Avid editing tips

Instead of using the mode buttons on the timeline, set up workspaces customized for how you like each interface to look. Then use the command palette to map the workspace menus to the timeline or composer windows.

If you need to see the waveform on one track only, or adjust clip levels on one or two tracks, save a view labeled ‘Big A1/2’ or similar, with large track size and automation gain turned on. Don’t forget to first save a ‘normal’ view so you can switch back. You’ll probably need similar big views for at least the first 8 tracks.

Pressing Alt + C allows you to copy whatever is selected within a track (including In and Out points) to the Source monitor. The selected section can then be pasted in elsewhere.

Until recently, its not been possible to preserve the timecode attached to Quicktime files when importing and exporting from Avid.

Holding down Alt while clicking on matchframe allows you to retain In and Out points previously set in the Source window.

Holding down Ctrl on a Mac allows lassoing in the timeline. To calculate the total duration of a number of clips, highlight the clips in a bin and press Ctrl-I (Command-I on Mac.) The Avid console will appear, with a total duration for all the selected clips.

Holding down Shift when adjusting drop shadows in the Title Tool will restrain the drop shadow to 45 degree increments. Holding down Shift while creating shapes in the Title Tool will constrain shapes to perfect squares or circles.

To apply the same effect to multiple transitions or segments, do the following. Select either a transition or segment within Effects mode, and then lasso over the additional transitions or segments that you want to apply the effect to.

You can use Trim buttons to reposition video keyframes, rather than Alt-drag. In Advanced Keyframe mode, use Shift-Alt to move, as only using Alt will modify parameters.

When zoomed into the Record window in order to apply for example a Paint effect, holding down Ctrl-Alt (Command-Option on Mac) will turn the icon into a hand, allowing you to reposition the zoomed frame within the Record window.