Getting Assets into

1
Your Media Composer
Project
In this chapter we will cover:

ff A strategy for project organization at the desktop level

ff Understanding Media Creation settings
ff Mixing frame rates
ff Tape capture tip: Adding Markers while Capturing
ff Tape capture tip: Making Subclips while Capturing
ff Logging clips tip: Logging from the keyboard
ff Logging clips tip: Keeping the Capture Tool active after logging a clip
ff Quickly calculating total duration of clips (or any items in a bin)
ff Combining available drive space and/or controlling where media is stored
ff Making sure your Batch Capture continues without you
ff Modifying clips before capture
ff Modifying clips after capture: Adding tracks
ff Modifying clips after capture: Deleting tracks
ff Capturing and editing at the same time
ff Preparing to use AMA (Avid Media Access): Getting the plug-ins
ff AMA (Avid Media Access) linking
ff Getting the AMA file's image to display as desired
ff Consolidating (copying) AMA Master Clips
Getting Assets into Your Media Composer Project

ff Transcoding AMA linked clips before beginning to edit

ff Transcoding AMA Master Clips after editing has begun
ff Consolidating an AMA sequence or subclips
ff Transcoding an AMA sequence
ff Importing stills and video files such as QuickTime
ff Importing audio
ff Adjusting audio levels before editing
ff Adjusting audio pan settings before editing
ff Setting stereo-audio tracks

Introduction
You've created your project, and now comes the sometimes time-consuming task of acquiring
your assets. In this chapter, I'll get you thinking about organization, provide you with some
common workflows, and give you some tips to hopefully make your work easier and/or
more productive.

A strategy for project organization at the

desktop level
Some words to the wise to help you avoid some common pitfalls.

How to do it...
Following are the steps for organizing the project at the desktop level:

1. Determine a location for a folder that will hold items relating to your project that will
not require being moved.
2. Create a folder and name it something that is clear and concise, for example, either
[Project Name] Materials or [Project Name] Assets.
3. Inside that main folder, create additional folders for Avid Project Backups, files
you will link to using the Avid Media Access (AMA) feature, Music, Sound Effects,
Imports_Stills, Imports_Motion Graphics, Photoshop Masters, Fonts,
After Effects Projects, and any others you think you'll need.

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 Chapter 1

How it works...
By keeping everything organized and in a consistent location, you will have a much easier
time keeping track of assets and changes to assets. Further, backing up, moving, archiving,
or re-importing the assets will be easier.

The trick is to remember to copy assets into this folder before putting them to use in any
way within your project. For example, copy music and sound effects from a CD to this folder,
then import the audio file that's in the folder (rather than directly off the CD) into a Media
Composer, or copy into this folder any fonts that you download before adding them to your
operating system.

Understanding Media Creation settings

It's important to spend some time setting up your Media Creation settings. Essentially Media
Creation settings allow you to set defaults, which will help ensure that the media files you
create (for example, render files, imports, and so on) are stored where you want them and are
of the resolution you need. Plus, it will save you time making selections in various dialog boxes
and tools throughout the workday.

Getting ready
In your Project Window select the Format tab. Select the format of the media that you will be
capturing, importing, and/or rendering. Media Composer will remember your Media Creation
settings for each format that you configure. So, for example, if you're mixing SD and HD
footage, you'll configure your Media Creation settings for each. Once your preferences are set
in the Media Creation tool for each format, Media Composer will automatically switch to your
customized settings whenever the format itself is switched.

How to do it...
The following steps will guide you through using the Media Creation Tool:

1. Go to the Tools menu at the top of your screen.

2. Select Media Creation.
3. Proceed section by section to set defaults for the resolution of the media that you
create, as well as for the destination for that media. See the following How it works...
section for details.