Avid and DVRack?
 

I have a client who would like me to record a program for them. They will edit this program on their Avid system and have requested OMF files.

DVRack does not offer OMF file format recording. (Why not?)

Do Avid editors use DVRack? If so, what DVRack file formats work best on the Avid timeline? Do these files require rendering when opened on the Avid timeline?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks,
Paul

I'm an Avid Xpress Pro user and a DVRack (with HDV Powerpack) user. I use Avid's import command to bring in clips from DVRack.

While I haven't tried this with DVRack without the HDV Powerpack, I would guess that it would work. Test it a couple of times to see which DV Rack file format option works best: Quicktime, AVI, etc..

Thanks for your response Jay,

I guess you are importing HDV files from the DVRack?

The problem is that I do not have an Avid system and have no way to test if it can import AVI or QuickTime files without requiring rendering. The DVRack files would be recorded for my client who has requested OMF files. He is not able to tell me if he can import any other file types without rendering.

I would go over and do a test, but he is located in Alabama and I am in Florida, so, I sent him a drive with some test files and will see what happens.

Thanks anyway,
Paul

Yes, M2T files.

Though I'm not a long time user, I've never had any problem importing Quicktime files into Avid.

Your original question is a good one, though. OMF files don't seem to have much support outside Avid. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough.

Good luck with your client.

Thanks - it's good to know that you have been able to import QuickTime files and use them. I'll pass this along to my client.

The only other direct to disk recording device that I know of to support OMF is the Firestore. I have the FS-1.

According to the Avid product manager, the OMF format is a "dead" format. Serious Magic did try to get some kind of SDK from Avid to include the OMF format in DV Rack, but was told one didn't exist anymore. 8-(

Interesting about OMF being outdated.

My client has not tested the AVI and .mov samples I sent, hopefully they will work.

Thanks for your help.

It certainly surprised us as developers. OMF files are still used by thousands of Avids out there. We still would like to support capture to this format, but do not want to have to reverse-engineer the file format.

That's progress...

Avid is now using the MXF format. You can still capture OMF's in standard definition but if you have a HD system, MXF is the only option.


Most formats can be imported by Avid and Avid will do the OMF conversion for you.

We are researching a way of writing a QuickTime file that will import very fast into Avid systems. I hope to have more information soon.

A little background - Avid OMF format has been superceded by MXF format, because Avid can support HD and SD resolutions on this more generic metafile format. Unfortunately while being in Avid codec in a QT format will allow fast import, it will not allow you to drag the files directly to the media folder which would be the vastly preferred option.
Karl I believe MXF is being used by a bunch of manufacturers like Sony etc - and is supported by many different NLE's. Wouldn't it be preferable to concentrate on this format - I'm sure there is an SDK available.
PS _ I'm very surprised Avid don't have and SDK for OMF - as you pointed out there are still thousands of users out there. It would still seem very relevant as officially it is still supported even on the newer systems.

MXF is an interesting animal, and there are actually sub-formats within MXF itself. Sony uses one type of MXF, Avid uses another, and Panasonic uses a third. All the files are called MXF files, but different metadata is stored in different places within the file.

Snell and Wilcox maintains a site with various MXF tools, if you are interested in checking it out - http://mxf.snellwilcox.com/

I believe the Avid OMF video format is just a Quicktime compressed with one of Avid's codecs (some of which can be downloaded from Avid's website) and with additional metadata.

I believe you can rename an OMF file to .mov and Quicktime will play it.