CORRECT ANSWERS
A common project workflow unfolds like this: ANSW✅✅1 Create the project (L1)
2 Input media (L2)
3 Prepare the footage and bins for editing (L3)
4 Create, edit, and re-edit sequences into a structured story (L4 + L5)
5 Trim the sequence(s) to improve pacing and timing (L6)
6 Finalize sound design and audio mix (L7)
7 Add titles and effects to solve problems, create magic, or add eye candy (L8 - L13)
8 Export the finished program for delivery (L14)
9 Clean up the system by managing and deleting project media (L15)
Resolution ANSW✅✅Before high-resolution rasters emerged, we identified SD and HD rasters by
vertical resolution — for example, 480p, 720p, 1080i. With greater-than HD rasters, we switched to a
horizontal resolution reference — 2K, 4K, 8K, etc.
Now, 1920x1080, Full HD (FHD) is close to the 2K spec of 2048 pixels. Yet no one calls it 2K HD. And
3840x2160 Ultra High Definition (UHD) isn't called 4K UHD, either.
DNxHD and DNxHR options appear when creating media during ANSW✅✅capture, import,
transcode, render, and export operations.
Third-party applications like DaVinci Resolve can accept and create media ANSW✅✅the DNxHD
and DNxHR formats.
Since Avid codecs are resolution-independent, the data rates vary. ANSW✅✅Frame size, bit depth
(8-, 10-, 12-bit, and higher), and subsampling (for example, 4:4:4 or 4:2:2) influence data rates.
DNxHR codecs also support proxy resolutions ANSW✅✅which can reduce the file size to 1/4 or
1/16 of its original size and facilitate easier computer processing.
Both DNxHD and DNxHR codecs provide a way to edit footage on a desktop or laptop computer
without connecting to ANSW✅✅an external RAID array or a network.
,you can store your projects in one of the 2 preset locations or in a custom location you define
ANSW✅✅Private:
Windows: drive:Users\user name\Documents\Avid Projects
macOS: Macintosh HD/Users/macOS login name/Documents/Avid Projects
Shared:
Windows: drive:Users\Public\Documents\Shared Avid Projects
macOS: Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/AvidMediaComposer/Shared Avid Projects
Why are project files so small? ANSW✅✅Because they only store metadata — text information —
and no video or audio media.
Media Composer stores Avid media in a separate location from the project ANSW✅✅External:
[hard drive]\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\
Internal (Windows): drive:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\Avid MediaFiles\MXF/
Internal (macOS): Users/Shared/AvidMediaComposer/Avid MediaFiles/MXF/
customize the Media Composer interface's overall look ANSW✅✅File > Settings > User tab.
Double-click the Interface setting and customize options like interface brightness and Highlight color.
To change project format: ANSW✅✅Go to File > Settings or press Ctrl + Shift + = (Equal sign)
(Windows) or Shift + Command + = (Equal sign) (Mac)
2
Ensure the Format tab is active
,3
In the Presets menu, select an available format
Never place the Avid MediaFiles folder inside another folder. ANSW✅✅Always store it on the
root level of an external drive or in one of the following locations on the system drive:
Windows: drive:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer
macOS: Users/Shared/AvidMediaComposer
Camera-native files ANSW✅✅the original audio and video files created by the camera. These files
exist in many formats such as R3D, ARI, MXF, MOV, MP4, JPG, WAV, MP3. Video and audio files you
download or export from another application also fall into this category.
When linking to camera-native media, Media Composer creates a link to the original file in its
current location and reads the file's current format. You manage camera native files yourself by
directly copying, moving, or deleting the files at the OS level.
If you move or rename the files, you'll need to relink them in Media Composer.
Media Composer relies on plugins to decode linked media and uses its built-in plugin to decode
common formats and codecs.
If you work with a camera that's new to the market, or just new to you, you may need to download
an additional Avid Media Access (AMA) plugin before Media Composer can read the camera file.
To download additional AMA plugins, go to Avid Link > AMA Plugins.
Avid-native media ANSW✅✅Media Composer creates Avid-native media — traditionally in the
MXF format — whenever you import, consolidate (copy), or transcode (convert) camera-native files.
Just a reminder, Avid-native media is stored in one of two dedicated directories:
External: Drive\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1
Internal: Windows: drive:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\MXF\1macOS:
Users/Shared/AvidMediaComposer/MXF/1
, A link between the clip in your bin and the media file on the drive is still created. And Media
Composer automatically tracks and manages Avid-native media. There's no need to download
additional plugins.
To open the Source Browser either: ANSW✅✅Go to File > Input > Source Browser or Tools >
Source Browser
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Right-click inside an open bin and select Input > Source Browser
Navigation pane (left) also includes 3 ways to display your computer's folders: ANSW✅✅Explore:
Shows all your system folders
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Favorites: Lists folders you tag as favorites
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Recent: Lists folders you used in previous sessions
Adding or Removing Folders from Favorites ANSW✅✅1
Locate and select the folder in the Navigation pane
2
Right-click the folder and choose Add to Favorites or click the Favorites button (star icon) at the top
of the Source Browser
3
With the favorite folder selected, click the Favorites button again to remove it from the favorites (or
right-click and choose Remove from favorites)
To use the Media Folder View button: ANSW✅✅Leave the button inactive to display a camera
card's subfolders — each represents a shot and contains a handful of files.
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Activate the button to display a thumbnail for each shot and tell Media Composer to treat the folder
as a media volume rather than a collection of individual files.