Is Pro Tools 12|HD compatible with Media Composer First?

[V5V]

Does anyone know if I can safely install Media Composer First on a machine that has Pro Tools|HD 12 on it?

I have a 2016 MacBook Pro with Pro Tools|HD 12.8 installed. I do not have HDX or HD Native hardware. I use the built-in speakers or headphones for basic editing and a Core Audio interface for mixing.

I'd like to learn Media Composer so I'm thinking about installing Media Composer First (by "First" I'm referring to Avid's free version of Media Composer, not the order in which I will install it).

Having read a few threads in the past about conflicts arising from having both Pro Tools and Media Composer installed on the same machine, I took a look at Avid's site to see if this co-install is supported. I found references to which versions of Pro Tools play nice with particular versions of Media Composer, but the compatibility grid doesn't include MC First.

Can anyone provide a yay or nay on this? Am I better off putting my learning time into Blackmagic Resolve instead so as not to risk screwing up my Pro Tools install?

[seanbil]

Totally OT, but I'm sure that Avid is feeling pressure from DaVinci Resolve Studio after Blackmagic Design integrated Fairlight Audio into the latest version and lowered the price-point to $299. In my opinion, stick with DaVinci Resolve because getting used to Media Composer's quirks is not worth the next step of paying into the full-version "subscription". And the $299 price of DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio over its free version is very reasonable if you primarily need the 4k UHD + 120 fps support. Also, those inexpensive, full-featured editor suites in the sub-$100 USD range should be avoided at all costs because their output quality and workflow is absolutely horrendous! I don't believe there's a multi-platform, professional editor out there that competes with DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio's price point. IMHO, you're on the right track with Resolve, but not for the reason of possibly screwing up your PT install with MC|First! j/s

[V5V]

Originally Posted by seanbil

Totally OT, but I'm sure that Avid is feeling pressure from DaVinci Resolve Studio after Blackmagic Design integrated Fairlight Audio into the latest version and lowered the price-point to $299. In my opinion, stick with DaVinci Resolve because getting used to Media Composer's quirks is not worth the next step of paying into the full-version "subscription". And the $299 price of DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio over its free version is very reasonable if you primarily need the 4k UHD + 120 fps support. Also, those inexpensive, full-featured editor suites in the sub-$100 USD range should be avoided at all costs because their output quality and workflow is absolutely horrendous! I don't believe there's a multi-platform, professional editor out there that competes with DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio's price point. IMHO, you're on the right track with Resolve, but not for the reason of possibly screwing up your PT install with MC|First! j/s

I'm interested in Media Composer because that's what's used to cut the spots I mix. Competency in MC may allow me to speed up turnaround in those rare cases where audio dictates a change to picture, and who knows, may eventually lead to me getting work on the picture side if I get good at it.

Resolve sure looks like something I should be getting to know, though. It looks promising enough that I've even wondered if it could replace Pro Tools.

[climber]

Resolve does look interesting. I looked at the site but couldn’t tell if it allows you to use any audio plugins. Does anyone know?

[Southsidemusic]

Originally Posted by climber

Resolve does look interesting. I looked at the site but couldn’t tell if it allows you to use any audio plugins. Does anyone know?

They say you can use up to 6 VST plugins per channel using the audio accelerator card so i would assume that VST plugins can be used as usual.

[john1192]

Originally Posted by climber

Resolve does look interesting. I looked at the site but couldn’t tell if it allows you to use any audio plugins. Does anyone know?

i have the free version of resolve here .. plugins work !!! would have to do a full test but my initial tests were promising ..

[Wizzoboy]

Yes. you can install and use VST plug-ins. At the moment you are limited to using a maximum of 6 per channel. The Fairlight section of Resolve is still in its' early days but features are being added all the time. As an edit and grading platform, Resolve is excellent.

[climber]

Originally Posted by Wizzoboy

Yes. you can install and use VST plug-ins. At the moment you are limited to using a maximum of 6 per channel. The Fairlight section of Resolve is still in its' early days but features are being added all the time. As an edit and grading platform, Resolve is excellent.

thanks... looks like it will be well worth checking out. I'm currently using FCP X, but it's pretty awkward in many ways.

[seanbil]

Originally Posted by V5V

I'm interested in Media Composer because that's what's used to cut the spots I mix. Competency in MC may allow me to speed up turnaround in those rare cases where audio dictates a change to picture, and who knows, may eventually lead to me getting work on the picture side if I get good at it.

It seems like you have a long-term plan, so your choice (or lack thereof) for going with MC is understandable. I remember using MC in a studio years ago and recall the learning curve being pretty steep (having come from Premiere Pro). The best analogy that comes to mind is that Premiere Pro felt like Pro Tools while Media Composer felt like Reaper. Anyway, the only co-install information that I could find is probably something that you've already seen by now: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/c...d-Pro-Tools-11
PT 12.8 is supposedly compatible with MC v8.7.2 or v8.8.x so Media Composer|First should theoretically work, but I understand your hesitation considering how VCAs were recently broken in PT Vanilla. Sorry I can't provide any more assurance than that, and hopefully someone out there has some real-world experience on the matter.

Originally Posted by V5V

Resolve sure looks like something I should be getting to know, though. It looks promising enough that I've even wondered if it could replace Pro Tools.

Resolve's audio is far from being replacement for a full-featured DAW. It's capabilities, however, are on par with what you'd find in Media Composer and other video NLEs. What makes it particularly intriguing for Vanilla users is that it has surround capability. So a simple workflow would be to compose in Vanilla and to import those tracks into Resolve for surround panning.

I was thinking about installing MC|First a few months ago, but its list of disabled functions were far too extensive to make it worth my while to bother with the download. Hence, I went over to Blackmagic Design instead. Best decision I've made this year!

[V5V]

Originally Posted by seanbil

It seems like you have a long-term plan, so your choice (or lack thereof) for going with MC is understandable. I remember using MC in a studio years ago and recall the learning curve being pretty steep (having come from Premiere Pro). The best analogy that comes to mind is that Premiere Pro felt like Pro Tools while Media Composer felt like Reaper. Anyway, the only co-install information that I could find is probably something that you've already seen by now: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/c...d-Pro-Tools-11
PT 12.8 is supposedly compatible with MC v8.7.2 or v8.8.x so Media Composer|First should theoretically work, but I understand your hesitation considering how VCAs were recently broken in PT Vanilla. Sorry I can't provide any more assurance than that, and hopefully someone out there has some real-world experience on the matter.



Resolve's audio is far from being replacement for a full-featured DAW. It's capabilities, however, are on par with what you'd find in Media Composer and other video NLEs. What makes it particularly intriguing for Vanilla users is that it has surround capability. So a simple workflow would be to compose in Vanilla and to import those tracks into Resolve for surround panning.

I was thinking about installing MC|First a few months ago, but its list of disabled functions were far too extensive to make it worth my while to bother with the download. Hence, I went over to Blackmagic Design instead. Best decision I've made this year!

Thank you for your help with trying to sort out compatibility and your insights into choices! I appreciate your time and effort.