Category Archives: ALL Tutorials

Ultra Slow Motion in Avid Media Composer using Mixed Frame Rates

Here’s a short tutorial on how to create super slow motion effects in Media Composer.

This may save you a lengthy process of having to process the frames in a different software package such as Adobe After Effects.

A couple of short notes that were not mentioned in this tutorial.

For this to work, you need to a video clip that exceeds your project’s frame rate. If you want to follow this tutorial on your own, here is a copy of the media used.

Slow Motion Clip 240 fps.

*If you are linking to clips directly as shown in the video, you will need to transcode the clip(s) to managed media in order to export a video.

If you need assistance on how why it’s important to transcode linked clips to managed media, you can watch the tutorial below.

Using the Source Browser Window

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Using the Source Browser Window in Avid Media Composer

The Source Browser Window allows you to preview video content before bringing it into a Bin.

This Tutorial will show you how to:
– Create Favorites to access commonly used Directory paths
– Preview Media before linking to it
– Transcode Linked files for better system performance
– Linking to media from Multiple Folders

Check out this video tutorial!

Using The Source Browser Window – Avid Media Composer

Bin Layouts in Avid Media Composer

A relatively new feature in Media Composer is the ability to create Bin Layouts with the ability to save them to a shortcut key.

Media Composer Bin Layouts. Click image to play ‘Avid Bin Layout video tutorial.
Example of Bin Layout in Avid Media Composer.

Mastering Bin Layouts can speed up your workflow. A Bin Layout gives you the ability for the following:

  • Save the location of all your Bin Containers (including across multiple screens)
  • It remembers the number of Bin Tabs within each Bin Container
  • The arrangement of Bins with a Bin Container (see screenshot below)
  • You can create shortcut buttons that can be mapped to a toolbar
  • You can map your Bin Layouts to a shortcut key on your keyboard.
Two Bin Tabs within one Media Composer Bin Container
Example of Bin Layouts within Avid Media Composer

To Map a Bin Layout to a keyboard shortcut, or a button to a toolbar:

– Navigate to the Command Palette.
– Click on the Workspace Tab.
– Change W1 to your first saved Bin Layout (BL1)

Configure W1 (Workspace) to first Saved Layout
Drag Bin Layout to Keyboard

Now you can press a single button, or a keyboard shortcut to automatically map all your Bin Containers to a specific area within Avid Media Composer’s background panel.

For other great tips like this, and/or if you are interested in becoming an Certified Avid Media Composer Specialist , visit GeniusDV.com.



Time Warp Effect in Avid Media Composer

It’s easy to create a speed ramp effect in Avid Media Composer. Check out this short tutorial using the Time Warp Effect.

Media Composer Speed Ramp – Time Warp Effect

Start by parking over a clip segment that needs to be time-warped.

Clip Segment

Look for the Time Warp effect within the Effect Palette.

Time Warp Effect Category.

Drag the Time Warp effect onto a clip segment.

Then, click on the Effect Mode Button to bring forward the Motion Effect Editor window.

Motion Effect Editor

Within the Motion Effect Editor, click on the Speed and Position graph buttons. This will open the Speed and Position windows.

Speed – Position Graph buttons

Add a keyframe on the in the Speed Graph Window.

Off to the right hand side within the Position Graph window, you will see where the clip segment starts and ends.

Add Keyframe

Press the Add Anchor Button to set the keyframe as an anchor point.

Set Anchor Point

Move the blue position indicator forward 1/2 second, and add another keyframe.

Add Keyframe

Within the speed graph window, drag the second keyframe to roughly -50% Percent. This will cause the video clip segment to play backwards.

Notice how the position graph slopes downward based on the -50% speed change.

Speed Change

Then move the position indicator forward another half second forward and add another keyframe.

Move the third keyframe up until the position graph lands in the upper right hand corner.

Speed – Position Graph

That’s it, go ahead and play the sequence!

For extra smooth slow motion, set the render type to Fluid Motion. If you choose this option, you will need to render the effect.

Fluid Motion Render Type

You can watch the Time Warp YouTube Tutorial here.

Media Composer Matte Keys

It’s easy to clone areas of a video image by creating a Matte Key within Avid Media Composer.

YouTube Tutorial for Creating Matte Keys in Media Composer

Watch this Media Composer tutorial on how to create a Matte Key.

https://youtu.be/zcBr0ZWBFi4

To start, select a clip segment in the timeline and then hold down the option/alt key and press the Up Arrow Twice.

Media Composer Shortcut Skin

This will duplicate the clip segment on top of itself two times.

Three Duplicate Avid Media Composer Layers

Next, make sure the V3 track is turned on, and the Monitor Icon is placed onto the V3 Track.

V3 Monitor Icon

Navigate to Effects Palette and find the Paint Effect with the Image Category.

Image – Paint Effect

Place the Paint Effect onto the V3 Segment within your sequence.

Media Composer Paint Effect on V3 Segment

Then enter into Effects Mode. This will bring forward the Effects Editor Window.

Media Composer Effects Editor Mode Icon

Navigate to the Effect Editor Window and click on the Poly Tool.

Media Composer PolyTool within Effect Editor Window

Change the Color of the Poly Tool Mask from Red to Black

Matte Color

Draw a black mask around area to be cloned.

Using the Poly Tool within MC Paint Effect

Then, click on the reduce button in the right corner (or CMD/CTRL K) so you can see outside to visible picture area within the Composer Window.

Navigate back to the Effect Editor Window and click on the Rectangle Tool. Change the color of the Rectangle Tool to White. Draw a white square around the entire visible picture area.

Draw White Mask

After you Draw the Mask, it will cover over the Black Shape that you made earlier. Click on the Send Backward button within the Effect Editor Window

Send Backward

The end result with be a Black and White Matte.

Navigate back to the Effect Palette, and find the AniMatte Effect within the Key Category.

AniMatte Effect in Media Composer

Hold down the ALT/OPTION key and drag the AniMatte effect onto the clip segment that’s on V3.

Alt/Option Drag AniMatte Effect

The last step is to resize your Matte within the Composer Window. That’s it!

Resize Matte Key

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

MC Color Correction – Animate

One of the great features of Avid Media Composer is the ability to create animated masks.

Click on this link for a YouTube Tutorial on how to create a quick mask by duplicating a clip segment within Media Composer.

Or, read the text/image based tutorial below.

Animate Effect in Avid Media Composer Tutorial

Start by duplicating a clip segment layer by holding down the option/alt key and pressing the UP ARROW key. That will duplicate the clip segment on V1 onto V2.

Duplicate Clip Segment – Avid Media Composer

Then, command click on the V2 Monitor Icon to Solo the Layer.

Command Click on Monitor Icon to Solo the Track

Drag the Animate Effect from the Effect Palette onto the V2 Clip Segment

Media Composer Effect Palette – Animate Effect

Then enter into Effects Mode.

Media Composer Effects Mode

Next, click on the Reduce Icon to zoom out of the visible area within the Record Side of the Composer Window.

Zoom Out of Visible Area of Composer Window – Record Side

Click on the Rectangle Tool within the Effect Editor Window.

Rectangle Tool within Effect Editor Window

Draw a Rectangle Mask around the water area and adjust the vertical feathering to hid the hard edge of the masked area.

Double click on the Animate Effect located on the Clip Segment within the timeline. The Timeline will expand with 2 additional tracks. This is called expanded nesting.

Within the Effect Palette, navigate to the Image Category and look for the Color Effect.

Color Effect within Avid MC

Drag the Color Effect onto the V1.2 track which is nested within the V1 track.

Nest Color Effect into Animate Effect

Then, adjust the blue parameter within the Color Gain category.

Adjust Color Gain for Blue

You can now umute the V2 track and place the monitor icon icon the V1 track.

Monitor V1 Track

That’s it!, now you have an isolated matte (mask) where you can adjust the color of the shape independently from the rest of the video segment.

Final Result of Color Correction Mask

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, or consider taking an Avid Certified Media Composer Course.

Media Composer 3 way Color Correction

With Media Composer Ultimate, is easy to isolate colors and/or change color hues without having to export to DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, or another third party software product.

Here’s is the YouTube Video for this Media Composer Color Correction Tutorial. If you enjoy this tutorial, please subscribe to our Media Composer YouTube Channel.

Media Composer Three Way Color Correction

Edit a clip to a new sequence that has an area of Color that you would like to protect or change.

Then, start by click off to the right side of the screen by clicking on the Pre-Built Color Correction Workspace.

Color Correction Workspace

Then, click on the Secondary Color Correction Tab (Sec).

Next, click on the Input Vector Color Icon

Then, use the ‘Vector Icon Stabber’ to select an initial color of a hue area that you would like to change.

Select Reference Color Using Vector Color Icon

You may notice, it selects only a small range of color. Don’t worry. This next step is to click on the Add Color to Input Vector Icon.

Add Color to Input Vector Icon.

Click on nearby areas using the Add Input Vector Dropper until you’re happy with the selection.

Add Additional Color Ranges using Input Vector Dropper

If you need to remove Color Ranges, use the Subract Color from Input Vector

Subtract Color From Input Vector

By default Avid Media Composer will isolate the selected color range, which means the rest of the image will be black/white.

Isolated Color Range Result

Uncheck the Isolate Color Check Box

Isolate Color Checkbox

Now you can adjust the Output Vector to a different Hue, while persevering the rest of the video image.

Adjust Output Vector of Selected Color Range

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, or consider taking an Avid Certified Media Composer Course.

Adding Filler in Avid Media Composer

It’s easy to add filler to then end of an Avid Media Composer Sequence so you can match your sequence to a specific amount of time.

Adding Filler at the End in Avid Media Composer


This is VERY useful for traditional ‘broadcast’ shows or commercials that need to be a specific length.

In this example, I already have a show that runs for 30 seconds, and I want to create a 60 second version of it.

Avid Media Composer 30 Sec Sequence – Adding Filler

Hold down the option and/or alt key and right click in the timeline area to create a new video new track.

In doing so, this will allow you to add a new empty track with any track number assigned to it. 

Add Higher Level Video Track – Media Composer


Use a track number that will exceed the normal amount of tracks that you typically use in your sequence.

Navigate to the very end of your sequence.

Within the new empty track, make sure the new empty filler track is active.

Press the Add Edit Function.  Don’t worry, nothing will appear to happen.

Add Edit at End of Avid Media Composer Sequence to Add Filler

Next, Press the P key on your keyboard.  This will enter into ripple trim mode on the left side of an invisible edit point.

On your keyboard keypad, type +30:00 or whatever value you want to add as filler to the end of your sequence.

The value will appear at the bottom of your composer window.

Use KeyPad to Enter Filler Value in Avid Media Composer

If you do not have a full-size keyboard, press the CTRL key rapidly twice.  Then you can use the regular numbers below the function keys on a truncated keyboard.

Now, you will want to lock the filler track.  Right click new , and choose lock track. 

Lock Avid Media Composer Track


Navigate to the timeline fast menu, and you can choose to hide the track if you choose.

Hide Avid Media Composer Track


So now, when you zoom out of your sequence, you have a fixed timeline that represents the exact amount of footage you will need to complete the spot.