question about avid / editing on powerbook
 

I was very unhappy with my 15" powerbooks performance with editing... I generally work bigger projects, and once I get to a certain point it takes so much loading to make the slightest change.

The 15" stats were: 1.25 GHz, 256 MB ram and 80 GB hard drive

I'm now moving to a 12" powerbook for the convenience of space, and the stats are: 1.5 GHz processor, 1.5GB ram 80 GB hard drive

My question is should this be much better for editing? The processor is higher, and the Ram is over 5 times faster. Will this be ideal for editing with Avid?

It's a general rule of thumb among NLE software that increasing ram helps increase performance. The more 'ram render' preview you can do, the less time it takes for you to be able to view it. So, max out the ram as much as possible.

-gb-

Go to:

http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/specs.asp for a list of specs and which notebooks are supported. In Part -

Macintosh
For all systems listed below, the following minimum specifications are required:
Max OS X 10.4.2 on single or dual processor G4 or G5 systems. Earlier Mac operating systems are no longer being tested or qualified.
1 GB minimum system memory for Avid Xpress Pro or Avid Xpress Pro used with Avid Mojo
A graphics adapter supported by Apple
Apple native FireWire, included with all qualified systems
40 GB or larger internal IDE boot drive
CD or DVD-ROM drive
QuickTime 7.0.1. QuickTime 6.x is not supported with Tiger.
The system requirements for Avid Xpress Pro will vary, based on whether the software is used with Avid Mojo, and whether external storage or Avid Unity LANshare EX connectivity is required. The table below lists the qualified systems for each scenario. Also see “Important Notes” for more information

Well 256MB RAM is really inadequate for everything on a powerbook, and certainly not enough for video editing, but that can be easily upgraded. However, with reasonable amounts of memory I don't think you'll notice any speed increase from a 25mhz faster CPU. I don't think the internal drive matters a lot - you shouldn't be putting your video there anyway - get a fast firewire drive for that. We have a couple 12" powerbooks at work and they are nice little machines for everyday things, but I would never want to use one to edit video. For one thing, the screen doesn't have high enough resolution (1024x768). It also lacks the PC card slot which means you can't have two independent firewire busses (a firewire PC card costs about $30).

I have no experience with Avid, but have edited with FCP while travelling using my 15" Powerbook G4/1ghz with 1.25GB RAM. It worked fine, but there were certainly performance trade-offs. The problem is that the gap between Apple's desktops and laptop computers has gotten huge. If you buy a laptop you're essentially settling for 3 or 4 year old technology. This is the main reason Apple is switching to Intel, since IBM failed to provide a G5 or dual processor laptop chip. Hopefully we'll see the gap start to close within the next two years.

In the meantime, the Powerbooks are very nice computers but they don't represent a good value if you're running demanding software like video applications. As long as you can accept the tradeoff and pay the premium price that a laptop commands this is fine. But unless you absolutely must have portability they don't make a lot of sense IMO.

If you really want to stick with a laptop I suggest you pop a 1gb chip into your open memory slot on your 15" powerbook. The 12" won't be any faster, you'll lose money on the trade, and I don't think you'll be happy with the smaller screen. Is it really worth it to save a couple inches of space?

Avid Express DV Mac help MPEG 2
 

Greetings

I am having problems exporting my video in Avid to MPEG2. I look through all the settings but do not see an export for MPEG2. Any other Avid Express Mac users have this problem. I use Avid Express 3 on Max OS 10.2?

I know I can export a mov. file and use quicktime to convert to MPEG2 but is there a way to get it right out of Express? We use DVD Studio Pro to make our DVD's but now I am have problems getting the MPEG2 files.

Any help welcome.

Marcus,

I don't use a mac, and I cut with XpressPro, not XpressDV so I'm not 100% sure about this, but the interface should be the same as on the pc.

You don't export as mpeg2. You export your QT reference file to your compression software. You should have gotten a copy of Sorenson Squeeze (unless you have the educational version?) If not, then you will need some compression software. Export your QT file or QT reference file, compress to whatever you want, Mpg2, Flash, WMV... whatever, and you are good to go.

(In the avid menu, click on the sequence in the bin, click on 'send to' and the compression system you use should come up. Remember to mark the sequence on the timeline with an in and out at the beginning and end. And indicate which or all of the tracks to export)

I am going to try this, thanks. For you there is no way to export MPEG2 file directly from Avid.

I also use FCP and I just export the MPEG2 file and then I am ready to put it in DVD Studio Pro for a final DVD. It seems like an extra step to do it the way you are explaining. If it is the only way I guess thats it.

thanks again
Marcus

Marcus,

Yes, for me the 'extra step' is pushing the 'send to' button. At that point, the qt file is sent to Sorenson, which automatically opens with the file in place. I then set the compression settings I desire (or leave at default) and press "Squeeze". Sorenson then compresses the file and I have the results ready to import into ReelDVD or any other authoring software.

Does Avid free have Deinterlace Blend?
 

Does Avid free or vegas 6 have Deinterlace Blend?

Avid Free does not. It's really stripped down. Just the basic interface and some transistions.

How to configure Avid Mojo
 

Does anyone know how to configure the Avid Mojo? I've attached it properly and Xpress Pro detects it - but the effects aren't real-time. If I add an effect to the timeline, it's as if there was no mojo at all.

Anyone can help?

I don't have a Mojo... (Please, no Austin Powers jokes) So I can't tell you how to configure it. But the avid forum is the place to start. www.avid.com

That's the problem - Avid's site or forum have not really offered much. And the manual is just atrocious.....

I'm using Xpress Pro 5.1.7.... I've connected it as directed..... it captures fine..... just that rendering is not in real time.....

Anyone?

Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.2 with native HDV released
 

Avid just released version 5.2 of Xpress Pro HD with HDV support: I haven't tried it yet as I'm still downloading, but it's available on the Avid web site.

adding multiple different effect to one video clip in avid??
 

sounds simple enough, but how do you add more than one effect to a single clip in avid NLE? i'm using avid express pro hd.

this has been making me go crazy! thanks in advanced for any info.

AVID releases 5.2 to Avid XPress Pro HD users
 

I'm late, sorry : )

no one uses avid here? odd...

If you are dragging and dropping an effect onto the clip, then you might need to zoom on the timeline, so avid doesn't think you are trying to drop the effect on top of an existing effect.

Avid HD to Combustion
 

Hi there, I am switching over to editing HDV in avid xpress pro HD, and color correcting in Combustion, instead of Adobe premiere to Adobe AE.

My problem is, the latest release of Avid, supports HDV, and captures the stream natively, but wraps it in an MXF wrapper. Now Combustion wont recognise this MXF format, and renaming it wont help. When i have finished my edit, what i want to do is render (consolodate) all of the clips in the timeline with uncompressed versions, which the AAF file will refer to. Then i can merrily import into combustion using Automatic Duck, and the AAF file, with no problems, while retaining my individual clip for color correction etc.

Does anyone know if this is possible. I am not able to consolodate to anything other than DNxHD 120. Now I fully understand that avid won't be able to play back the uncompressed video on the timeline, however this is not important, as at this stage the edit will be locked.

If anyone knows of any other way of getting HD from avid to Combustion while keeping edit points, I'd love to hear about it.

Thankyou in advance, Nick

www.pixelloft.com

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, only a question: why aren't you color correcting in Avid? I thought its color correction was excellent.

Capturing 24p footage in Avid
 

Anyone know the proper process to capture 24p footage from an XL2? I have captured it into a 24p project, but it's coming out interlaced.

Avid Announces the Avid Liquid Product Line
 

Company re-brands products from Pinnacle acquisition; introduces new version of flagship all-in-one video solution

Tewksbury, MA – November 3, 2005 – Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ : AVID) today announced the Avid Liquid™ product line, the company’s new nonlinear editing software and hardware offerings for event videographers, government and corporate video producers, and high-end enthusiasts. Drawn from editing products formerly developed by Pinnacle Systems, the Avid Liquid family includes new versions (v.7.0) of the Avid Liquid and Avid Liquid Pro systems, both of which are packed with new features designed for users who want a single application for creation and delivery of tape, DVD and streaming media. The product line also includes new configurations and pricing for the Avid Liquid Chrome HD (v.6.1) family of solutions featuring advanced standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) I/O hardware.

“With Avid Liquid, we introduce the ideal product for people who want it all – editing, surround audio, DVD, titling, effects and more – and want it in one affordable application,” said Dana Ruzicka, vice president, Postproduction Product Marketing, at Avid. “For them, Avid Liquid is the ideal solution: one easy-to-use application, one learning curve, without sacrificing power or performance.”

Videoguys’ Avid Liquid page - pre-order your Avid Liquid 7 upgrade!! http://www.videoguys.com/avidliquid.html

Avid Liquid Website http://www.avid.com/products/liquid/index.asp

Gary

Xpress Pro HD problem with HD50 deck - help?
 

OK folks. We are trying to install our new JVC GY-HD50 deck pretty far from our Avid Xpress Pro HD system. We are running the 422 line about 120' from the deck to the HP Avid is loaded on. Latest update from Avid. Machine has plenty of power and is fine with our other decks in the same remote location including 500a digibetas, DSRs and BVWs. Still works just fine with them but when we connect the JVC HD50 deck for testing, we get a few mouse clicks and then it tells us there is a communication error and bails out.

If I tell it to check the decks again, it's fine for another few mouse clicks and the communication dies again. We are able to use several deck types and get the same results. I suspect the run for the 422 control is too long but the chief insists it's within RS422 specs. It just seems like the signal might be a bit weak. We run the 232 port through a Rosetta Stone 2/8 to get to 422 by the way. We have spares. I'll swap it out to see if it's drivers are weak.

Anyone else having troubles remote locating a JVC GY-HD50 deck?

Sean McHenry

Sean,
Never run a deck that remote. You'll have more luck with responses on the Avid forum. I'm nearly alone as an avid user on this forum. (Or so it seems some days!)

www.avid.com

Folks there will have that kind of experience.

Avid Xpress on LAPTOP. what specs will i need?
 

I'm going to get a laptop for video editing on Avid Xpress DV (for windows). What are the minimal specs I'd need for my laptop so that I won't be running into problems. I know that Avid Xpress is a bit fussy with hardware and requires certain configurations. This will be my first laptop and I'm not sure that the research I've done for desktop will be relevant.

If anyone here is using Avid Xpress DV on their laptop and are happy, I'd really appreciate it if they give me their opinion and set-up.

Thanks.

Adi,
Check out http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/specs.asp#pc
For system reccomendations also this was listed under notebooks.

Qualified PC Notebooks
(see Important Notes 2 and 4)
Avid Xpress Pro1
Avid Xpress Pro2
Avid Xpress Pro3


Alienware MJ-12m 7700
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.6 GHz
2 GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM at 5333MHz
NVIDIA Quadro FX Go 1400 with 256MB DDR3
Two 60 GB Hard drives (7200 rpm)
Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX if Avid Mojo is NOT connected.


Dell Inspiron 5160 3.2GHz Pentium 4.
Includes integrated graphics and 1394 port



Dell Precision M60 Mobile Workstation,
Includes integrated graphics and 1394 port.
A 60 GB 7200 RPM internal drive should be used with this model.
Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX if Avid Mojo is NOT connected



Dell Latitude D800 Notebook
Includes integrated graphics and 1394 port.
A 5400 RPM or faster disk drive and 64MB video memory option are required.


HP Compaq Mobile Workstation nw8000
Includes integrated graphics and 1394 port.
Add-in PCMCIA cards are not supported.
Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX if Avid Mojo is NOT connected


HP Compaq nw8240 Mobile Workstation
2 GB of 533MHz, DDR2 SDRAM;
ATI Mobility Fire GL V5000 graphics controller
A 60 GB 7200 RPM internal drive should be used with this model.
Note: DVCPRO HD format not supported.
Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX if Avid Mojo is NOT connected



HP Compaq nx9600 Notebook PC
2 GB of 400 MHz, DDR SDRAM
ATI Mobility Radeon X600 (PCI Express) with 128MB of video memory
A 60 GB 7200 RPM internal drive should be used with this model.
Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX if Avid Mojo is NOT connected
Available exclusively through your local Avid Reseller.



Dell Precision M70 Mobile Workstation
Requires add-on IEEE-1394 card
2 GB of 533MHz, DDR2 SDRAM;
NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400 256MB graphics controller
A 60 GB 7200 RPM internal drive should be used with this model.
Note: DVCPRO HD format not supported. Supports Avid Unity LANshare EX. Avid Mojo is not supported with this laptop; connecting it will result in corruption of the firmware and render the Avid Mojo unusable



HP N800W Mobile Workstation
Requires a qualified 1394 card



Panasonic Toughbook-CF-51
1 GB SDRAM Memory
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 64MB
60 GB Hard drive (7200 rpm)
Note: DVCPRO HD format and Avid Mojo are not supported.



IBM ThinkPad T43P
1 GB SDRAM Memory
ATI Mobility FireGL V3200
Note: Requires Avid Xpress Pro 4.6.5; does not support Avis Xpress Pr v5.0




1 Beyond L3215MIL
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP2
3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 with HT Technology
60 GB Hard drive (7200 rpm)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
Note: Does not support Mojo connectivity.


For additional information on 1 Beyond L3215MIL check out the see the the 1 Beyond website



1 - With Avid Mojo and external storage and/or LANshare EX Connectivity
2 - With Avid Mojo and internal ATA (IDE) or serial ATA storage only
3 - Software Only

Thanks Richard. The thing is, this list seems a bit our of date. for example:

Dell Inspiron 5160 3.2GHz Pentium 4.
Includes integrated graphics and 1394 port

I called Dell and asked them about this model. It turns out this line has been replaced by the 6000 series. Does this mean that the Dell Inspiron 6000 is good with avid too? i'm not sure.

On the Dell internet site I put together a notebook based on the Dell Isnpirion 9300. These are the specs:

Inspiron 9300 Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)

Display: 17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen XGA+ Display

Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm

Video Card: ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X300 64MB HyperMemory™

Hard Drive: 100GB Hard Drive

Network Card: Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

CD/DVD Drives 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer

Wireless Networking Card: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)

It came out to about $1200. Will Avid Xpress Pro be happy with this? Cuz it's really even a bit over what I planned to spend.

Thanks

Richard, You'r not alone. They are here, like me, just silently watching and waiting. We've all got aour tails between our legs waiting for Avid to finally support HDV 24p.

Been to the Avid forms. Also been in touch with JVC. They are interested in this issue. Seems we also can't control the deck at all, same symptoms, over firewire from 4 feet away. I think control in our deck is SNAFU.

We, and quite a lot of post and broadcast facilities often run quite long stretches of 422 for remoting decks from control rooms to tape bays, etc. I haven't read it in a while, if ever, but the chief says 422 specs should be good to quite a bit longer than we are trying. Hence JVCs interest in ours not working I think.

Still testing and researching with JVC on this one.

Sean

Adi:
If you live in the US and you can wait, wait until a hot deal on a Dell laptop pops up. Sometimes there are $750US off Inspiron coupons.

Your user shows Israel for the location, so you may not be able to get such deals in your country.

thanks glen. actually i'm in new york and will be here until after christmas at the least.
dell models were actually the first ones i took a look at. i had a few questions and wanted to consult a dell representative. i talked a girl who clearly did not know what she was talking about (nothing to do with her being a girl). she would keep repeating things that had nothing to do with what i was asking. then i tried their new live chat on their internet site. it took forever. 15 minutes wasted and the rep on the other end did not help me a bit. all he was interested in where two things: if i'm a business, and if i will be the only person using the computer or not. so i called again. this time a guy answered. he knew less about dell products than i did from just surfing through their web site for 10 minutes.
afterwards, i read in a few places that dell's service was noticely deteriorating and that their latest laptop models don't seem to made as solid and robust as you might expect. anyway, i just backed away from dell.

HP was a refreshing experience. their rep was friendly, he talked normal not not like a recorded message, and he really helped me narrow the selection down to what i need and what i can afford. i read good reviews on the HP dv4000 and figured that's what i'll go for.

HP PAVILION DV4000 (NEW, 1 year warranty)

- Intel(R) Pentium(R) M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz) centrino technology
- 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (1x512MB)
- 128MB ATI MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(R) X700
- 80 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
- DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer Support
- 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG WLAN
- 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 1 expansion port connector, 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and 1 S-Video TV out
- dimensions: 14.11"(W) x 10.16"(L) x1.32"(min) / 1.67"(max)(H)
- weight: 6.45 lbs
- 6 cell battery (good for playing 2.5 hrs. dvd movie)
......... $1370.00

it's a bit over my budget and i'm still trying to find places to cut. so far i've made these minor changes. tell me what you think:

change Processor speed 1.73 GHz to 1.6 GHz
change 512MB DDR2 SDRAM from 1x512MB to 2x256MB
change DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW w/Double Layer to DVD/CD-RW Drive

that knocked off about $120. do you think i'm making a mistake?

thanks

Audio problem with Avid
 

Hello,

I'm using Avid Xpress Pro HD and I can't get any audio at all.

Direct Sound Audio and 1394 Audio is my soundcard I believe.

When I start avid up it says something about windows mixer not being configured and that I should check my Sound configuration settings.

Under the sound card configuration there is a record/input. this gives stereo mix and microphone as options. there is also a playback/output option that gives me wave, sw synth and cd player options. I have tried all these options but none of them give me any sound. I have also tried to use the windows mixer but it won't work.

any guidance would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

Do you have Windows Media Player 10 installed?

yes I do. is that good or bad?

James,

I think theres a setting in windows your'e overlooking. Sorry, I can't recall what it is.Also, did you check to see if that card is reccomended or has issues? www.avid.com for specs and a forum of helpful but grouchy professionals.

Hey Richard,

thanks for the reply. could you elaborate a bit on the windows setting? is it not related to avid xpress?

also when I play the video sometimes the audio comes on for a brief second and then stops again.

I've tried over at the avid forum but haven't had much luck.

thanks again.

Check your Windows audio settings by right-clicking on the speaker icon on your taskbar and select "adjust audio properties" - when you see the Sounds and Audio Devices box, choose Audio, then look at the panel under Sound Recording. You should see your sound card there. If not, maybe it'll show the name of another device, scroll to select the sound card. Hit Apply and try Avid again.
Sometimes our webcam changes these settings and I have to go through this checklist...

Robin

yes I do. is that good or bad?

That's a good thing. Sorry, I'm sure what the problem is - maybe a driver conflict with Avid?

thanks again to everyone for their help.

my sound card is a SigmaTel audio. It is the only option available for me so it is always applied.

how could I check if there is a driver conflict? does anyone have any more suggestions?

Activation on Liquid Edition 6
 

I was just wondering how many times can activation be done. I mean, I am about to get a more powerful rig for my LE 6 so all the hardware configs will be different. Am i able to activate LE 6 on my new system if I have already activated it on my older system which I intend to fit it back to my older LE 5.5. Thanks.