Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Media Composer 6.5 - so what's new for RED workflow?

Steve Sherrick said:
The move to 64-bit seems to be a first step. I think Avid has mentioned that as they continue this transition, they will be implementing new features such as increased resolutions. But as I have mentioned before, not every editor out there wants to be cutting in 4K. .
Click to expand...

Steve
IMPO, Its not the CUTTING in 4K, its the ability to FINISH in anything higher than 1080 that makes other NLEs more elegant and modern solutions for many workflows.
 
BRANDON JAMESON said:
Steve
IMPO, Its not the CUTTING in 4K, its the ability to FINISH in anything higher than 1080 that makes other NLEs more elegant and modern solutions for many workflows.
Click to expand...
I guess this becomes market dependent though. Are most "Hollywood" movies edited and finished on an NLE? Are most TV shows done this way? They are usually conformed, graded, and sound designed/mixed outside the world of the NLE. And in my opinion Avid is the best when it comes to providing a solid workflow for doing this. Now, if we look at other markets and I agree they are plentiful and make up a far greater percentage than Hollywood, then it becomes an interesting debate. For example, say I want to do a project for a client that will be finished as a 2K master to be shown in their private theater on a 2K projector. For one reason or another I would like to stay within my NLE for the entire project and deliver a 2K master. All grading and sound design done in the NLE. Well, now I have a problem if I have choose to edit on Avid. It can't be done. So, I recognize that having the option to do it is the right way to go. What I can't say is where it is on Avid's priority list right now. I suspect that they are trying to solidify the foundation of their 64-bit version first and then will move on to adding features that bring the NLE in line with others such as PP.

One of the other things to consider about Media Composer is the backwards compatibility. They put a premium on being able to move projects back and forth between various versions of their software. Even with MC 6 I can still open a project I've cut with it in MC 5. Obviously I won't be able to take advantage of any new features when I roll back but the fact that I can open the project is an important issue for them. So when people say they are stuck in the 80s or are not willing to change their whole UI and throw a whole bunch of stuff out the window, some of that is probably related to legacy support and not wanting to alienate a lot of their diehards.

I think Media Composer is far from perfect. I actually think all 3 of the majors have issues. They could all stand to be better at many different things.
 
Steve Sherrick said:
One of the other things to consider about Media Composer is the backwards compatibility. They put a premium on being able to move projects back and forth between various versions of their software. .
Click to expand...


Yes, I've seen your prior posts that often add that paragraph.

For our facility, for just those occasions, we keep a hard drive loaded with an old OS and old AVID software.

Not a big deal and certainly not a reason to keep a product and its development firmly based in prior decades

IMPO- The future is never vested in backwards compatability..that is clearly a function of the past.

AVID neds to focus on moving FORWARD.
 
BRANDON JAMESON said:
For our facility, for just those occasions, we keep a hard drive loaded with an old OS and old AVID software.
Click to expand...
As do I. Not sure every facility does this or has time to do this but I find it's a good strategy, especially with Final Cut Pro.

Not a big deal and certainly not a reason to keep a product and its development firmly based in prior decades
Click to expand...
Sounds like something you need to take up with the developers. I agree with you that they should be thinking towards the future and perhaps I'm off base in thinking that they are doing so behind the scenes. But even if they are, it doesn't mean their vision of the future, your vision of the future, or my vision of the future are all the same. So, they need to hear feedback. I think in some ways they have shown future thinking with cloud editing but it all comes down to implementation and of course $.

IMPO- The future is never vested in backwards compatability..that is clearly a function of the past.

AVID neds to focus on moving FORWARD.
Click to expand...
Sometimes the past becomes the present. I could be wrong but I think there are some facilities who would disagree with you about backwards compatibility. What I do agree with you on though is that in order to be competitive in the coming years, Avid will have to continue to evolve and push the limits. It's hard to deny that people are demanding more for less these days. They want more from the products they buy and they want to pay less for them. Don't have to look far to see the products that have been affected by this. Some of the companies have survived, some haven't. Although I don't see Avid going out of business any time soon, they are vulnerable right now. They need strong leadership that is in touch with the industry as a whole. If the bean counters are in charge as has been suggested, well then they need to fight the necessary battles to make sure they are able to compete in this current landscape. On these last points, I have no knowledge of what happens behind closed doors at Avid. I have no idea what they want to do other than what has been presented publicly.
 
Steve,

Sadly, the creatives and the bean counters have both come up short. MC continues to have some egregious shortcomings and Avid continues to lose money.
 
I'm actually liking this upgrade so far. Pretty snappy with AJA hardware. New AMA workflow tools are nice and some little things that may have gone unnoticed.

I'm running it on a Mac Pro with ML 10.8.2.
 
I agree with v6.5 - some nice "little" stuff to be found, but I think that is the overall frustration by users over time, is lots of nice little stuff, but are getting behind on table stakes types needs such as resolution independence, color management, and such for the markets we play in, as well as new innovative functionality to meet next generation storytelling. The small things are usually finishing up functionality of previous features. For example, "Find" is a decent start as far as a feature - but needs a lot more to make it what it really needs to be for media and metadata management - the "hallmarks" of an Avid Media Composer.

Michael
 
I have found Avid version 6.5 to be amazing for relinking sequence metadata to RED files using a custom column of matching metadata in the Avid.
This same new 6.5 custom column relinking can be used for so much.

Here is an example of what the Avid can now do as far as relinking sequence metadata to new master clips. Tapeless workflows for online conform can take seconds instead of 40 hours of media management.

http://library.creativecow.net/freeman_scott/AVID-Framerate-Metadata/1
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top