friendly.
Keep in mind though that it will be recompressed if it goes from DVC Pro 50 to an Avid codec. Make sure upon import your Avid guy keeps it in DVC Pro 50 which Avid can edit natively. Tell you client that this approach will save quality over going to DigiBeta back into Avid.

And yes Avid can read alpha channels with animation preset in QT.

Good Luck.

[Matt Davis]

Thanks David - great news.

Originally Posted by David Parks

it will be recompressed if it goes from DVC Pro 50 to an Avid codec.

Perhaps if I investigate an Avid codec I can use in a QT wrapper direct from FCP? If I were to download the Meridien codec, theoretically I could encode to that? Avid's codec pack has recently been updated for Intel Mac compatibility, but it makes no mention of PAL sizes...