This five-day course combines our MC 101: Media Composer Fundamentals I and our MC 110: Media Composer Fundamentals II to provide the foundation for the Media Composer User Certification Exam.
You will first learn about the interface and basic editing techniques before moving on to trimming, fine-tuning the edit, adjusting audio, handling multi-camera editing, adding transitions, adding titles, and outputting your finished project. The training is hands-on and features project-based lessons in which you work on real-world projects ranging from extreme sports to dazzling documentary footage.
Once you know the basics of the editing tools, you are ready to learn the fundamentals of creating effects within Avid Media Composer. You will be taken through the basic effects-building interface; then you'll learn fundamental audio adjustments and effects, multilayered video compositing, tracking, stabilization, various retiming methods, and basic color-grading techniques.
Prerequisite:
- No familiarity with the system is necessary.
- Completion of a Macintosh introductory course or equivalent experience is required.
- A background in editing, production, or post-production is strongly recommended.
- No experience with Avid Media Composer is necessary.
Each student gets their own workstation.
Course Outline:
Introduction to Media Composer
- Launching Media Composer
- Understanding the Select Project Window
- Learning the Interface
- Working with Bins
- Creating a New User Profile and Changing User Profiles
- Personalizing the Application
Getting Started
- Creating a New Project
- Setting Up Your Project
- How to Input Video and Audio Clips
- Importing Media Files
- Preparing to Edit
- Saving Your Work
Building Your Sequence
- Overview
- Creating a New Sequence
- Working with Tracks
- Locating Audio Cues
- Building Your Sequence with Splice-In
- Editing with Overwrite
- Removing Material from a Sequence
- Essential Tools
Drag-and-Drop Editing in Segment Mode
- Understanding the Smart Tool
- Building a Montage with Drag-and-Drop
- Adding Narration with Drag-and -Drop Overwrite
- Editing Audio in the Sequence
Refining the Sequence
- Moving Segments in the Timeline
- Changing Shots in the Sequence
- Deleting from the Timeline
- Changing the Length of Timeline Segments
- Exploring Trim Mode
- Useful Tools
Introduction to Transition Effects
- Creating Transition Effects
- Modifying Transition Effects in the Timeline
- Accessing Effects from the Effect Palette
- Modifying Effects in Effect Mode
- Creating Audio Crossfades
Introduction to Segment Effects
- Adding Segment Effects
- Stabilizing Shaky Footage
- Using Automatic Color Correction to Improve the Footage
- Hiding Jump Cuts with FluidMorph
- Resizing a Shot
- Using Standard Keyframes
Combining Multiple Effects
- Nesting Effects
- Changing the Order of Nested Effects
Freeze Frames and Motion Effects
- Types of Motion Effects
- Creating Freeze Frames
- Creating Motion Effects
Creating Titles
- Title Creation Tools
- Quick View: The Avid Title Tool
- Create a Title
- Revise a Title
Exporting Your Video
- Exporting Your Video
- Exporting your Sequence
Technical Fundamentals
- Fixing Technical Problems
- Troubleshooting Missing Media Files
- Recovering Lost Work
- Deleting Media
Fundamentals and Beyond
- Fundamental Concepts
- Learning the Basic Workflow
- Going Beyond HD
- Working in 4K
- Creating a New Project
- Setting up a Project
Inputting Media
- Ways to Input Video and Audio Clips
- Using the Source Browser
- Linking Clips to Your Project
- Importing Media Files
- Importing Sequential Image Files
- Copying and Converting Linked Media
Preparing Dailies
- Prepping for the Edit
- Adding Information to Dailies
- Sorting the Bin
- Filtering the Bin
- Creating Subclips
- Cloning Clips to Multiple Bins
- Opening a Bin from Another Project
- AutoSyncing Picture and Sound
- Grouping Clips
Quick Editing Tools
- Editing from the Bin Creating a Stringout Sequence
- Storyboard Editing
- Cutting Down a Sequence with Top and Tail
- Using the Extend Function
- Using Markers
- Mapping Buttons and Menus
- Copying and Updating User Settings
- Quick Editing Techniques
- Creating a Stringout for Review
- Tennessee Park our Montage
- Improving a Montage with Split Edits
- Map the Keyboard of a New User
- Cutting and Recutting a Scene
Review of Basic Edit Tools
- Selecting Multiple Segments
- Alternate Ways to Use Sequences
- Finding Alternative Shots Essential Tools
Trimming Dialogue Scenes
- Understanding Trim The “Radio Edit” Technique
- Exploring Trim Mode
- Trimming On the Fly
- Creating Split Edits
- Maintaining Sync
- Slipping and Sliding Segments
Mixing Sequence Audio
- Mixing Audio Efficiently
- Setting Up for Audio Mixing
- Audio EQ Tool
- Keyframing Volume and Pan Changes
Working with High-Resolution Images
- Understanding Pan & Zoom Effects
- Exploring the Source Settings Dialog Box
- Using FrameFlex on 2K+ Clips
- Creating a Pan and Zoom Effect with FrameFlex
Creative Retiming Effects
- Review of Freeze Frames and Motion Effects
- Creating Motion Effects to Fill a Duration
- Creating Timewarp Effects
- Timewarp Preset Effects
- Creating a Timewarp Effect
- Using the Anchor Frame
Tracking and Blurring Objects
- Blurring Unwanted Objects
- Creating a Blur Effect
Introduction to Multilayer Effects
- Creating a Split-Screen Effect
- Using Advanced Keyframe Graphs
- Essential Tools
Nesting Multiple Effects
- Nesting Effects
- Changing the Order of Nested Effects
- Editing Inside a Nest
- Measuring Performance
- Adjusting Playback Quality
- Rendering Effects
- Understanding Expert Render
Creating ChromaKey Effects
- Different Keying Types
- Exploring the SpectraMatte
- Viewing the Matte Channel
- Cropping Out Garbage
- Adjusting the SpectraMatte
Animated Titles & Graphics
- Creating Titles with NewBlue Titler Pro
- Creating a Title
- AMA Linking to Real-Time Moving Matte Keys
Packaging and Export
- Understanding the Review Process
- Tools for Review
- Preparing for Output
- Packaging a Sequence
- Exporting a File
- Using the Send To Export Templates
- Exporting XDCAM Media
Managing Project Media
- Managing Your Media
- Deleting Media Files
- Understanding Consolidate and Transcode
