PT 11 video and MXF files using Black Magic cards

[paulo m]

We have now start gradually to update our machines to PT11. I´m pleased to verify that video playback plays well with MXF video files generated in Media Composers, something we had lost when we had to ditch our V10´s.

PT11 opens AAF´s exported in Media Composers with video and audio that link to MXF files, stored in an AVID Isis 5000. So no need to copy the video files at all into the local machine or to the Isis workspaces attached to the PT machines.
The video gets streamed in real time from the Isis 5000 with no problems.
No quicktime workflow involved as in PT10, unless you open a .mov of course.

We are using Black Magic Decklink Studio cards in all machines. PT 11 recognises the card and opens the BM´s preferences menu directly from the video track header in PT.

So far so good, apparently and on first trials, it all works as promised, everything that plays in MC plays in PT 11 with an approved video interface, in our case BM cards.

[MIKEROPHONICS]

You may find some issues if you send stuff back to interplay

[paulo m]

Well, we don´t have Interplay there yet, but maybe it´s something that may be in the plans for the next months. That or another manufacturer´s full tapeless system, I´m not sure yet.

Anyway, I would find interesting if you could detail a bit on the type of issues you are experiencing after the files leave PT and are uploaded to the Interplay system for ingestion and distribution. Thanks

[MIKEROPHONICS]

Will do - but will let Avid UK know first (only polite of me)

[Simon Sherbourne]

Hi Mike, what issue are you seeing exporting to Interplay? Cheers.

[MIKEROPHONICS]

Hi Simon

I am no interplay guru - just a jobbing freelancer thrown in at the deep end, so my comments are feedback without having read any manuals etc so may be out of bonk....but here are things I have noticed in PT11 HDX with Isis/Interplay and the following workflow.....

Sequence is imported to PT11 from MC/Isis and mixed. A "pre watershed" version is also required (where we have to take any profanities out for before 9pm TX), so the sequence is copied from 01:00:00:00 to 03:00:00:00, the post watershed mixes are copied to a new set of tracks, renamed PRE watershed, consolidated to make new regions. The profanities are then removed by editing the source tracks and backfilling, then the mix is destructively re-recorded at the appropriate moment.

Problems are that:

1) the editor often doesn't create his sequence to be longer than an hour, so when you export all the pre and post watershed mixes and M&Es, the audio timeline is longer than the sequence - so "computer says no!". Which seems a bit daft. Why can't the audio mixer's AAF export export into blank space?

2) If the Pro Tools mix is not cut to exactly a frame boundary then Interplay gets loads of new weird orphan files sent and things go wonky.

3) If someone has checked the mixes in to interplay, and then an amendment is required - say for instance a foolish audio mixer had missed a swear word (don't do it - apparently OFCOM gets jolly baity), then he would open his PT session, make the changes and re-submit the files. Interplay then thinks it has the files already, so you delete them from ISIS and resend them - sadly this doesn't work as Interplay seems to think it still has them.

cheers