Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 ReadMe

Transcription

1 a Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 ReadMe for the Windows XP Operating System IMPORTANT: Avid periodically makes Avid Assurance software updates and Customer Patch Releases (CPR) available for download on Avid.com at the following location: Please check the above site regularly for information on available downloads for your product. Important Information Avid recommends that you read all the information in this ReadMe file thoroughly before using any new software version. This document describes hardware and software requirements and provides any special notes that Avid feels are important for you to know. This document also lists known problems and limitations. For information about the applications that are included with your Avid Xpress Studio package (Avid Xpress Pro, Avid 3D, Avid FX, Avid Pro Tools LE, and Avid DVD by Sonic), see the ReadMe that comes with that specific application. Information might be added even after this ReadMe is complete. For the most up-to-date ReadMe, check the Knowledge Base at

2 Contents What's New in Avid Xpress Studio v Hardware and Software Requirements Hardware Setup and Software Installation Version Compatibility Upgrading your Software Avid ProTools LE Software Update Special Notes Avid Xpress Studio Registration Avid FX and Open GL Avid DVD by Sonic Avid Pro Tools LE Workgroup Support Shared Storage Support QuickTime Support PCI Bus and Avid Xpress Studio FireWire Cable Requirements Disable Automatic Software Updates Fixed in Version Known Limitations General Limitations Avid ProTools LE Avid DVD by SONIC Avid FX and Avid Xpress Pro Avid 3D and Avid Xpress Pro Suggestions for Optimum Performance Avid Online Documentation Accessing Avid Online Support Technical Support Information

3 What's New in Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 What's New in Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 has been qualified with Avid Xpress Pro v5.7 and Media Composer Academic v5.7. These are the new changes in the Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 release: Avid Xpress Pro v5.7 The last release of Avid Xpress Studio included Avid Xpress Pro v Since then, there have been a number of interim upgrades to the Avid Xpress Pro software. For a list of new features in the software, refer to the latest Avid Xpress Pro v5.7 Readme as well as the interim Readmes see the Avid Knowledge Base Avid DVD by Sonic New HD authoring and Blu-ray Disc output in Avid DVD by Sonic - Import HD assets/author HD titles - Transcode assets to MPEG-2 HD - Create widescreen and HD menus - Burn to BD25 Blu-ray Discs: Includes a transcoding tab and a BD-25 setting in the capacity pull-down menu. - Additional content in images, button objects, and frames sections of the palette. Avid FX Avid FX supports HD Formats. - This version of Avid FX supports 16-bit color depth. The effect is prompted to the Advanced Keyframe Editor in the Effect Editor window. Image Processing - 16 bit color support through AVX2 Updated UI - UI look and feel matches Avid editor buttons and colors - New composer window with integrated keyframe track makes it possible to perform many functions without accessing the composition timeline - Sticky windows option for easy layouts - Project settings and modeless options palette - Tab-based multi-composition timeline window 3

4 - Improved project window with media tab - Configurable shortcut buttons in timeline Paint Engine - Clone brush - Pressure-sensitive tablet support - Image based brushes with multiple layers supported - New spray, roller brush styles - Conversion to spline strokes Subtitles - Import EBU format subtitle files - Export flat movie with alpha channel - Import back to Avid for real-time playback Vector Spline tools - Raster to-vector conversion lets you scale, extrude and apply vector processing to any bitmap file - Motion path filter Optical Flow tools - Motion key filter automatically removes moving objects from a scene - Optical stabilizer to eliminate shake and jitter in handheld shots New filters - Color Match effect ensures accurate color and luma match from clip to clip - Halftone filter simulates offset printing - Median filter simulates paint styles - Extruded Image Shatter filter adds more 3D to this shatter effect - 4-point motion tracker added to most filters - Turbulence is used to distort an image based on a built-in noise map function - Noise map 2 generates more interesting noise than the original noise map - Color choker is used to blur and overdrive color channels Productivity - Consolidate Project feature 4

5 What's New in Avid Xpress Studio v5.7 Avid 3D - Improved render queue Lights, Camera, Action menus for simplified access to key controls Path menu for easily animating objects on a 3D spline path Highly animatable camera view with camera keyframe button, and camera type with locked camera interest (ensures camera is always looking at a given object) Control sets for titling, DVE, Deform and 3D Library, combining all elements for each workflow in a single place Quicksets for titles, making it easy to choose pre-built styles Floating materials editor for easy access to textures and lighting New keyframe editor with dope sheet control, simplifying creation and editing of multi-parameter animations New jump start tutorials help you get started with pre-built scenes and tutorials HDV frame format support Softimage XSI 5 compatibility Avid ProTools LE See the Avid ProTools LE v7.3.1 ReadMe on the Avid.com Knowledge Base for the latest information. 5

6 Hardware and Software Requirements The following section describes the Avid Xpress Studio hardware and software requirements. For the most up-to-date information about hardware and software requirements, as well as a list of qualified and supported platforms: 1. Go to 2. Choose your product (Avid Xpress family). 3. Click System Requirements or Specifications. Hardware Setup and Software Installation This checklist covers the major steps required to setup your system. To set up your system: 1. Read this ReadMe file completely. 2. Make sure your system meets the necessary hardware and software requirements. 3. Follow the steps in the Avid Xpress Studio Hardware Setup Instructions poster for information on connecting cables and devices to your system,. 4. Follow the steps in the Avid Xpress Studio Software Installation (found in the DVD case) for installing the Avid Xpress Studio software. 5. Load the NVIDIA drivers if necessary. CAUTION Both Avid Mojo and Avid Mojo SDIs are supported with Avid Xpress Studio 5.7. However, for the Avid analog Mojo, please make sure that the model number sticker on the back reads XX for full compatibility CAUTION When a newer version of any of the individual Avid Studio Toolkit applications is released, you must make sure that it has been qualified with the Avid Studio suite. Do not upgrade individual applications unless they have been clearly qualified. Information on whether an update is qualified can be found in the ReadMe for the update at 6

7 Hardware and Software Requirements Version Compatibility Currently certified release versions are as follows: Avid Xpress Pro v5.7 Avid DVD by Sonic v5.7 Avid 3D v5.7 Avid FX v5.7 Digidesign Pro Tools LE v7.3.1 Sorenson Squeeze Upgrading your Software Existing customers must first uninstall any existing Avid Xpress Studio software components before installing the latest version. To remove previous software: 1. Click Start > Control Panel. 2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs. 3. Remove the following major components: - Avid 3D - Avid FX - Avid DVD by Sonic - Avid Xpress Pro - Digidesign Pro Tools LE - Sorenson Squeeze - Avid Core Runtime - Avid DIO Runtime - Avid FilmScribe - Avid EDL Manager 4. Restart your computer. 7

8 Avid ProTools LE Software Update The Xpress Studio Complete installer will install Avid ProTools LE 7.3. Also note that the ProTools LE release is also available on DigiDesign's website Special Notes You need to know the following information before using Avid Xpress Studio. Avid Xpress Studio Registration New users must go to to register your Avid Xpress Studio product. Refer to the sheet titled Important Information for Avid Xpress Studio and Avid Studio Toolkit Customers. Customers upgrading from Avid Xpress Studio v5.2 or earlier will need to update their application key (dongle). Avid FX and Open GL The OpenGL feature in Avid FX has been disabled by default. If you would like to enable OpenGL, see the Avid FX ReadMe for information on the limitations and how to enable OpenGL. Avid FX and Dual Monitor Limitations with OpenGL Due to some incompatibility issues with OpenGL and Avid approved graphics cards, Avid FX may become unstable if you run the application on a dual monitor system with OpenGL enabled. If you plan on using your Avid FX plug-in on a dual monitor system, you need to do one of the following: With OpenGL enabled, you must display the Avid FX Composite window on the left-hand monitor. If you want to display the Avid FX Composite window on the right-hand monitor, you must disable OpenGL. See the Avid FX ReadMe for more information about OpenGL. 8

9 Special Notes Avid DVD by Sonic Avid Pro Tools LE In Avid DVD by Sonic, you must have sufficient temporary storage when encoding and burning your project. If the project is 5Gb, you need at least 10Gb of temp storage available. If you are burning a 25Gb Blu-ray disc, you need a minimum of 50Gb free space. To set the Temp Storage location: t Select File > Preferences > File Control. You cannot run Avid Xpress Pro and Avid Pro Tools LE at the same time. You must quit out of one application, before you launch the other. Avid Pro Tools LE and Administrative Privileges AAF Compatibility Avid Pro Tools LE requires you to have Administrative privileges for installation and operation. Avid Pro Tools LE only supports Administrator accounts. Standard accounts are not supported for installation or operation. For details on Administrator privileges, refer to your Windows documentation. AAF files created with Avid Xpress Pro v4.5.1 or Avid Pro Tools LE 6.5 or later are not compatible with Pro Tools LE 6.4.x and earlier. AAF files created with older versions of Pro Tools and Avid Xpress Pro (Pro Tools LE 6.4.x and earlier and Avid Xpress Pro 4.3.x and earlier) are compatible with Avid Pro Tools LE 6.5 or later and Avid Xpress Pro Avid Pro Tools LE and PCM Audio Files Avid Pro Tools LE does not support PCM audio files. If you plan to move audio files back and forth between Avid Xpress Pro and Pro Tools LE you should make sure that you do not specify PCM audio files in the Avid Xpress Pro Audio Project settings. It would be best to do this before you start creating audio media files in Avid Xpress Pro. If you already have PCM audio files in your Avid Xpress Pro project, change the Audio 9

10 Working with 32k Audio File Format in the Audio Project settings dialog box to a format other than PCM (for example WAVE). Then, when you use one of the Send To commands to export files to Pro Tools LE, Avid Xpress Pro automatically converts the files for the export. Avid Xpress Pro supports 32-kHz audio but the Digi 002 does not. To record or digital cut 32-kHz audio, you must disconnect the Digi 002 from your Avid Xpress Pro system. You can play back 32-kHz audio with the Digi 002 if you have the Convert Sample Rates When Playing option enabled in the Audio Project settings dialog box. In that case, the system performs an automatic sample rate conversion when it plays the 32-kHz audio. If you want to perform a digital cut with 32-kHz audio through the Digi 002, first convert the audio to either 44.1 khz or 48 khz. Workgroup Support Avid Xpress Studio is not supported in a the Avid Interplay and Avid Media Manager workgroup environments at this time. Shared Storage Support Avid Xpress Studio is qualified for use in a shared storage environment. The Avid Xpress Pro editing application can read/write media files to and from mounted volumes on the Avid Unity. The other Xpress Studio applications can save, copy, and move files. Note that Pro Tools LE does not support shared storage. See Avid ProTools LE for more information. Working in a Shared Storage Environment Note the following when working in an Avid Unity shared storage environment: Avid 3D If you encounter an AAF/MXF file generated from the editing application that appears in Avid 3D as Unknown Format try transcoding the media using the editing application. 10

11 Special Notes Avid FX AvidFX is an AVX plugin, and is compatible with Avid Unity. In some cases AvidFX can reference independent media files such as graphics, which should be stored locally. Avid DVD Avid DVD has two export workflows: A QT reference file can be sent to Avid DVD where it will be encoded to MPEG, and then burned to DVD. A QT reference file can be sent to Sorenson Squeeze where it will be encoded to MPEG, The resulting file can be imported into Avid DVD and then burned to DVD. All of these files can be saved locally. Avid ProTools LE Avid ProTools LE does not support shared storage. Therefore media that is located on a shared volume needs to be moved to a local drive for Pro Tools to access. If you open a ProTools session that has files located on shared storage, ProTools will identify the files and copy them to a supported local drive. QuickTime Support Avid tested and approved the use of Apple QuickTime version You must install the appropriate version of QuickTime from the Apple web site. This is not supplied by Avid. Updated versions of QuickTime will be qualified at a later date. Please see for further details. PCI Bus and Avid Xpress Studio The FireWire interface for the Avid Xpress Studio cannot be on the same PCI bus segment as any storage devices. Depending on your system, your PCI bus configuration can be different. For examples of different configurations, go to Avid supports the use of only a single device connected to a FireWire port at a time. 11

12 FireWire Cable Requirements The IEEE 1394 cabling standard requires that IEEE 1394 (FireWire) devices be within ft. (4.5 m) of the next bus connector. When connecting a FireWire device (drive, camera, or deck), your FireWire cable must not exceed this length. Avid products do not support the use of IEEE 1394 (FireWire) repeaters to boost or extend the signal to the device. In addition, Avid does not support any type of cable extender or FireWire hub between the Avid editing system connection and the Avid Mojo. If the Avid editing system does not detect a direct connection to the Avid Mojo, the editing system enters a non-operating mode. NOTE Not all FireWire devices are supported with Avid Xpress Studio. For the most up-to-date information regarding FireWire devices, see or go to the Avid Xpress Studio products page at and click Specifications. Disable Automatic Software Updates Avid cannot guarantee the compatibility of automatic updates of Windows XP, or any updates to system software components. For this reason, you should disable automatic updates. To disable automatic software updates: 1. Do one of the following: t Select Start > Control Panel, and then double-click System. t Select Start > Control Panel, and then double-click Performance and Maintenance > System 2. Click the Automatic Updates tab. 3. Deselect Keep my computer up to date. 4. Click OK. 12

13 Fixed in Version 5.7 Fixed in Version 5.7 Note the following fixes: The orientation of the menu background is no longer shifted on the burned disc The problem in BD menus where menus were being rendered at 720x480 (rather than HD) if an author had simulated the project before burning is now fixed. The subpicture delay no longer occurs on Blu-ray menus. You can now set audio or subtitle streams from a menu button. Invisible buttons are not ignored when creating Blu-ray Discs Subtitles are now rendered at the underlying video frame size. The subtitle offset in BD output problem is now fixed. Audio buffering for large QR movie files can now be successfully transcoded. Temporary files can now exceed 4GB even when the hard drive is formatted as NTFS. Chapter points on Blu-ray discs are now frame accurate. Both DLT and BD CMF output issues are now addressed.dlt output. Error when some DVDR discs were not being closed at the burn stage. Known Limitations This section describes known hardware or software limitations for your Avid Xpress Studio system. Also see the ReadMe that is included with each individual application. General Limitations --> Sequence exported as AAF may lose media files when multiple media files are referenced This problem occurs when your sequences include clips that reference multiple media files. When the sequence is exported as an AAF, with Copy All Media selected under Video Details, the AAF exports correctly. However, only the first media file (of the multi-file clip) is copied to the target directory. 13

14 --> PICT files exported as QT Ref may cause crash in Sorenson Squeeze Avid ProTools LE This issue may occur when a sequence or clip containing a PICT file is exported from an Avid editor as a QT Ref for encoding in Sorenson Squeeze. The file will load properly in Sorenson Squeeze but may crash when the Squeeze button is pressed. WORKAROUND: Export a.tif or.jpg file instead of a PICT file. --> AAF exports from NTSC progressive projects that contain video mixdowns requiring multiple files will point only to the last media file. This problem occurs when exporting an NTSC 24P or project with a video mixdown that links to multiple media files. When the project is exported as an AAF, only the last media file is relinked when the project is re-imported into ProTools. Avid DVD by SONIC --> Memory allocation errors may occur when the Avid editing system is running at the same time as Avid DVD. WORKAROUND: Avoid running both applications at the same time. --> When burning a sequence with a large audio track, the Avid editing system may hang. Send to DVD One-Step may fail with an audio encoding error or a file system error. WORKAROUND: Deselect Mixdown Audio Tracks in the QT Reference DV Codec Export settings. Mixdown the audio tracks in the Avid editor before exporting. --> 1:1 files when encoded may play as white frames. WORKAROUND: Transcode to another resolution. 14

15 Known Limitations --> Some timecode tracks are displayed with the incorrect timecode on the timeline, the Timecode Display sub-menu, or in the created.xml file. --> If you have a locator on the video or audio track of a 1080p24 sequence, you will not be able to create an.xml file. WORKAROUND: Do not use locators if you want to create an.xml file or remove them them before you create the.xml file. Avid FX and Avid Xpress Pro --> The system does not let you quit Avid Xpress Pro if Avid FX is open. You must quit Avid FX first in order to quit Avid Xpress Pro. --> When an Avid FX is applied in an SD 24p progressive project, it can create unwanted aliasing on the resulting clip. --> AVX2 Effects issues. The following issues only occur with AVX version 2. Avid FX that have been prompted to AVX 2.0 (by promoting to Advanced Keyframe Editor) may not display correctly in the Avid FX composite window. AVX2 is passing certain plug-ins an NTSC 601 Frame Size of 720x496, rather than 720x486. Therefore, some animation done in Avid FX may result in a jittery animation upon final render. If this happens, we recommend that you use the AVX v1.5 effect instead. Avid 3D and Avid Xpress Pro --> There may be intermittent hangs when switching between Avid Xpress and Avid 3D with the Avid Mojo connected. WORKAROUND: Disconnect the Avid Mojo before running the applications simultaneously. If you want to leave the Avid Mojo connected, then quit one application before launching the other. --> Avid 3D gets an error opening AAFs associated with certain resolutions created in Avid Media Composer. 15

16 WORKAROUND: Transcode to a different resolution. Do this by changing the Export setting in the Send To. --> For limitations and tips when exporting AAF and MXF files from an Avid editor to Avid 3D, see the Avid 3D ReadMe. Suggestions for Optimum Performance Background tasks can interrupt time-critical operations, such as capturing, playing, or rendering. Make sure that background tasks are not running while you are working on the Avid editing system. For a list that contains suggestions for ensuring optimum performance when working with the Avid editing system, see Suggestions for Optimum Performance in the Avid Xpress Pro v5.7 ReadMe. Avid Online Documentation All user documentation is installed with each application and can be accessed by clicking the Windows Start button, and selecting Programs > Avid > Avid Studio Toolkit > application name > Documentation. Additional documentation for each application can be found in the folder where you installed the software on your system s hard drive. For example, c:\program Files\Avid\Avid DVD by Sonic\Documentation. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your system to view the documentation online. We recommend using Acrobat Reader 6.0 or greater. You can download the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe web site. The tutorial and the effects reference guide require Apple s QuickTime application to view the QuickTime movies. You can download the latest version of QuickTime from the Apple Web site. 16

17 Accessing Avid Online Support Accessing Avid Online Support The Avid Knowledge Base is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Search the Knowledge Base to find answers, to view error messages, to access troubleshooting tips, to download updates, and to read/join online message-board discussions. To access Avid Online Support: Go to You can access the following information from the Knowledge Base: Latest ReadMe From time to time, information might be added even after this ReadMe is complete. For the most up-to-date ReadMe, check the Knowledge Base at Latest Supported DV Device List For a list of supported DV devices, search for DV Devices in the Knowledge Base. Latest Drive Striping Configurations When drive configurations are tested and when drives and software are released, the most up-to-date drive striping configurations are available in the Knowledge Base. Tech Notes and White Papers To access technical notes and white papers for your Avid product, search the Knowledge Base. 17

18 Technical Support Information Most products feature a number of coverage options. Avid Assurance service offerings are designed to facilitate your use of Avid solutions. Service options include extended telephone coverage, automatic software maintenance, extended hardware warranty, and preferred pricing on replacement parts. For more information regarding Avid s service offerings, visit or call Avid Sales at AVID ( ). Program availability and details might vary depending on geographic location and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or your local Avid Reseller for complete program information and pricing. However, if you need help locating an Avid office or Avid Reseller near you, please visit or in North America call AVID ( ). International users call

19 Copyright and Disclaimer Copyright and Disclaimer Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. Avid products or portions thereof are protected by one or more of the following United States Patents: 4,746,994; 4,970,663; 5,045,940; 5,267,351; 5,309,528; 5,355,450; 5,396,594; 5,440,348; 5,452,378; 5,467,288; 5,513,375; 5,528,310; 5,557,423; 5,568,275; 5,577,190; 5,584,006; 5,640,601; 5,644,364; 5,654,737; 5,715,018; 5,724,605; 5,726,717; 5,729,673; 5,745,637; 5,752,029; 5,754,851; 5,799,150; 5,812,216; 5,852,435; 5,905,841; 5,929,836; 5,930,445; 5,946,445; 5,987,501; 6,016,152; 6,018,337; 6,023,531; 6,058,236; 6,061,758; 6,091,778; 6,105,083; 6,118,444; 6,128,001; 6,134,607; 6,137,919; 6,141,691; 6,198,477; 6,201,531; 6,223,211; 6,249,280; 6,269,195; 6,317,158; 6,317,515; 6,330,369; 6,351,557; 6,353,862; 6,357,047; 6,392,710; 6,404,435; 6,407,775; 6,417,891; 6,426,778; 6,477,271; 6,489,969; 6,512,522; 6,532,043; 6,546,190; 6,552,731; 6,553,142; 6,570,624; 6,571,255; 6,583,824; 6,618,547; 6,636,869; 6,665,450; D392,269; D396,853; D398,912. Other patents are pending. Copyright 2007 Avid Technology, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are commercial computer software or commercial computer software documentation. In the event that such Software or documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to FAR (a) and/or DFARS (a), as applicable. Trademarks 888 I/O, Adrenaline, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, Avid Mojo, AvidNet, AvidNetwork, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, Avid Xpress, AVoption, AVX, CamCutter, ChromaCurve, ChromaWheel, DAE, D-Fi, D-fx, Digidesign, Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, DigiDrive, Digital Nonlinear Accelerator, DigiTranslator, DINR, D-Verb, Equinox, ExpertRender, FieldPak, Film Composer, FilmScribe, FluidMotion, HIIP, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, IllusionFX, Image Independence, Intraframe, is9, is18, is23, is36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move media, Marquee, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, Media Composer, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, Media Recorder, MEDIArray, MediaShare, Meridien, MetaSync, NaturalMatch, NetReview, NewsCutter, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM, Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi, rs9, rs18, Sci-Fi, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video Slave Driver, VideoSPACE, and Xdeck are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. inews, inews ControlAir, and Media Browse are trademarks of inews, LLC. Dell and Latitude are registered trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. NVIDIA Quadro is a registered trademark or trademark of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks used under license from Apple Computer, Inc. The QuickTime logo is registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Avid Xpress Studio v.5.7 ReadMe for the Windows XP Operating System Part Rev D March

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