Still new to Avid, coming from FCP background.

What I'd like to do is Export a QT Reference file and be able to open it with MPEG Streamclip to creat MP4s and various MOVs, etc.

I guess I'm having trouble understanding Avid's QT Refs compared to FCP. On initial export I ended up with separate video and audio files and the video file didn't play back at all.

Ive read that a video and audio mix down helps.

What are some best practices?

My project is 1080i XDCAM transcoded to DNX145 MXFs, with some low res imports. I read that this could be problematic - something to do with MPEG2? but I'm not certain I understand. The exports dont have to be HD.

I'd appreciate the insite for a newbie.

QT Reference files are a very fast way to export your sequences - or clips - to work with them using third party applications - such as squeeze, TMPGEnc, after effects a.s.o.

using the "master" settings, you'll get two clips: one with an audio mixdown, an a second one, with the links to the originally media! this MOV is quiet small: normaly just some hundret KB!

because of this, there are some important things:

• you can't QT ref export Long GOP media - f.e. XDCAM - you have to transcode it to DNxHD (or 1:1 or....)
• you have to render all the effects and CC's
• you can't use AMA linked media 

Ok, so if it results in two files how am I supposed to marry them together and export a different QT as a single file?

Is any of this possible in MPEG Streamclip?

What other apps?

Thanks.

the MOV file will have a link to the audio file and to your avid video (MXF) files. try to open the quicktime file with a quicktime player - you should be able to playback the video and audio - maybe it won't run smooth - depending on your system - but at least, you should be able to see and hear parts of it.

launch your encoding app and open the MOV file. you should have video & audio ready for encoding.

I think I got it, as the test files are KBs, but I have a few more questions.

Since we are using mixed resolutions is it best to do a Video (and) Audio Mix Down to new tracks, then Export those mixdowns as QT Refs? Is there any issue with this? (This is a full length complex cut with many layers, edit points, effects.)

And what do these check boxes mean:

- "Flatten video" and "Mixdown Audio"? Does this Mix down the tracks 'again' if they are tracked or is it just that these are for the reference files to be made seperately? (I'm checking them.)

- "Use Network Media References" - "Add Shares for Media Drives"

- "Use Avid Codecs" (aren't these already Avid codecs if the media in the timeline is Avid, like DNX? Would this convert a non Avid codec to an Avid codec in the reference file?)

- I've read that Audio drift can happen - which is not acceptable when sending out to the prods, so I can I make sure this doesn't happen?

Thanks for the help.