Hello everyone, I am working on a project where the footage was delivered to me as XDCAM .mov files. The person who shot the footage tried editing with Final Cut Pro and then ended up passing the project onto me. I now have a few VERY large files (please see image below for file info) and am wondering how to import them into Avid properly. At first I was just going to import them one at a time at DNxHD 145 but then realized how LONG it would take for each file to import. Not only that, but they would probably be so large and uncompressed that they would crash my system. Any suggestions? I was thinking of opening the files in Compressor and compressing them all using H.264 but that's also a time sucker. I also though of cutting up each .mov and importing them that way until I tried importing a test .mov that was only 177mb. When I tried to play the 20 second clip, it couldn't even keep up! Please, any help would be MUCH appreciated.  ---- Erin Gallagher

Specs:

MacBook Pro - Mac OS X Version 10.5.8 - Intel Core 2 Duo

Avid Media Composer 4.0.5

4GB RAM

Erin, I don´t think that a file with a size of 22 gigs is especially big, your file should be about 1,10 - 1,15 in length I guess.

You´ll need to bring it up to DNxHD sooner or later to get the best results, you could of course use a lighter codec for your first import but that will not save you any time or space in the long run.

I see that you are on 4.05, to use MC 5 and ama link it will save you time from the beginning but you will still need to transcode it.

So, just for you to buy one more external disc, my own projects are usually between 250 and 500 gigs.

You're right mjolnard, the file is only an hour and a half. However, today I pulled in a 3GB file (to test) and it was playing very stuttered. Like my Avid couldn't keep up with the footage. I mean, it looks really beautiful but it isn't playing well. If it's this bad with a 3GB file, I can only imagine how bad it will be with a 22GB file. Maybe I should create a 30i project and pull in the .mov's as SD? Or would that not work? Side note: The clients don't really care about the quality being perfect.

Where do you have your media files stored, not on the macbook I hope, and what connections are you using to your external disc

Nope, everything is externally stored on my terabyte drive, including the Avid project file. I'm using a firewire 6-pin to 6-pin.

Something is not correct with either your setup or your sys, a correct transcoded DNxHD 145 interlaced file should play very good on it, could you check your import settings one more time

Look on your internal drive of the system and make sure there are no files in the Avid MediaFiles folder. Also, how full is your external drive? Is there only one drive attached or two or more in a chain? Can you use a FireWire 800 connection if your drive supports it?

Michael

Can you upgrade to MC v5?  You could link to the files via AMA then.  

Oh my gosh, I've been so busy at Powderhouse I haven't even been able to touch my OWN Avid or this project. Sorry guys. Michael, you have probably hit the nail on the head. I only have 160 GB left on my drive and it's hooked up USB. I actually have to buy another drive in general so I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get one. Does anybody have any suggestion for a cheap FW800 cable? They're over 20 bucks at Microcenter, blech.

Kenton - I upgraded my 3.0 to 4 just a bit ago so I would have to buy the entire MC5 setup. I just don't have the money right now. I wish!

Erin Gallagher:

I upgraded my 3.0 to 4 just a bit ago

Since April 12?  

Erin Gallagher:

I would have to buy the entire MC5 setup.

If you have v4, you could get the v5 download for $300.  You don't need the whole package.

Nope, before April 12th. And I can't even afford the 300 bucks. I know, it's sad. I'll do it at some point!