Avid MC 4.0 Coming at DVinfo.net

David Parks · September 11th, 2009, 10:01 AM

Introducing Media Composer 4, Symphony 4, and NewsCutter 8

I didn't see this coming. I don't know if there much if anything that is new though.

From the press release: http://www.avid.com/us/pressroom/avi...workflows.aspx

Eliminating timely transcode processes with the capability to mix and match different frame rates and resolutions in an open timeline within the same project.

If Avid has eliminated the need to transcode in software that is revolutionary, but i doubt that is the case. We'll see.

Gotta get back to work.

James Brill · September 11th, 2009, 11:08 PM

Support for Avid DNX Quicktimes in AMA linking would be grand.

David Parks · September 12th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Brill

Support for Avid DNX Quicktimes in AMA linking would be grand.

You would think that Avid would have considered it a no-brainer since DNXHD is their standard.

Perrone Ford · September 13th, 2009, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Parks

If Avid has eliminated the need to transcode in software that is revolutionary

Vegas has been doing that for 10 years. Nothing revolutionary about that.

David Parks · September 15th, 2009, 12:41 PM

More information on MC 4.0. The new timeline in 4.0 handles not only different resulotions and codecs but also framerates, all in real-time. So you can mix 24p and 30p and I assume 60p. This is very cool. (Sorry, and it isn't the same as Vegas because Vegas has no media management database to track. I know because i have Vegas here at work.)

See explanation below.

Splice Here

There is also 100 levels of undo, a bigger mix window, up to 16 tracks, and what they're calling transition preservation. Basically, if you have a fade up and a fade down on a clip, and you "red arrow' slide it around your timeline, the dissolves stay intact.

This also eliminates splitting a transition whe you edit a sequence into a sequence. This might see like a no big deal thing, but it really will help in long-form editing and commercials wher you're tracking 4, 5, or even in my case 15 different versions.

Cheers.

Mike Browning · September 16th, 2009, 08:04 AM

Still appears to be no real support for Canon 24F / JVC 24p users. Again, no surprise from Avid.

David Parks · September 16th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Mike,

That is incorrect. Avid MC has had Full JVC 24p HDV support since version 3.0 and Canon
24f support since 3.5.

Avid Media Composer Software

Native codec support
HDV
HDV (25Mb/s)
Native project formats: 1080i/59.94, 1080i/50, 720p/23.976 (with support for 24p material), 720p/25, 720p/29.97, 720p/50, 720p59.94
Capture over IEEE-1394, edit, playback, export to file without timecode (export not for 24p material)

Avid has done a better job of supporting a wide range of formats (except AVCHD). It is not an easy task keeping up with the plethora of different formats.

Cheers.

Peter Moretti · September 17th, 2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Parks

Mike,

That is incorrect. Avid MC has had Full JVC 24p HDV support since version 3.0 and Canon
24f support since 3.5...

Sorry David, but sadly, that's not quite correct. You can capture Canon's 24F as long as you don't capture timecode. For some people, this doesn't matter, but for others it's outrageous. This limitation obviously rules out any kind of batch capturing or logging. Everything has to be done on the fly and there's no going back to the source material.

And there are ongoing problems w/ JVC HDV in terms of audio drift (although I believe these issues are not happening w/ the 24P frame rate).

Christopher Drews · September 17th, 2009, 01:41 AM

We still looking at 500 bucks for the upgrade? Wow- Academic is only 295 for a full version... That is insanity. I remember when our company spent 40k on our Adrenaline system, although that was years ago at this point.

-C

David Parks · September 17th, 2009, 09:50 AM

It is insane:
If you're a student you get 4 years of free upgrades.

From the Avid website:

Just $295 for education + Free student upgrades
To empower the next generation of successful editors, Media Composer 4 Academic is just $295 USMSRP for students and educational institutions. Beginning September 30, 2009, students with academic versions of Media Composer software (versions 3.5 through 4 purchased on or after March 1, 2009) will qualify for complementary upgrades for four years from the date of software activation.

My first Avid Media Composer cost $75,000 and an SBA loan of $30,000.

Mike Browning · September 18th, 2009, 10:58 AM

David,

I acknowledge the support they *said* they added, but it's still very incomplete support, as Peter pointed out. It's like having a hamburger bun thrown at you in place of a full meal.

Also concerning the academic discount... you don't get a discount for the Avid i/o hardware. Students still need to purchase high-end equipment to implement their workflows effectively. I think it's more of a strategic move to capture a customer-base that is already turned on to Apple and Adobe. Just my own judgment of the situation.

Regardless, I feel I might be waiting this upgrade out - not much new - 3.5 satisfies my needs.

Peter Moretti · September 18th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Mike, I really think students don't need some form of Mojo to do their work. Full Screen Playback works pretty well.

Where Avid is really missing the boat for students (and many other users) is making the system requirements far too narrow. Students don't have Quadro FX video cards, but they probably have GeForce gaming cards. And many users have AMD processors.

David Parks · September 19th, 2009, 08:48 PM

Studio Daily Blog Avid Media Composer 4.0 rolls out, properly mixed frame rates possible?

Scott Simmons has a good review of MC 4.0.

We'll upgrade just for AMA. Scott makes some good points about mixed frame rates.

Cheers.

Bob Willis · September 30th, 2009, 09:35 AM

Media Composer - The World's Most Advanced Film and Video Editing System

and Mac or Pc.

Shaun Roemich · September 30th, 2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Moretti

Where Avid is really missing the boat for students (and many other users) is making the system requirements far too narrow. Students don't have Quadro FX video cards, but they probably have GeForce gaming cards. And many users have AMD processors.

Personally, I remember when you had to buy a fully configured system FROM AVID. In the mid tens of thousands of dollars TO START. There WAS no option to put a system together yourself. The only options you had were "how much storage?" and "what level of Media Composer do you want?"

AVID prides themselves on stability. That doesn't jive well with supporting "any and all" processors and motherboards.

Or perhaps I'm just old and crusty.

September 11th, 2009, 10:01 AM	#1
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	Avid MC 4.0 Coming Introducing Media Composer 4, Symphony 4, and NewsCutter 8 I didn't see this coming. I don't know if there much if anything that is new though. From the press release: http://www.avid.com/us/pressroom/avi...workflows.aspx Eliminating timely transcode processes with the capability to mix and match different frame rates and resolutions in an open timeline within the same project. If Avid has eliminated the need to transcode in software that is revolutionary, but i doubt that is the case. We'll see. Gotta get back to work. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

September 15th, 2009, 12:41 PM	#5
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	More information on MC 4.0. The new timeline in 4.0 handles not only different resulotions and codecs but also framerates, all in real-time. So you can mix 24p and 30p and I assume 60p. This is very cool. (Sorry, and it isn't the same as Vegas because Vegas has no media management database to track. I know because i have Vegas here at work.) See explanation below. Splice Here There is also 100 levels of undo, a bigger mix window, up to 16 tracks, and what they're calling transition preservation. Basically, if you have a fade up and a fade down on a clip, and you "red arrow' slide it around your timeline, the dissolves stay intact. This also eliminates splitting a transition whe you edit a sequence into a sequence. This might see like a no big deal thing, but it really will help in long-form editing and commercials wher you're tracking 4, 5, or even in my case 15 different versions. Cheers. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

September 16th, 2009, 09:17 AM	#7
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	Mike, That is incorrect. Avid MC has had Full JVC 24p HDV support since version 3.0 and Canon 24f support since 3.5. Avid Media Composer Software Native codec support HDV HDV (25Mb/s) Native project formats: 1080i/59.94, 1080i/50, 720p/23.976 (with support for 24p material), 720p/25, 720p/29.97, 720p/50, 720p59.94 Capture over IEEE-1394, edit, playback, export to file without timecode (export not for 24p material) Avid has done a better job of supporting a wide range of formats (except AVCHD). It is not an easy task keeping up with the plethora of different formats. Cheers. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

September 17th, 2009, 09:50 AM	#10
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	It is insane: If you're a student you get 4 years of free upgrades. From the Avid website: Just $295 for education + Free student upgrades To empower the next generation of successful editors, Media Composer 4 Academic is just $295 USMSRP for students and educational institutions. Beginning September 30, 2009, students with academic versions of Media Composer software (versions 3.5 through 4 purchased on or after March 1, 2009) will qualify for complementary upgrades for four years from the date of software activation. My first Avid Media Composer cost $75,000 and an SBA loan of $30,000. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

September 18th, 2009, 06:39 PM	#12
Peter Moretti Trustee Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 1,259	Mike, I really think students don't need some form of Mojo to do their work. Full Screen Playback works pretty well. Where Avid is really missing the boat for students (and many other users) is making the system requirements far too narrow. Students don't have Quadro FX video cards, but they probably have GeForce gaming cards. And many users have AMD processors. __________________ Avid Media Composer 3.1.3. Boris Red and Continuum Complete. Vegas 8.0c. TMPGEnc Xpress Pro 4.0

September 11th, 2009, 11:08 PM	#2
James Brill Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 299	Support for Avid DNX Quicktimes in AMA linking would be grand.

September 16th, 2009, 08:04 AM	#6
Mike Browning Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Golden Isles, GA Posts: 25	Still appears to be no real support for Canon 24F / JVC 24p users. Again, no surprise from Avid.

September 17th, 2009, 01:41 AM	#9
Christopher Drews Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 628	We still looking at 500 bucks for the upgrade? Wow- Academic is only 295 for a full version... That is insanity. I remember when our company spent 40k on our Adrenaline system, although that was years ago at this point. -C

September 18th, 2009, 10:58 AM	#11
Mike Browning Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Golden Isles, GA Posts: 25	David, I acknowledge the support they said they added, but it's still very incomplete support, as Peter pointed out. It's like having a hamburger bun thrown at you in place of a full meal. Also concerning the academic discount... you don't get a discount for the Avid i/o hardware. Students still need to purchase high-end equipment to implement their workflows effectively. I think it's more of a strategic move to capture a customer-base that is already turned on to Apple and Adobe. Just my own judgment of the situation. Regardless, I feel I might be waiting this upgrade out - not much new - 3.5 satisfies my needs.

September 19th, 2009, 08:48 PM	#13
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	Studio Daily Blog Avid Media Composer 4.0 rolls out, properly mixed frame rates possible? Scott Simmons has a good review of MC 4.0. We'll upgrade just for AMA. Scott makes some good points about mixed frame rates. Cheers. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

September 30th, 2009, 09:35 AM	#14
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	Media Composer - The World's Most Advanced Film and Video Editing System and Mac or Pc.