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AVID Study Guide

Terms in this set (177)

Where does Media Composer store the project files for private projects?
A) On the desktop
B) In the logged on users' Documents folder
C) In the Shared Documents folder
D) On an external hard drive
B) In the logged on users' Documents folder
Which button in the Select Project dialog box is used to navigate to the location of an external project?
A) The Private button
B) The Shared button
C) The External button
D) The Folder Browse button
D) The Folder Browse Button
Name the four principal windows of the Avid interface.
Project Window
Bin Window
Composer Window
Timeline Window
Which window serves as the central hub of your project?
The project window
What is a bin?
A bin is a container file that holds the assets in your project
How do you combine one open bin with another open bin?
Click the TAB at the top and drag it to the window that you want to combine it to and release the mouse
What are the two ways you create your own User Profile?
Go to "settings", "user profile" and choose "create user profile" and type a name in.
Launch media composer and when the select project screen appears, click "user profile menu" and select "Create user profile" and enter name.
How do you save changes to a Workspace?
Go to "Windows", "Workspaces" and "Save Current"
Which setting allows you to change the look of your interface?
Go to "settings pane" in the Project Window and click on "interface settings" to change the interface colors
What is saved during an Autosave?
Autosave saves your bins in your Project Folder and creates a backup in a folder known as the "Attic"
What is the difference between linking and importing media?
Importing copies the media files to Avid's standard media storage location while linking creates a connection between the Master Clip in the bin and the media file.
True or false: When linking media, you can remove the original source drive or camera card containing the media and your media will remain online.
False
Where can you get additional AMA plug-ins?
Most camera companies write their own AMA plug-ins. When a new camera is released to the market, their updated AMA plug-in goes with it. These can be downloaded by going to Marketplace Menu > AMA Plug-ins
What modifier must you use when dragging clips to a bin to link rather than import?
Hold down the option key
Name two ways to load a clip in the Source minitor
Double-click the icon in the bin (in Text View) or drag one or more clips from the bin
What function is associated with the space bar by default?
Play a clip or stop the clip
What is the value of using the J-K-L keys to control playback?
Efficiency
Name the default keys for marking IN and OUT marks.
IN - E or I keyboard keys (and ] button)
Out - R or O keyboard keys (and [ button)
How can you save your work?
Bin: Click on desired bin, hit COMMAND+S or File > Save Bin
All bins: Click on project window, hit COMMAND + S or File > Save All
What is the principle goal of the rough cut?
The principle goal of a rough cut is to give you a full assembly of a scene or video that focuses on the story structure and gives you understanding that there are many details to be polished
How can you view the audio waveforms of your source materiel?
Load clip into source monitor, toggle track/record, then do above
What is AutoPatching? How does it work?
Autopatching is a setting that allows you to automatically patch tracks based on the track activation. It works by allowing you to patch tracks without reaching for the mouse.
Disable TRACKS in the record column, enable the desired TRACK by clicking on the Record Track Selectors so that the source tracks will jump to the new enabled Record Track.
The following figure shows the waveforms for a music track but they are of little use because there is almost no definition in the waveforms. How can you make them more useful?
Using the track selectors, press COMMAND + OPTION + L
With which editing function(s) are you more likely to break sync -- Splice-In, Overwrite, Lift, or Extract? Why?
Splice in, it pushes down the stream material
What are the two ways you've learned about to ensure that you maintain sync when editing segments into the sequence?
Add/remove the same amount from all tracks.
Enable all tracks on which you want to maintain sync.
What do FF and RW do?
Jump the position indicator through the edit points of the sequence
Describe the process of backtiming an edit.
You mark IN and OUT points in the timeline and mark an OUT point only in the Source Monitor, the system automatically determines the start frame of the source clip
What is the difference between Lift and Extract? When might you use one or the other?
Lift removes the materials from the timeline, leaving a gap in its place.
Extract removes materials from the timeline and closes the gap.
Lift to avoid breaking sync, extract if you want it all gone
What is filler?
Filler is the empty space in the timeline used to keep a track in sync
What type of edit is performed by default when you drag a clip from the Source monitor to the Timeline?
Splice-In Mode. Or whatever the default is.
Look at the following figure. Why do images A and D appear identical?
It is a 4-Frame Display. By dragging a new shot into the middle of the existing segment, it will show you the same frame in A and D because the frames are adjacent to each other in the original footage. Splice-In.
Look at the following figure. With the Smart Tool configured this way, what determines the active tool while working in the Timeline?
The active tool is the one that is the location of the mouse pointer within the timeline tracks.
Name 2 ways to add audio or video tracks to a sequence?
1. Right click, new audio/video track
2. Command + Y/U
How can you enable solo on an audio track? What is the result?
You can enable solo by clicking on the "solo" button which will only play the selected audio track and nothing else
If the music is too loud, how can you lower the volume of just the music?
Use the Clip Gain. To make adjustments, click the FADER button and drag it to make adjustments. Lower it.
Why is Overwrite mode well-suited for editing audio?
It leaves everything else in the timeline locked in place.
Why are audio waveforms useful to see while editing?
It allows you to see if your audio is too loud or quiet (peaks/lows)
Name one method or shortcut to adjust the clip gain in the Timeline besides dragging the mini-fader.
Click and use up/down arrow keys
What is Digital Audio Scrub? How is it enabled?
Digital Audio Scrub plays the audio associated with each frame as you move the position indicator through the sequence. It is enabled by holding the shift key while dragging through the Timeline. To temporarily activate Digital Audio Scrub, hit the Caps Locks to toggle Digital Audio Scrubs on and off.
Describe the steps to overwrite a segment to the Timeline using drag-and-drop.
Use the red arrow and disable the yellow arrow (Splice-In) within the segment tool then drag
How can you remove a shot from the sequence and leave a gap (or filler)?
By using the red arrow, or the lift/overwrite segment mode, drag the segment to a new location and release
What does this button do? (Looks like two reels with a line going up the middle between them)
The Add Edit Button lets you divide segments in the Timeline
What does this button do? (Three black bars connected by three small lines)
The Line Selection Toggle Button lets you automatically select the audio segments of a video segment which is helpful when you move, trim or delete the video segment as it does it to the audio as well.
Why is the yellow segment mode often well-suited for video and the red for audio?
Yellow arrow (splice-in) is suited for video because you can move shots from location to location (or within the middle of another segment) without gaps in your timeline.
Red arrow (lift/lower) because everything stays locked in place as you move. And audio will often have empty spaces so gaps are not a concern.
What is the danger of performing a Ripple Trim?
It moves all material and creates sync issues
What are Sync Locks? How can you enable/disable them?
Sync Locks are locks that sync the relationship between audio and video on any tracks that they are enabled.
Click the sync lock button on each track you wish to lock together or click the sync lock button on the TCI track to lock all tracks
What is the shortcut for Undo?
COMMAND + Z
What are match-frame edits? How can you remove them?
When you cut a segment in half but the divide doesn't matter because you didn't move the clips
To remove: Select the tracks with the edits, mark IN and OUT points around the area with edits you want to remove. Timeline > Remove Match Frame Edits
What impact does Ripple Trim have on a track and/or the sequence?
It shortens the segment without opening a gap, but moves downstream material and can cause sync issues
What are the steps to remove a segment from the sequence using Lift/Overwrite Segment Mode? What is the result?
Set IN and OUT points around track, highlight and press delete. It gets removed and leaves a gap.
You try to remove an audio segment from the sequence using either the yellow or red Segment Mode arrows, but the first time you hit delete, the segment remains in place. The second time, it is removed as expected. Why?
Because it deletes the fader the first time.
If you want to add multiple dissolves to a series of cut points using the Quick Transition dialog box, how do you identify the cuts that will get the dissolves?
Select the tracks you want to apply the dissolves to, mark IN at the first cut on the timeline and an OUT point on the last cut on the timeline, move the position indicator near an edit point and open the quick transition dialog box. Adjust duration and position to your liking.
What is a handle, and why is it important in the context of effects?
A handle is the extra media beyond what is edited into the sequence for the transition.
It is important because it is used to create transitions. Quick transitions uses the handle to determine the longest transition available to you.
What must you do to ensure a Quick Transition is added only to a video cut point, and not an audio cut point?
Make sure only the Video (V) track is enabled and the audio tracks are all disabled in the Track Selector Panel.
True or False: The Transition Corner display shows the first, middle, and last frames of the A-side and B-side of the transition.
True
True or False: Dragging a transition from the Effect Palette onto an existing transition in the Timeline replaces the existing transition.
True
True or False: To save an effect template, you drag the effect icon from the upper-left corner of the Effect Editor into the Effect Palette.
False (Drag to a bin to save it there)
What function must be enabled before dragging a transition effect in the Timeline to change its duration or position?
Transition Manipulation
How do you apply an effect to multiple segments?
Mark in, left/right, double click on effect. Or add lasso.
Once a clip is stabilized, how can you compare the stabilized result with the original video?
Go to the Effect Editor and disable the active parameters (scaling)
How do you "lock down" a shot with the Stabilize effect?
Drag the stabilizing effect from the Effect Palette onto a segment in the timeline, let the effect process but don't close the Tracking Tool window so you can toggle off the Steady Glide button.
When using Automatic Color Correction, what is the suggested order of corrections in HSL?
Auto Contrast
Auto Balance
When using Automatic Color Correction, what is the suggested order of corrections in Curves?
Auto Balance
Auto Contrast
Under what category is the Fluid Morph located in the Effect Palette?
The Illusion FX Category
Is Fluid Morph a real time effect? What are the two ways you can know this?
No.
It lacks a green dot by it and it has to be rendered
What do the Enlarge and Reduce buttons do in the Effect Preview monitor?
Enlarge zooms in while reduce zooms out of viewing center
Using a Resize effect, how can you scale a clip in the Effect Preview monitor but maintain the aspect ratio?
Go to the Effect Editor and check the Fix Aspect Ratio box and drag the image by the top right manipulation handle
How do you delete a keyframe?
Click and delete
How do you add an effect to a clip in the Timeline on top of an existing effect?
Open the Effect Palette, find the new effect, hold down the option key and apply a segment effect
What is that procedure called?
Autonesting
What are the two different methods you can use to view the effects inside of a nest?
Simple Nesting View & Expanded Nesting View.

Park clip with nested effect, make sure track is active, click the "step-in" button as many times as needed.

Park on clip with nested effects, make sure track is active, OPTION + click on step-in button to view the effects
What is the advantage of simple nesting?
The video monitor follows you as you travel into the nest so you can see what is happening at a given level of the nest without seeing the effects above that level. It allows you to see that specific clip and all of the effects one at a time. No audio or sequence.
What is an advantage of expanded nesting?
You can always see the composited result of all effects in the nest regardless of where you are in the nest; you can hear audio when you play, you can access material before and after your effect nest. You can see before and after in the sequence.
How do you change the order of effects within a nest?
Park on a clip that is autonested with effects and drag the effect icon in the effect editor to change its position in the nest.
What are the three types of motion effects?
Freeze Frames, Motion Effects and Timewrap Effects
Why is it important to set the freeze frame render type?
If the render type is not set correctly, you can end with a lower-resolution result, visible flicker within what was supposed to be a frozen frame or a softer image
How many marks in total are required to create a Fit to Fill motion effect?
4 (2 in the Source and 2 in the Timeline)
What are three types of rendering methods for creating motion effects? When should you use each one?
Duplicated Field: This is the default one (when you can't render)
Both Fields: This is used for slowing down a clip
Interpolated Field: This is used for motion
How do you add a video track to the Timeline? Why is this frequently necessary when adding titles?
Right-click on the Timeline and choose New Video Track Mono or OPTION + U. Because you need an empty track to order to insert the overlay. This is necessary because its usually not empty.
How do you open the Avid Title Tool?
Select Clip > New Title
Which tool in the Title Tool allows you to add or select text and draw text boxes?
The Arrow
How do you create a drop shadow on your text?
Click on the rounded rectangle in the DROP SHADOW controls and move it or type in the text field under the Drop Shadow controls
List the steps to revise a title.
Right-click on title segment in the timeline and select "Edit Title".
Click "no" if promote to marquee pops up.
Title Tool opens and the current title from the Timeline is loaded.
Make any changes, then close the Title Tool and save existing title.
In which menu can you find the Export command?
File -> Output
In which window can you change the codec used to export the video?
Export options first then Format options
Which option in the Export Settings window must be selected before you can access the Format Options?
Custom
Which Color Levels option should be used when exporting a video for playback on a computer?
Scale from Legal to Full Range
Your sequence contains audio, but the QuickTime movie you just exported does not. Which two Export Settings could have caused this?
A) Use Enabled Tracks settings
B) Video Compression setting
C) Audio Bit Depth setting
D) Framze Size setting
E) Video and Audio radio buttons
A) Use Enabled Tracks settings
E) Video and Audio radio buttons
What is the difference between a QuickTime movie and a QuickTime Reference file?
QuickTime Reference is just an empty container file that holds no media of its own but references the original media files used by Media Composer. A QuickTime Movie holds media of its own and can be sent to people on a different computer.
Describe the process to create a new export template.
1.) In the export as window, click "options"
2.) Customize as you wish
3.) Click "Save As"
4.) Rename and click "Okay"
5.) Click "Save"
What does "media offline" mean?
When Media Composer can't find the corresponding media file on any device. They are not linked to media files.
Name three reasons media can be offline
The drive crashed
The drive is disconnected
The files were moved/renamed
Which function can be used to find the media for a clip?
A) Match Frame
B) Find Bin
C) Find
D) Reveal File
D) Reveal File
True or False. The master clip in your bin contains the actual video and audio media.
False
True or False. If you delete a master clip from the Media Tool, you will delete the media file.
False
Some of your media is offline. Which is a good troubleshooting step?
A) Delete the master clips
B) Delete the MXF folder
C) Delete the database files
D) Delete the sequence
C) Delete the database files
Name the function that is used to reconnect to linked media files, and where it is found in the interface.
Relink
Highlight media, fast menu for bin -> relink
Name the media database files (the first three letters).
MSM
In which folder ("directory") are the media database files found? (Name the full directory path.)
Media Drive, Avid Media Files, MFX-1
Discussion: Which is more valuable in a project -- the media or the metadata (clips or sequences)?
Depending on the stage of the post-production work, the value of the work represented by the project metadata may rival or exceed that of the original media
How do you snap a clip in the timeline?
Drag and use COMMAND
What is the handle in the Trimming and Transition Effects?
The extra footage
In Trim Mode, what does space bar do by default?
Play Loop
Button to Add Edit
Looks like an "I"
What is the Quick Transition button on the keyboard?
Backslash (\)
Quick Transition button looks like
A dissolve/gradiant
How do you save an effect template?
Drag effect icon into bin from Effect Editor (not Timeline)
How do you change the color used in Dip To Color?
Effect Editor
Effect Mode Button looks like
2 sliders
How do you apply a transition to every edit?
Use IN and OUT points
Button for deleting effects is the
Ghostbuster button
If you're adding a second effect and want to add it on top of the first effect, you
Hold down ALT and drag
How do you know that Fluid Morph is not a real time effect?
The blue dot
How do you resize in the Effect Preview Window?
Drag at the upper right hand corner
4 main windows
1) Composer
2) Project
3) Bin
4) Timeline
Three different views in the bin are
1) Text view
2) Script view
3) Frame view
What are the three ways you change the represented icon while in Frame View?
1) Use space bar
2) Press 1, 2, 3 or 4
3) Use J-K-L keys
In the Select Project Window, which button do you use to navigate to an external file?
Browse File Button (folder button)
In Source Browser, use
Import Media
Can you change media names in the Source Browser?
No
In the Source Browser, can you change any additional metadata (clips and sequences)?
No
In the Source Browser, can you preview a media file before importing
Yes
In the Source Browser, can you group by color?
No
How to preview effect in Simple Nest?
Step In and Step Out
How to preview the Expanded Nest?
Double click
Disadvantage of Simple Nest
Can't view them all at once
No audio
QuickTime Reference is?
Points to your media, contains NO media
How do I find a deleted sequence?
Attic
How do you find media for a clip in the bin?
Right click, Reveal File (shows path)
With offline media, what can you delete with hopes of getting media back?
Databases
Project Window, Settings Pane and 3 types of windows
1) User
2) Project
3) Site
Where are the User Settings located?
In your User Profile
Where are Project Settings stored?
In the Project Folder
Site settings stored where?
In the computer
Where do you go to export User Files?
1) Underneath User Profile, settings Window
2) Project Selector Window
What is saved in the Attic during an Autosave?
Copies of your bins
Clip Gain controls what?
Volume
Digital Scrubbing/Audio Scrubbing
Hold down SHIFT/CAPS LOCK, drag and hear audio
Enable Waveforms
Disclosure triangle, waveforms button
Make waveforms smaller
ALT + COMMAND + K (just display, not volume)
What on the keyboard eats 1 frame in Trim Mode?
< > or , .
What key on the keyboard eats more than 1 frame in Trim Mode?
? and M
What does the green dot mean?
Doesn't have to be rendered, Real Time
What is the order of Automatic Color Correction for HSL?
Contrast, Balance
What is the order of Automatic Color Correction for Curves?
Balance, Contrast
Step In and Step Out buttons
Arrows on the bottom left of the Timeline
Where to go look at the Format of the Project?
Project Window, Format tab
How do you move clips from bin to bin?
ALT + Move = copies files
Just drag = moves it
When you make a new title, what is the background?
Frame that play head is parked on
Color levels if playback is on computer?
Scale from Legal to Full
Color levels if playback is for TV?
Keep as Legal
How to customize the layout of your interface?
Windows + Workspaces
How do you load clip to composer
Double-click
Drag icon
Keyboard keys for IN and OUT?
I, O, E, R, and T
Insert arrow color is
Yellow
Removed function that is yellow is called
Extract
What is the red arrow for putting in Timeline?
Overwrite
What is the red arrow for removing footage from the Timeline?
Lift
How do you know if Lift worked?
Leaves gap (filler)
How many edit points do you need?
3
If you don't mark IN and OUT in the source monitor, where does it cut the clip?
The blue playhead and end of clip
Backtiming an edit
Put IN and OUT in Source Monitor and OUT mark in the sequence
Linear Motion Effect Icon looks like
A slanted frame
How do you nudge the title tools on the keyboard?
< > , .
Icon for Frame View?
4 boxes
Icon for Text view?
Big box full of small lines
Icon for Script View?
3 boxes and 3 black rectangles
To combine bins
Drag them up to each other
What do the J-K-L keys do?
Play reverse, stop, and play forward
How do you do a slow reverse on the keyboard?
Hold down K + J
How do you do a slow fast-forward on the keyboard?
Hold down K + L
How do you snap back?
ALT + COMMAND
How do you snap forward?
COMMAND
What are the 2 ways to adjust the gain?
1) Audio Mixer, adjust slider/up-down keys/type in number
2) Enable Clip Gain, slider pops up, adjust slider/up-down keys/type in number
In Trim Mode, what keyboard shortcut lets you pick the side that you're editing?
P and { } [ ]
How do you enter Trim Mode on the keyboard?
U
What do you need to change length of dissolve in the Timeline?
Transition Manipulation in the Smart Tool
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