Here is a simple problem which likely has a simple answer, but it is eluding me.  We have footage shot on a Sony 4K camera.  When importing the footage into Avid, Avid takes the video plus the 8 audio tracks from the camera.  I only have audio on one of those tracks.  Is there a way in Media Composer to specify how many tracks of audio to import and indicate which of the 8 tracks I wish to import?

Can you not AMA link?

Then subclip with just the tracks you need.

Then transcode?

Or Import (all 8 tracks) Select all the clips and use Modify to V1 and the Audio track(s) you want (A3 for instance) only 

You may have to use the Unlink option before Modiying) and Relink option afterwards.  (when you first try to Modify Avid will pop up a message box if you need to Unlink)

The Unlink and Relink have been 100% reliable for me here for years though I will probably still test on one file before doing them all.  It is a very simple and fast process.

For me this method has the advantage of not having to work with sub clips and transcoding.  The process is also completely reversible at any time in the future. The disadvantage is that even though you do not see any of the discarded audio tracks as part of  your clips their descriptors are still in your MXF folder. (hence the ability to subsequently Modify your clip back to using one or more of the "discarded" tracks)

or...

just delete the associated media for audio tracks 2-8 of the imported/transcoded clips. Advantage of doing it this way is that (on larger projects) with Avid producing nine files per clip, it doesn't take long to hit the MXF 1 folder limit of 4500 to 5000 files. I know Avid then creates a MXF 2 folder, but it just makes backing up the media all the more of a pain with all the unecessary files filled with silence.

Disadvantage is that you'll still have all the tracks shown in the master clip (albeit, most of them offline) which might be a bit annoying whilst editing.

Bruno

You might find this useful: http://24p.com/wordpress/?p=50.

Pat Horridge:

Can you not AMA link?

Then subclip with just the tracks you need.

Then transcode?

Coming back to avid after 7 years away, can anyone break this down for me? The media is on XDCAM Disc.

make a folder on hdd for your shoot.

make subfolders for each disc, copy discs. only XDCAM in this folder, store audio recorder ect seperately.

make a "collection" bin, ama link the top folder, all clips appear in collection bin.

unlink all clips (yes, offline) (crtl+shift+right click, MC 8.6: just right click)

modify clips-> set tracks. loose tracks 5 to 8 (always empty).

make a "delete bin", ama link the top folder again, your "collection" bin gets relinked.

consolidate "collection" bin w. option "Relink native Master clips..."

in the collection bin delete all .old clips

delete "delete" bin.

(even tidier? put all clips on a timeline, go settings-> audio->output-> and set from stereo to direct. spot tests for identical, empty audio tracks. supress tracks via unlink, set tracks, relink.)

sort "collection" bin by source path, redsistribute clips however u need them.

Awesome, thanks very much Lukas