MC 101/110 - Media Composer Fundamentals I and II

Course Description

This 5 day course combines MC 101 and MC 110 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 multicamera 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.

Who Should Attend

• Producers
• Editors
• Assistant Editors
• Multimedia Producers

Prerequisites:

• Practical working knowledge of Mac OS X
• A background in editing, production, or post-production is strongly recommended

Course Outline:

Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: 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

Lesson 2: 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

Lesson 3: 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

Lesson 4: 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

Lesson 5: 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

Lesson 6: 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

Lesson 7: 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

Lesson 8: Combining Multiple Effects

• Nesting Effects
• Changing the Order of Nested Effects

Lesson 9: Freeze Frames and Motion Effects

• Types of Motion Effects
• Creating Freeze Frames
• Creating Motion Effects

Lesson 10: Creating Titles

• Title Creation Tools
• Quick View: The Avid Title Tool

Lesson 11: Exporting Your Video

• Exporting Your Video

Lesson 12: Technical Fundamentals

• Fixing Technical Problems
• Troubleshooting Missing Media Files
• Recovering Lost Work
• Deleting Media

Lesson 13: Fundamentals and Beyond

• Fundamental Concepts
• Learning the Basic Workflow
• Going Beyond HD
• Working in 4K
• Creating a New Project
• Setting up a Project

Lesson 14: 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

Lesson 15: 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

Lesson 16: 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

Lesson 17: Cutting and Recutting a Scene

• Review of Basic Edit Tools
• Selecting Multiple Segments
• Alternate Ways to Use Sequences
• Finding Alternative Shots
• Essential Tools

Lesson 18: 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

Lesson 19: Mixing Sequence Audio

• Mixing Audio Efficiently
• Setting Up for Audio Mixing
• Audio EQ Tool
• Keyframing Volume and Pan Changes

Lesson 20: 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

Lesson 21: 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

Lesson 22: Tracking and Blurring Objects

• Blurring Unwanted Objects
• Creating a Blur Effect

Lesson 23: Introduction to Multilayer Effects

• Creating a Split-Screen Effect
• Using Advanced Keyframe Graphs
• Essential Tools

Lesson 24: Nesting Multiple Effects

• Nesting Effects
• Changing the Order of Nested Effects
• Editing Inside a Nest
• Measuring Performance
• Adjusting Playback Quality
• Rendering Effects
• Understanding ExpertRender

Lesson 25: Creating ChromaKey Effects

• Different Keying Types
• Exploring the SpectraMatte
• Viewing the Matte Channel
• Cropping Out Garbage
• Adjusting the SpectraMatte

Lesson 26: Animated Titles & Graphics

• Creating a Title
• AMA Linking to Real-Time Moving Matte Keys

Lesson 27: 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

Lesson 28: Managing Project Media

• Managing Your Media
• Deleting Media Files
• Understanding Consolidate and Transcode