AVID's media management? at DVinfo.net

Rob Lohman · November 24th, 2004, 05:41 AM

Okay. I always here people who use AVID say that the media
management is so great and really better than any other system.

Does anyone care to elaborate on that? I'm wondering how and
why it is better (never worked with Avid myself). What does it
do differently, how does it do it? How does it help you in your
work etc.?

I'd really like to know! Thanks!

Richard Alvarez · November 24th, 2004, 09:07 AM

Hmmm... how to explain color to a blind man....

Sorry, and old metaphor.

Basically AVID allows you to manage and sub-manage media more efficiently than other NLE'S. One example, in VEGAS, only one sequence can be open in a project at one time. In AVID, you can create unlimited versions of sequences, store them in bins and sub-folders and duplicate and combine them without having to "Open another project". More efficient, no? Move sequences from another "closed" project into the one you are working on (without leaving the project you are in) Create unlimited bins and sub-bins with subclip variations. Rename the clips, sort bins by name, date, time code... lines from the script, notes... arrange your bins in frame mode, text mode, SCRIPT mode (actually import your script and put the frames in place on the appropriate lines of the script) even color code your clips and bins so you can find them on the timeline at a glance.

All of these things can be done, in one fashion or another... in other NLE's, yes... but not as efficiently as in AVID. In addition, AVID's networking properties are unparralled for huge projects where you might have ten editors/FX artists all needing access to the same footage on one server. (Granted, not a big deal for a one-man shop, or a small project.) What it comes down to is how the media is "Managed". How do you find a single clip in a hundred hours of media? How do you subdivide it? How do you open and search all the sub folders for the right footage? How do you name it? How do you sort through the footage on your timeline and delete the stuff in your drives you are not using? Not a big deal while working on a thirty second spot or a three minute music video perhaps... but a huge deal in a documentary or feature project.

AVID's interface and workflow are widely copied by the other NLE's... because they were first, and because they are efficient. (Vegas excepted... they decided to create a new look and language... their prerogative of course.) The dynamic JKL trimming in Avid has recently been copied in FCP, but not yet in Vegas (I expect that will change eventually).

AVIDS EDL's are industry standard... mostly because the top finishing suites are all avids. So if you shoot a 35mm feature and decide to edit on your laptop at a lower rez just take your edl or project folder into a Symphony for recapture, super correction or up-rezzing, or execute the snazzy effects... smooth move, no problems.

Some people find the AVID system "too complicated... overwhelming".... it's often the feeling I get when I stand at the counter of a Baskin Robbins and look at all those flavors. Some people just prefer chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

These are my opinions and experiences. Your mileage may vary.

Rob Lohman · November 24th, 2004, 09:21 AM

Thank you very much for your reply. I understand that it is hard
to describe (color/blind) to someone without the ability to see/
demonstrate it etc. I'll have to re-read your post a couple of
times probably, heh. Thanks!

Grinner Hester · November 26th, 2004, 06:21 PM

a third party plug called media manager helps Avid users alot.
While the bin management is powerful, Avid's media tool is very weak. Media Manager allows you to delete media in a file manager kinda layout.
Beats the heck outa sifting through OMFI files.

Richard Alvarez · November 26th, 2004, 07:24 PM

Are you referring to the "Media Manager" that is part of Avid? Not sure what third party tool you are referring to. Who makes it?

Grinner Hester · November 26th, 2004, 07:57 PM

No, I'm not talking about media tool.
I'm referring to Media Manager which is a 3rd party plugin for managing media in Avids.
dunno who makes it.... just know it makes things quicker and easier.

Jeff Donald · November 26th, 2004, 08:05 PM

I searched Google for a "Media Manager" plugin for Avid and no hits. I wonder if you might have the title slightly off or if the company went out of business?

Grinner Hester · November 26th, 2004, 08:07 PM

nope.
just can't remeber the maker's name right now, man.

Richard Alvarez · November 26th, 2004, 08:30 PM

Do you have acceess to a copy?

Grinner Hester · November 26th, 2004, 08:36 PM

yeah. I use it all the time.
it's quite the time-saver.

sorry- I'm much better at pushin the buttons than remembering who I write checks to or for.

Richard Alvarez · November 26th, 2004, 09:50 PM

Are you referring to Unity/LANshare?

Grinner Hester · November 28th, 2004, 09:41 PM

No
a plug in that treats omfi files like file manager.
Much better than media tool.

Curt Nuzum · December 1st, 2004, 08:54 PM

love to learn more about this one... just spent hours digging and deleting...

Richard Alvarez · December 1st, 2004, 09:32 PM

The Media Mangement tool and "consolidate' are good ways to delete old files. Not sure about this third party plug in, I'd like to know more about it as well.

Grinner Hester · December 2nd, 2004, 12:53 PM

http://www.randomvideo.com/Product%20Info.htm

November 24th, 2004, 05:41 AM	#1
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	AVID's media management Okay. I always here people who use AVID say that the media management is so great and really better than any other system. Does anyone care to elaborate on that? I'm wondering how and why it is better (never worked with Avid myself). What does it do differently, how does it do it? How does it help you in your work etc.? I'd really like to know! Thanks! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 24th, 2004, 09:21 AM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thank you very much for your reply. I understand that it is hard to describe (color/blind) to someone without the ability to see/ demonstrate it etc. I'll have to re-read your post a couple of times probably, heh. Thanks! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 26th, 2004, 08:05 PM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I searched Google for a "Media Manager" plugin for Avid and no hits. I wonder if you might have the title slightly off or if the company went out of business? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 1st, 2004, 08:54 PM	#13
Curt Nuzum Tourist Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Brentwood Ca Posts: 2	love to learn more about this one... just spent hours digging and deleting... __________________ Curt

November 24th, 2004, 09:07 AM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Hmmm... how to explain color to a blind man.... Sorry, and old metaphor. Basically AVID allows you to manage and sub-manage media more efficiently than other NLE'S. One example, in VEGAS, only one sequence can be open in a project at one time. In AVID, you can create unlimited versions of sequences, store them in bins and sub-folders and duplicate and combine them without having to "Open another project". More efficient, no? Move sequences from another "closed" project into the one you are working on (without leaving the project you are in) Create unlimited bins and sub-bins with subclip variations. Rename the clips, sort bins by name, date, time code... lines from the script, notes... arrange your bins in frame mode, text mode, SCRIPT mode (actually import your script and put the frames in place on the appropriate lines of the script) even color code your clips and bins so you can find them on the timeline at a glance. All of these things can be done, in one fashion or another... in other NLE's, yes... but not as efficiently as in AVID. In addition, AVID's networking properties are unparralled for huge projects where you might have ten editors/FX artists all needing access to the same footage on one server. (Granted, not a big deal for a one-man shop, or a small project.) What it comes down to is how the media is "Managed". How do you find a single clip in a hundred hours of media? How do you subdivide it? How do you open and search all the sub folders for the right footage? How do you name it? How do you sort through the footage on your timeline and delete the stuff in your drives you are not using? Not a big deal while working on a thirty second spot or a three minute music video perhaps... but a huge deal in a documentary or feature project. AVID's interface and workflow are widely copied by the other NLE's... because they were first, and because they are efficient. (Vegas excepted... they decided to create a new look and language... their prerogative of course.) The dynamic JKL trimming in Avid has recently been copied in FCP, but not yet in Vegas (I expect that will change eventually). AVIDS EDL's are industry standard... mostly because the top finishing suites are all avids. So if you shoot a 35mm feature and decide to edit on your laptop at a lower rez just take your edl or project folder into a Symphony for recapture, super correction or up-rezzing, or execute the snazzy effects... smooth move, no problems. Some people find the AVID system "too complicated... overwhelming".... it's often the feeling I get when I stand at the counter of a Baskin Robbins and look at all those flavors. Some people just prefer chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. These are my opinions and experiences. Your mileage may vary.

November 26th, 2004, 06:21 PM	#4
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	a third party plug called media manager helps Avid users alot. While the bin management is powerful, Avid's media tool is very weak. Media Manager allows you to delete media in a file manager kinda layout. Beats the heck outa sifting through OMFI files.

November 26th, 2004, 07:24 PM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Are you referring to the "Media Manager" that is part of Avid? Not sure what third party tool you are referring to. Who makes it?

November 26th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#6
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	No, I'm not talking about media tool. I'm referring to Media Manager which is a 3rd party plugin for managing media in Avids. dunno who makes it.... just know it makes things quicker and easier.

November 26th, 2004, 08:07 PM	#8
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	nope. just can't remeber the maker's name right now, man.

November 26th, 2004, 08:30 PM	#9
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Do you have acceess to a copy?

November 26th, 2004, 08:36 PM	#10
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	yeah. I use it all the time. it's quite the time-saver. sorry- I'm much better at pushin the buttons than remembering who I write checks to or for.

November 26th, 2004, 09:50 PM	#11
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Are you referring to Unity/LANshare?

November 28th, 2004, 09:41 PM	#12
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	No a plug in that treats omfi files like file manager. Much better than media tool.

December 1st, 2004, 09:32 PM	#14
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	The Media Mangement tool and "consolidate' are good ways to delete old files. Not sure about this third party plug in, I'd like to know more about it as well.

December 2nd, 2004, 12:53 PM	#15
Grinner Hester Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: services world-wide Posts: 118	http://www.randomvideo.com/Product%20Info.htm