Pinnacle Systems Liquid - 7.0 User Manual

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Avid Liquid

Liquid for

Pinnacle Studio Users

November 2005 / Pinnacle Systems Documentation, Munich, Germany

liquid.documentation@pinnaclesys.com

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CONTENT

Manual

Part 1

Part1

Upgrading to Avid Liquid.................................... 7

1 Avid Liquid: Brief Overview........................... 8

2 Initial Contact with Avid Liquid................... . 10

3 EZ Capture.................................................12

4 Album and Project...................................... 14

5 Collecting, Sorting, Viewing and Finding

Clips............................................................16

6 Importing Clips, Titles, Graphics and Stills.18

7 DVD Menus, Titles and Effects..... ..............20

8 Film Window and Timeline: Basics............. 22

9 Inserting Clips on the Timeline...................24

10 Inserting/Deleting Clips on the Timeline.....26

11 Trimming Clips on the Timeline .................. 28

12 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically.....30

13 Effects: Basics.... .................................. ......32

14 Effects: Transitions .......... ... .. ...................... 34

15 Effects: Clip FX (Video Effects) .................. 36

16 Effects: Render or Realtime?.....................38

17 Timeline Settings........................................ 40

18 Audio: Basics............................. .................42

19 Fast Audio Fade-ins and Fade-outs............44

20 Making a Movie: Options............................ 46

21 Recording to DV Tape...... ... ........................ 48

22 Burning Disks / Exporting Files .................. 50

23 The Most Import a nt Set tin g s ......................52

Part2

1 Recording from DV/HDV Video Tapes

(Capture).................................................... 56

2 Comparison of Recording Instruments.......58

3 Recording Clips with Mark-Ins and

Mark-Outs................................................... 60

4 Recording or Logging Clips “on the Fly”.....62

5 Automatic Scene Detection........................ 64

6 Recording Audio: Stereo/Mono and Level.. 66 7 Naming and Numbering Clips while

Recording................................................... 68

8 Recording/Digitizing Tips ........................... 70

9 Scene Detection in the Clip Viewer............ 72

10 Protecting and Muting Tracks..................... 74

11 Trimming with the Trim Editor..................... 76

12 Trimming Video and Audio: Split Editing .... 78

13 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically.....80

14 Good to Know.................................... ......... 82

15 Effects: Working with Key Frames.............. 84

16 Audio Scrubbing......................................... 86

17 The Audio Editor......................................... 88

18 Audio Mixer and Volume Lines................... 90

19 Output Mapping.......................................... 92

20 Audio: Settings Tab.................................... 94

21 Recording Voice Over................................. 96

22 Live Mixing of Audio Tracks........................ 98

23 Sound Effects........................ ...................100

24 Surround Sound ....................................... 102

Upgrading to Avid Liquid

This document was written for Pinnacle Studio users who want to upgrade to Avid Liquid and achieve demonstrable results as quickly as possible. We’d like to help you find the functions you already know from Studio in Avid Liquid. In many cases there is no one-to-one correspondence - after all, they are two different programs. But Avid Liquid can do a lot more than Studio, which we assume is why you purchased it.

Wherever practical and possible, we’ve arranged procedures from Studio side-by-side with similar procedures in Avid Liquid and explained the various technical terms. For example, what Studio calls a “scene”, Avid Liquid calls a “clip”. Expressions used in the Avid Liquid user interface are written in italics: Sequence (“Film”). Keys on the keyboard are represented as follows:

This manual has two parts: The first part contains the most important things you need to know for quick startup. The second part describes more advanced functions.

To a large extent, each user can configure his or her own Avid Liquid user interface. For the purposes of this document, however, we assume that the software is still in its “original state” as it was when first installed; for example, the tool buttons are in their original locations and the function keys execute the original commands.

If you click a wrong tool button when working with Avid Liquid, simply use the Undo/Redo buttons, which look like this: , .

When you want to know more about a subject in Avid Liquid, press contains the text of the printed Reference Manual. You can also use the Help index (key icon) to quickly find an explanation of unknown functions or tools.

Have fun learning about Avid Liquid!

F7 or SPACEBAR.

F1. This opens Online Help, which

1 Avid Liquid: Brief Overview

First of all, we’d like to introduce the most important modules in Avid Liquid. To the right you see the user interface after a standard installation (single computer monitor).

Timeline

The Timeline is where the Sequence (in Studio: Film) is assembled from the clips (scenes). Any type of clip (video, audio, graphic, title) can be positioned on the Tra c k s . The Timeline appearance, clip display and Audio/Video Playback are all managed in the Track Header area to the left of the Timeli ne.

Project Browser

The Project Browser contains the elements of your film, i.e. the video and audio clips and the effects. It’s functioning is similar to that of the Windows Explorer, with its folders and subfolders.

Source Viewer (Player) or Project Window

The Source Viewer is where you view your source material, meaning the clips (scenes). In terms of an analog tape-based editing suite, this would be your player and monitor. You can drag clips from the Project Browser to the Source Viewer with the mouse. You can also select a screen layout in which the Project window is displayed in this spot (Single Monitor View; see page 14).

Master Viewer (Recorder)

The Master Viewer displays the current image from the Timeline, i.e. it is the master video output for the recorder or for output to DVD, etc. The red Playline identifies the current position.

Toolbars

The To o l b a r s contain the most important tools (buttons) and commands. You can customize these toolbars individually (right-click > Customize).

Menu bar

The most important commands are arranged here in typical Windows style.

Taskbar

The taskbar contains valuable information and functions you need to have on hand while editing, including an audio level, the Render Viewer, the Key Caps icon, etc.

Menu Bar

Project

Browser

Source Viewer

(Player)

Track Header Area

Master Viewer

(Recorder)

Toolbars

Timeline

Taskb ar

2 Initial Contact with Avid Liquid

After installing the program, you’ll find the Avid Liquid icon on your computer’s desktop. Connect your DV or HDV camera to an IEEE-1394 interface (Firewire, DV In) on the computer, switch on the device and insert a tape.

STUDIO

Starting up

Studio is “empty” when you start it up. You can then open an existing project or create a new one.

Saving and backup

Performed manually by selecting: File > Save Project (As).

1-2-3 user interface

Studio distributes the basic video editing operations over three tabs: 1 Capture / 2 Edit / 3 Make Movie.

LIQUID

Starting up

Unless you enter a different user name or are starting the program for the very first time (in which case, a sample or standard Project appears), Avid Liquid opens with the last Project that was worked on.

Select File > New > Project to create a new, “e mp t y” Project.

Saving and backup

Avid Liquid automatically saves each individual operation (Instant Save). Should your computer ever crash, you can retrieve your work (Sequence, “Movie”) from the Sequences Rack.

Modular user interface

In single-monitor mode, Avid Liquid appears either as shown on the right (initial startup) or as it did when you last exited the program.

You can access functional areas such as “1 Capture (= EZ Capture/Logging)” or “3 Make Movie (= Export > Record to Tape)” as needed by means of menus, the keyboard or tool buttons.

All the toolbars are freely configurable and the layout of the user interface can be customized using the Eye icon located at the bottom right on the taskbar.

Project only

Timeline only

Single Monitor View

3 EZ Capture

EZ Capture is a file-based capture tool for recording clips from digital sources (DV, HDV) and analog inputs (if you have a breakout box). You can record to various formats.

STUDIO

Recording a movie

Camcorder control via DV and the recording options are described in the record mode field.

With Avid Liquid, you can also record in “preview quality” (MJPEG) (File > EZ Capture > Set- tings > Codec Settings.

LIQUID

Recording using EZ Capture

First check whether the camcorder is properly connected and switched on.

1 Select File > EZ Capture.

2 In the lower left, enter a name for the clip.

Above it next to the capacity indicator, select a location for storing the data.

3 Start the tape by pressing the Play button,

or directly by clicking the Capture button.

4 The camcorder starts recording.

To stop recording, click the Capture button once again.

 To select a different video input or a par-

ticular recording format, open the Settings dialog box.

 In the Extended Dialog Box, you can

adjust the audio and influence the video (analog input).

You will find your recorded clips in a Project Rack (automatically created or previously selected).

Extend dialog boxSelect directoryRecording format

Enter clip name Player control buttons Start/stop recording

Settings for

EZ Capture

4 Album and Project

The Album and Project serve the same purpose: To manage all the elements necessary for making a film and keep them within easy reach. Avid Liquid does this in the Project window.

STUDIO

Album

Here you can page through your existing material. The tabs on the side separate the areas into video scenes, effects, etc.

LIQUID

Project and Tabs

Click the Eye icon ( , bottom right on the taskbar) and select the view with the large Project Window : . The Project includes all the elements of your work and, more importantly, the actual work you’ve already done: the edited Sequences (=Films). You can create and output any number of Sequences from a Project’s clips.

The Project Window has five tabs for organizing the objects, several tools for copying, pasting, etc., and a simple search window for ferreting out clips. Like any other window, it can be resized and moved.

When you delete objects from a Project, they are placed in the Tra s h on the Liquid desktop (and can be retrieved from there).

Project Browser

Click the button to the left of the Timeline header to show/hide the Project Browser. This is a miniature version of the larger window.

Single Monitor View

In place of the Source Viewer, you can also display the Project window. Click the button to select this Single Monitor View.

Trash

Tabs

Project Window

Desktop

Click here to show/hide the Project Browser. Drag the separating lines to resize the fields.

Single Monitor View

(Project window in place

of the Source Viewer)

5 Collecting, Sorting, Viewing and Finding Clips

Even ver y large Projects with thousands of objects (clips, etc.) can be effectively managed in Avid Liquid. The following are the most important tools:

STUDIO

Windows folders

The Studio Album displays the contents of Windows folders, i.e. it directly accesses your computer’s directories.

Scene or Comment View

A miniature image is displayed with or without the scene name and scene length.

Player

The player provides a quick preview of image and sound.

Selecting a scene by name

Searches the current directory in the Album.

LIQUID

Racks and folders

The Racks in Avid Liquid ser ve as “cont ainers” for clips. You can combine Racks in Rack Folders and move or copy clips from Rack to Rack. When you click a Rack in the Rack/Folder Area, its contents are displayed on the right.

Picon View or Detail View

Detail View displays a detailed, editable list. Picon View displays miniature images with

their names.

Sorting

If Detail View is activated, you can sort and display the clips in the Rack in alphanumeric order. Click (repeatedly) the header of the column you want to sort by.

Viewing clips in the Clip Viewer

To o pen th e Clip Viewer, double-click a graphics/ video/audio clip.

Quick clip finder

Enter the name of the clip you’re looking for and click . This searches all the Racks.

The left-hand

area contains the

Racks and Rack

folders. The right-hand area shows the

contents of the

current Rack

(here in Detail

View)

To sort the list

alphanumerically,

click the header

of the

relevant column.

Below is a Rack in Picon View. Double-click a clip to view it in the Clip Viewer.

Quick Finder

6 Importing Clips, Titles, Graphics and Stills

Avid Liquid lets you import clips in a variety of formats. You can use Racks to organize your Project: Title Rack, Audio Rack, Sound Track Rack, Video Rack, etc.

STUDIO

Select tab, open directory

In Studio, you first select the relevant tab and then display the Open dialog box from Windows.

With Avid Liquid, you can fill any Rack with any clips. You alone determine the structure.

Displaying audio files

Studio has a separate Album tab for audio files. Avid Liquid has no such tab but you can, of course, create Racks specifically for audio files as described on the right.

LIQUID

Creating Racks

Clips or All tab: Right-click in the left-hand area of the Project Window to display the shortcut menu and select New Rack. Naturally, you can also use an existing Rack (see “Importing objects” below).

Naming Racks

You can immediately name the newly created

Rack, or right-click an existing Rack and select Rename.

Importing objects

Menu bar > File > Import > Media. The possible formats are listed in the File Type list box. Now select the files you want to import. The clips then appear in the currently selected (flashing) Rack.

Linking, copying and moving

These are three types of import. Copy creates a copy of the media file in Avid Liquid’s media directory (recommended).

Right-click here:

You can open sev-

eral Racks simulta-

neously: Drag them

from the Rack area

to the desktop and

double-click.

Importing objects: Right-click to open the Rack’s shortcut menu.

Select an import type: Link, Move or Copy.

Or use the menu bar File > Import > Media command.

7 DVD Menus, Titles and Effects

Video clips aren’t the only design elements of a film. The following is an overview of the options available from Avid Liquid; for more detailed information, see the next section.

STUDIO

DVD menus

The DVD menus are located in the Album. You can either use standard menus and edit them or load additional menus.

Creating titles

Select a template from the Album and transfer it to the film window. Then open the Title Editor. In Avid Liquid, the order is reversed.

Effects

In Avid Liquid, video effects are called Clip FX.

LIQUID

DVD menus

In the Project Window or Browser, select the Library tab. The menus are located in the DVD Menus Rack.

When you drag a DVD menu from the Rack to the Timelin e, a special DVD Tra c k is automatically configured. Double-click a DVD menu on the Tim eline to open the DVD E ditor. This is where the DVD’s menu structure is created, including chapters, jump markers, animated buttons, etc. The DVD menus themselves can be edited using the same tool as in Studio.

Creating titles

Activate a Rack (which is where the finished title is stored) and select Tools > CG Editor (or press F2). The Title Editor is very similar to the one in Studio. When you’re finished, select CG Editor File > Save as new in Liquid. The title clip is now located in the previously selected Rack.

Effects

All the effects supplied with the product are stored on the Library tab of the Project Window/ Browser.

DVD menus are located

on the Lib(rary) tab in

the DVD Menus Rack.

Drag a menu to the

Timeline. The “DVD”

Track is automatically

configured at the very

The new titles are

stored in the current

Rack. The frame on

which the playline is

currently positioned (Timeline) serves as

the background in the

top.

Title Editor.

8 Film Window and Timeline: Basics

This section provides the most important information on the Avid Liquid Timeline and on creating a film.

STUDIO

Film window

In Studio, the film window can appear in three forms: Storyboard, Timeline and List. Specific tracks are reserved for certain types of scene.

Edit line and edit mode

You can move this line only by means of the slider above the film window. With Avid Liquid in Scrub Mode (the button is not highlighted), you can use the mouse pointer to move the Play- line across the Time line; the mouse pointer then looks like this: . In Edit Mode ( highlighted), you can click on clips.

LIQUID

Timeline

The Timelin e is the “foundation” for Sequences (Avid Liquid’s term for films). The Timelin e comprises any number of horizontal Tra c k s on which the clips are positioned. The Tr ac k s are all the same; there are no specific “au dio Tr a c k s ” or “title Tra c k s ”. To the left of the Timeline is the header area. Right-click this area to perform a number of customizations and disable video and/or mute the audio.

From top to bottom

In Avid Liquid, higher Tr a c k s have priority over lower Tra c k s , i.e. a video clip on a Tra c k overrides a video clip on the Tra c k below it. The same does not apply to audio clips.

Playline

The vertical red line indicates the current edit position in the Sequence and the current frame in the Master Viewer. The Position Bar is located below the Timeline; the current Timecode is specified to the left and below the Trac k He a de r area.

Edit Mode

is enabled

Track Header

Video and

audio

playback

Zoom (Timeline scale)

Example of a complex Timeline

Playline

Track

Track Track

Timecode bar

9 Inserting Clips on the Timeline

Basically, this function works the same in Avid Liquid and Studio: Drag a clip from the Album/Project to the Timeline.

STUDIO

Assembling scenes

As soon as a scene is dragged to the Timeline, the clip dimensions are indicated by green start and end markers.

Inserting a clip between two other clips

Simply position the scene with its beginning between two other clips. The subsequent clips and their synchronous audio will be shifted.

LIQUID

Assembling clips

Click to select a screen layout in which you can view the Project (Browser), Timeline and Source/Master Viewer.

1 As in Studio, drag a video clip to the

Time line and drop it on the Tr a c k labelled V.

2 Drag another clip close to the end of the

first clip. It is “magnetically” attracted. Repeat this several times.

Inserting a clip between two other clips

First check the Edit Style. An icon between the Source and Master Viewers indicates the current

status: Avid Liquid recognizes Overwrite Style () and Film (Insert) Style ( ). To insert a clip, Film Style must be activated.

1 Drag a video clip to the point between

two clips on the Timeline.

2 The clip is inserted and all subsequent

clips are shifted to the right.

These are the “slices”

- each edit is assigned a consecutive number.

The clip’s audio is

automatically posi-

tioned on a Track

below the video clip.

Make sure Film Style is

activated

(yellow icon).

Click the icon to

change the style.

The clips following the

inserted clip are

shifted to the right.

10 Inserting/Deleting Clips on the Timeline

In contrast to Studio, Avid Liquid has two methods for inserting clips on the Timeline: One method overwrites clips and gaps and the other shifts whatever follows it.

STUDIO

Razor (insert edit with audio)

To insert one scene into another, you must first create an edit with the razor tool. The scene is then inserted and subsequent scenes are shifted to the right.

Deleting a clip

Select the clip and press DEL (or use the trash icon). All subsequent clips are shifted to the left.

LIQUID

Inserting

You don’t need the Razor, but the Edit Style does matter:

 Film (Insert) Style () -

Drag a clip to the Timeline clip. The existing clip is cut at the insert point (Play- line), the new clip is inserted and the rest of the clip is shifted to the right along with all subsequent clips.

 Overwrite Style () -

The existing clip is cut at the insert point but everything else on the Tr a c k is overwritten for the length of the inserted clips.

Razor (Add Edit)

This tool is also available in Avid Liquid: . It’s generally used to cut an area out of a clip or divide a clip so that a gap can be created.

Deleting a clip

Select the clip and press DEL. In Overwrite Style, a gap is opened up; in Film Style, the clips shift to close the gap.

Insertion in Film Style: The inserted clip cuts the existing clip and shifts the remainder of this clip to the right.

Insertion in Overwrite Style: The overall length remains the same; the inserted clip overwrites the center portion

of the existing clip.

Gap

The razor tool cuts the clips at the playline position.

A deleted clip (in Overwrite Style) leaves a gap.

11 Trimming Clips on the Timeline

The most important work of the editor is to trim the edits between clips: Each frame counts.

STUDIO

Trimming on the Timeline

First click the clip you want to trim. When the mouse pointer nears the edit, it turns into an arrow. You can now change the length of the clip. Any gaps produced are immediately closed.

LIQUID

Activating Edit Mode

Make sure that the Edit Mode icon ( ) is yellow and that the mouse pointer looks like this: (on a clip) or this: (on an empty area of the Time- line).

Trimming on the Timeline

1 Example: Position the mouse pointer on

the mark-in for a clip. Its shape changes to: .

2 Left-click. The clip now has a red edge

(handle) if the Overwrite Style is acti- vated or a yellow edge if the Film Style is activated.

3 Drag the handle to the left or right. The

following happens:

 In Overwrite Style , this simply length-

ens or shortens the clip. Either a gap opens up or other clips are overwritten.

 In Film Style , subsequent clips are

shifted. When you drag the mark-in, it remains at its Timeline position. Careful: the synchronicity of video and audio clips can easily be lost. Make sure that a video clip and its original audio clip(s) all have yellow handles before you trim.

Edit Style

Trimming in Edit Style = Overwrite:

Red “handle”

Trimming in Edit Style = Overwrite:

The clip is shortened. Its mark-in shifts to the right.

Trimming in Edit Style = Film:

The clip is shortened but its mark-in remains at the master position and the mark-out shifts to the left.

Trimming in Edit Style = Film:

Yellow “handle”

12 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically

Even when clips are already positioned on the Time line, they can be moved to new positions.

STUDIO

Swapping positions

When you move clips, the gaps created are closed automatically.

Avid Liquid: Active tracks?

Click a Tra c k ’s Name field. If it’s highlighted, the Tr a c k is “active”, i.e. certain actions are applied to

this Tra c k , such as the selection command described on the right. This is especially important when working with the Insert Arrow (three-point editing; see the Reference Manual).

LIQUID

Selecting a clip or clips

This is the first step in moving one or more clips. Activate Edit mode ( must glow yellow) and, if necessary, (de)activate linked mode ( ) so that you can select the video and audio clips together or separately. The Overwrite Style must also be activated.

Click a clip to select it (hold down the

CTRL or

SHIFT key to select multiple clips).

You can also drag a lasso around the relevant clips. Another practical method it is to use the Select

after playline ( ) command. All clips on active Tr ac k s (- see also page 74) at and to the right of

the Playline are selected. This is an easy way to create a gap in the Sequence.

Moving a clip or clips

Once you’ve selected a clip or clips, drag them while holding down the left mouse button. To move clips vertically, we recommend the following procedure: Select the clips and press and the UP/DOWN ARROW key. The clip then retains its exact same TC position on the Timeline.

CTRL

Select using the lasso: Beginning in an empty area on the Timeline, drag the lasso until it either surrounds the

Custom selection: Hold down the CTRL key and click the relevant clips. You can now, for example, move the

selected clips as a group. Or open the Clip Properties dialog box (right-click > Properties) in order, for example,

relevant clips or its outline touches them.

Edit mode pointer

to rename multiple clips.

Deactivated

tracks

Selection as of the playline: In this case, the Track status is important; the command is applied only to clips on

active tracks. To activate or deactivate tracks, click on the Track names. Deactivated tracks are dark and active

tracks are light-blue.

Selected

Not selected because tracks are deactivated

Selected

13 Effects: Basics

Avid Liquid provides a huge number of effects that you can combine and edit as desired. Using these effects is as easy as it is in Studio.

STUDIO

Album and Video Toolbox

The effects are located on the Album’s Transitions tab or in the Video Toolbox (“Video Effects”).

Effects are positioned on either a video Track or the overlay Track. Because Avid Liquid allows you to layer any number of clips on any number of Tr a c k s , you can construct highly complex effects: Tru e c omp os it ing .

LIQUID

Library tab

All effects are located on the Library tab in the Project Window (or on the Lib tab in the Project Browser) in various Racks and folders.

“Video Effects” are called Clip FX.

What are Effect Editors?

As in Studio, each effect in Avid Liquid can be edited by means of its parameters, which vary in number depending on the effect.

Realtime effects (RT, Realtime)

These effects are processed by the graphics card (GPU) or the computer’s processor (CPU) and do not have to be computed for the preview.

Classic effects

Classic effects include, for example, the powerful Color Correction Editor and the Timewarp Editor for dynamic changes in clip speed.

PlugIn effects

Here you can access and manage PlugIns, i.e. third-party effects (if installed).

Effect Editors

View of the “Library” tab with the

Parameters such as Size and Position are configured on the left; parameter curves (for dynamic changes) are in

the middle; the inlay on the right contains the clip image (here it’s the default preview image because no clip is

different effect types.

Example of an Effect Editor (Magnify GPU).

loaded yet).

14 Effects: Transitions

Position a few video clips consecutively on the Timeline so you can experiment with Tra n s i t i o n s . Don’t leave any gaps between the clips.

STUDIO

Selecting and dropping

Regardless of which transition effects you select, they will always be positioned so that the effect ends at the start of the next clip. At the end of the film, a transition effect changes to black. An effect positioned on the first clip in the film functions as a fade-in.

Avid Liquid requires “leeway”

Tr a n s i t i o n s always combine video material from two clips/scenes (fade-in/fade-out: one video source + black). Wherever two clips border one another horizontally without a Tr a n si t i o n , they form an end/beginning, i.e. a hard cut from A to B.

If a Tr a n si t i o n is positioned on the edit, however, it takes a little material from each clip so it can mix the video in the desired manner (e.g. a dissolve). Both of the clips are automatically extended beyond their mark-in or mark-out to provide leeway. If the clips have already been extended to their final frames, this isn’t possible because no media data is available. You then need to trim=shorten the clips.

Studio automatically supplies this leeway but, if necessary, will shorten your film to do so.

LIQUID

Positioning a transition on the edit

An Edit is where two clips on the same Tra c k are seamlessly joined. A Tr a n s it i o n must cover this edit. For example, select Realtime Transition FX > Edi- tors and drag the Dissolve GPU Tra n s i t i on with a default length of one second to an Edit. The fol- lowing can occur:

Transition gray, full length

Everything’s okay: Enough leeway is available (see right).

Transition gray, reduced length

A message was displayed and the Tra n s i t i o n was automatically shortened to the available leeway. Remedy: Trim the clip (Film Style, ).

Transition partially or completely red

The red area indicates insufficient video material. Trim the clips until the red disappears (Film Style,

Trimming/positioning a transition

Drag the transition with the mouse or select a command from the Tra n s i t i o n shortcut menu.

Transition (Wipe) positioned on an edit. Sufficient leeway (overlap) is available on both clips - therefore, the

Not enough leeway available - Liquid automatically trims the transition to the usable length.

Transition is partially red: In this case, the clip on the right doesn’t have enough leeway. In Film Style, trim in the direction of the arrow until the red disappears from the transition. Figure below: With A/B editing, the transition

transition is gray.

would look like this:

15 Effects: Clip FX (Video Effects)

These effects, called “video effects” in Studio, are usually applied to individual clips. However, they can also be applied to entire Tra c k s and all the clips they contain.

STUDIO

Drag and drop onto a clip

Here there is hardly any difference between the two applications. You can drop as many effects as necessary onto a clip. At some point, however, the realtime capacity of even the most powerful system will be exhausted. This doesn’t matter, however, because rendering is then performed.

The green star

In Avid Liquid, the star is gray and appears on the Picon if the clip is in the Project Rack. A blue star indicates, for example, that the Playback Level was changed during capture.

LIQUID

Drag and drop onto a clip

1 Drag a Clip FX (e.g. Lens Flare GPU from

Realtime Clip FX > Editors) to a video

clip. A purple line appears along the top of the clip and an effect icon is displayed next to the right-hand clip picon (not immediately visible, depending on the Timeline zoom level).

2 Right-click the purple line and then select

[Effect Name] > Edit.

3 The effect’s editor now opens, containing

all the available parameters.

4 Adjust the parameters until the effect

suits you.

5 Click the running man in the top right-

hand corner to exit the editor.

Drag and drop onto a Track

Drag the effect to the Tr a c k name in the Tra c k Header Area, then continue as of step 2 above.

Important: This affects all Key Frames (see page 84) are not possible.

the clips on the Tra c k .

Simply drag clip FX to the video clip: The purple line and the effect icon indicate that at least one effect is

Right-click the line or effect icon and select the effect to be edited. The Effect Editor now appears.

This effect is applied to the entire “Video” Track, i.e. to all the clips on this Track.

applied to the clip.

16 Effects: Render or Realtime?

With Avid Liquid’s intelligent background rendering, this in not really an either/or question.

STUDIO

Render options/preview

If your system has sufficient capacity, Studio shows you a preview of realtime effects.

You can set various render options in the Setup area. With Avid Liquid, you can activate or deactivate background rendering. We recommend that you leave it activated. Then all your effects will probably already be rendered by the time you’re ready to output your film.

LIQUID

Yellow and red slices

The color of the Slices above the Timeline indicates the status of clips and effects:

 Ye l l o w means that these segments can be

played back in real time. If the effects are beyond your computer’s performance capabilities, Avid Liquid reduces the frame rate for playback and indicates that it is doing so below on the taskbar.

 Red indicates that Classic Effects are being

applied. These are rendered automatically.

 Green identifies segments that have

already been rendered.

“Render yellow slices”

In other words, activate background rendering for realtime effects. Select this option from the Render menu in the taskbar ( ) or from the menu bar > Timeline > Render yellow slices.

For output via IEEE 1394, yellow Slices must be rendered.

Colored slices mean: Yellow = playback in realtime; Green = already rendered; Red = needs rendering (Classic Effect); Dark red = media data not available.

Render menu in the taskbar: Click the sigma character to open the Render Viewer (right). This allows you to monitor the rendering process. Select “Render yellow slices” to activate background rendering (or deactivate if checkbox is empty).

To manually re-render, select “Delete Render Files” (Timeline shortcut menu).

17 Timeline Settings

Avid Liquid can handle clips in all formats on the Timeline. Consider the output (tape, DVD, stream) and select a specific video format for the Timeline .

STUDIO

Timeline settings as of Version 10

As of Studio Version 10, you can select advanced settings (for example, for HDV).

LIQUID

Selecting a Timeline format

When you start a new movie (in Avid Liquid:

Sequence), select a Timeline Format, such as. NTSC or HDV 1080/50i, either because you

recorded everything to HDV 1080i or because you want to output everything in this format.

 Select File > New > Sequence > Preset and

then the appropriate format (usually the format in which your clips were recorded).

When mixing material that has different frame rates (fps), aspect ratios (4:3/16:9) and image sequence (progressive/interlaced), you will have to compromise. For example, scaling between 4:3 and 16:9 means stretching or squeezing the image, black bars on the screen or parts of the image being cut off.

The great advantage of Avid Liquid is that you can combine material from all sources into one Sequence and output it in any format and to any medium.

Avid Liquid automatically adapts the frame rate and resolution.

New Sequence dialog box

(File > New > Sequence)

Select Timeline format here

Advanced settings - usu-

ally, you will not change

them.

(right-click Clip > Properties)

Clip properties

All the facts about the clip

at a glance.

Select an option here to scale

one or more clips to a different

format (aspect ratio).

18 Audio: Basics

When inserting, trimming, deleting, moving, etc. on the Timeline , Avid Liquid handles audio clips exactly like video clips.

STUDIO

Special audio tracks

Certain tracks are reserved for certain types of audio.

Activating/muting the audio stream

Click the icon to the right of the particular audio Track to mute playback.

LIQUID

Sorting audio clips by type

Although audio clips can be positioned on any Tr ac k , we recommend that you set up a particular structure: Separate Tra c k s for original audio, interview audio, noises, background music, narration, etc.

Naming/inserting tracks

Right-click a Tr ac k ’s Name field to open a shortcut menu that allows you to name the Tra c k and, if necessary, generate additional Tra c k s .

Activating audio playback

If you also want to hear the audio, you must activate the Track for Audio Playback (see figure on the right): The Loudspeaker icon must be visible.

Displaying the audio waveform

This function makes the audio “visible”. Rightclick the Loudspeaker icon to activate/deactivate the waveform.

Example of a useful Timeline structure: “SOT 1” (Sound on Tape) and “2” for interview audio, original audio on tape; “Music” for background music; “Ambient 1/2” for ambient noise; “Sound FX” for special sound effects.

Make sure audio playback is activated: The loudspeaker icons must be visible.

Waveform display in the clip: To activate, right-click the audio column in the Track header and select Wave Form from the shortcut menu

Originally synchronous audio/video became asynchronous: Red line and amount of shift specified in frames (+/-). (Sync Break function)

Precision work with the waveform in the

Clip Viewer: Double-click an audio clip on the Timeline Here you can also adjust the volume of the

entire clip.

19 Fast Audio Fade-ins and Fade-outs

This frequently needed application takes just a few clicks in Avid Liquid.

STUDIO

Fading out/in

In the Audio Tool (fader), you can fade sound in and out for each audio Track.

LIQUID

Fade-in and fade-out

In Avid Liquid, as in Studio, the empty Time line (no clips on the Tra c k ) is “silent”. Consequently, fade-ins start with an empty Timeline and fadeouts end on an empty Tr a c k .

 Create a Cross Fade at the mark-in and

mark-out of a Timeline clip (Library tab > Realtime Transition FX > Audio > etc.)

Audio crossfade

As with a video dissolve, the audio signals of two adjacent clips are mixed; one is gradually faded out while the other is simultaneously faded in to a corresponding degree.

Automatic fades/dissolves

For clips (video/audio) on active Tra c k s (see page 30), you can automatically insert fadeins/fade-outs/crossfades/dissolves: Position the Playline near an Edit and click the following icon: . You can also insert multiple fades/dissolves within a selected Timeline range.

Louder

Fade-in and fade-out with crossfade

Audio crossfade: Audio from the two clips is mixed.

Constant Softer

Mix

Automatic audio crossfade: Applied to all edits within the selected range (active Track(s)).

20 Making a Movie: Options

Both programs permit numerous output formats for a finished film, from recording to tape to DVD authoring. Overview:

STUDIO

Make Movie

This area contains all the output options.

 Ta p e

For output to a DV camcorder.

 AV I

For output to an AVI file.

 MPEG

For output as an MPEG file (MPEG 1, 2 or 4, S-VCD-compatible, DVD-compatible, etc.).

 We b

Output in Windows Media or Real Video format.

 Upl oad

For publishing on the Pinnacle Studio Community website. Not a feature of Avid Liquid.

 Disc

For burning to CD (VCD, SVCD) or DVD.

LIQUID

Menu bar > File > Record to Tape

Displays the dialog box for output to a connected recorder that is controllable via i.Link (Firewire).

File > Burn to Disc

DVD, VCD, SVCD, Image, VOB, with/



without burning

File > Export to File

Displays various dialog boxes for outputting a Sequence as one or more files:

 Images and graphics (single frames)

 Fuse (downmix to a file)

 MPEG1,2,4 (elementary/program

stream, DVD-compatible, etc.)

 Windows Media (audio and video)

 AVI, QuickTime, DivX, RealMedia

You can define output formats and save them for later use (Edit presets). For more information on output formats, see below.

Export format

Select an

exporter preset

Information on the

preset selected

Select export source

Create a custom preset

21 Recording to DV Tape

This version is recommended especially for subsequent viewing on a TV or for the long-term archiving of films and raw material.

STUDIO

Make tape

Before the tape is made, the film’s effects and transitions must be rendered (wherever necessary).

You can connect an analog recorder downstream from the DV device (signals looped through). With both Studio and Avid Liquid, make sure the recording device is activated for DV input.

LIQUID

Record to Tape

For this function, you need a recorder that is controllable either via IEEE 1394 (DV) or via an RS422 interface (professional version).

The Sequence on the Timelin e must be completely rendered for output via the DV output. If this hasn’t already been done, it’s performed in the Record to Tape module. Tip: Always activate background rendering (see page 38).

1 Menu bar > File > Record to Tape >

Record tab.

2 Select Mark-In to Mark-Out only if you

want to output a specific range of the current Tim eline .

3 Click Record. If necessary, rendering is

now performed; a progress bar lets you monitor the process. Recording starts at the current tape position and stops automatically.

HDV output

This basically works in the same way as DV output, except that before you start recording, make sure the Timeline Format ( page 40) matches the device’s recording format. For more information, see the Reference Manual in the chapter on high definition (“High Definition at the Output”).

Timecode from the tape

Recording

options

Current

recording device

Record to Tape: If the recording device is controlled via IEEE 1394, the dialog box appears as shown. In the case of an RS-422-controlled recorder, you can also choose to edit in Insert or Assemble mode.

Stripe Tape: This function writes a continuous timecode and, if desired, a frame Sequence to the tape. The tape is automatically rewound before recording.

22 Burning Disks / Exporting Files

Use the Export to File and Burn to Disc functions to generate files for sharing on the Internet and DVDs.

STUDIO

Make Movie

This area contains all Studio’s output options. Avid Liquid displays them in three different dialog boxes.

LIQUID

Burning / Exporting

1 Select one or more Sequences or clips that

you want to export/burn from the Rack. If you don’t select any, the Sequence currently on the Timel ine will be burned/ exported.

2 Select File > Export.../Burn ... to open the

appropriate dialog box.

3 Select a burn or export format, such as

DVD or MPEG1.

4 Select a Preset (this is a subcategory of the

export/burn format selected).

5 Select the Source for exporting/burning.

6 When burning: Make sure the burner

contains a suitable medium and with a large enough capacity.

7 Click Ok.

8 Various dialog boxes appear (Location,

Select Codec, progress bar).

9 The system informs you when the process

is completed.

Export format

Select preset

Select source

Burner and medium

information

Capacity indicator

Exporting a file

23 The Most Important Settings

The presets are enough to get you going the first time you start up the program and when you work with DV/HDV devices. If you need to change them, here’s a brief overview:

STUDIO

Specifying a default directory for recording

Use the folder icon in the Diskometer.

Player

Select Setup > Capture source > Capture devices.

LIQUID

Specifying a storage location for video/ audio media files

You already defined this location during installation. To change it, select: Edit > Settings > Site >

Media Management > Media Volumes: Add or Edit.

The default recording drive is identified by an “X”. Right-click the narrow column next to Alias in front of it as “Primary”.

the desired drive/directory and define

Specifying a player

The player/recorder and signal inputs are managed under Edit > Settings > Site > Player Set- tings.

MPEG or DV player/recorder: Click i.Link DV and select the Connections tab. All the fields must contain IEEE 1394.

Other connection combinations are possible with an analog breakout box and Live input (see the Product Manual).

Effect preview/monitor

You can connect a video monitor/TV to the player (recorder) (signal looped through) but you will not be able to preview the effects. The Timeline must be rendered before output (“Make Movie”).

Effect preview/monitor

With an analog breakout box: Click the monitor icon to the right on the taskbar and select the port to which the video monitor/TV is connected.

Define or verify the

storage location of the

media files

Select player and verify connection

Select analog

monitor output

5454

Part 2

Learning More about

Avid Liquid

1 Recording from DV/HDV Video Tapes (Capture)

In Avid Liquid, transferring images from tape to the hard disk of the editing computer is called “capture” or “digitizing”. This process generates media files and clips, which are the most important elements of your film.

STUDIO

Recording mode

In Studio, you work with the Record tab.

In Avid Liquid, the “Album” is called a Rack.

“Scenes” are called “Clips” in Avid Liquid.

In Studio, the tape name has no significance.

LIQUID

Logging Tool (Capture)

You can use the Logging Tool to view tapes and digitize audio/video.

1 Select File > Logging Tool.

2 Enter a name for the tape (=Reel) cur-

rently loaded in the camera. IMPORTANT: Never use the same Reel name more than once in a Project.

3 Click the filmstrip button to open a dia-

log box and create a new Rack (see illustration on the right). A Rack is a “container” for the clips.

4 You can now start generating clips. In the

simplest case (preset), click the Play but- ton to start the tape. Then click the Digitize button to begin the transfer.

5 Click the Digitize button once again to

stop. The clip is stored in the Rack.

Important: Enter a different

reel name for every tape in a

project.

Logging Tool above the

Timeline in the

standard view

Create a Rack

2 Comparison of Recording Instruments

This set of pages describes the most important areas of the Logging Tool as compared to the capture area in Studio.

STUDIO

Scenes and Album

Each time a new scene is created, it’s stored in the Album. In Avid Liquid, a scene is called a “clip”.

Player and Camcorder Controller

The current video is displayed in the player.

The Diskometer

You can capture either in full DV quality or in preview quality. In Avid Liquid, this is possible only in EZ Capture (MJPEG).

LIQUID

Clips, Racks and Project Browser

Each new clip is placed in the currently active Rack. The current Rack is highlighted in yellow on the bottom left in the Project Browser.

Video inlay and control functions

The video image played appears in the “Inlay” (Viewer). The camcorder or player is controlled by means of the usual buttons. The timecode field is located above the viewer.

In Avid Liquid, the functions of the Studio Diskometer are distributed over three menus:

Player/Source

i.Link DV should appear here. If it doesn’t, click the small Player icon and continue as described on page 52.

Select media format

Native Transfer (AVI) should appear here (Excep- tion: You’re playing an analog signal).

Display capacity/location

The hard disk used for recording is specified here (position mouse pointer on top or click a number) along with its available capacity.

Timecode display

Player status display

Video Inlay

Current player/source

Current Reel and Rack

Player control buttons

Active Rack

in the Project

Browser

Media format/capture

format

Capacity available on the

current drive

3 Recording Clips with Mark-Ins and Mark-Outs

You can also use the Logging Tool to view tapes and separate the successful scenes from the failures. Then you won’t have to transfer the entire tape to the hard disk.

STUDIO

Starting capture

Using the Camcorder controls, rewind the tape to the beginning and click Start Capture. Then enter a file name and click Start Capture once again.

Stopping capture

Capture stops when you click Stop Capture. A clip is stored in the Album.

LIQUID

Setting a mark-in

The mark-in identifies the beginning of a clip (scene, setting, etc.). Always position mark-ins several seconds before the actual action begins. Using the control buttons, shuttle the player to a particular position and click this button: .

Setting a mark-out

The mark-out identifies the end of a clip. Click this button: . The clip is now defined and you can either log or digitize it.

Logging

You can’t play a clip on the Timeline if it has only been logged, because it doesn’t (yet) have any media data. Clips are logged (usually in large quantities) so that a Batch Capture can be per- formed later on. Click the Log button to transfer the clip to the current Rack.

Digitizing (= capturing, recording)

Click the Digitize button to record the clip. The system cues up to the mark-in and records up to the mark-out. The clip is stored in the Rack and is immediately available for editing.

Mark-In:

Beginning of clip

Active Rack

in the Project

Browser

Clip length

Mark-Out:

End of clip

Log:

Clip is placed in the

Rack but not saved

to the hard disk

Digitize:

Clip is placed in the

Rack AND saved to

the hard disk

4 Recording or Logging Clips “on the Fly”

With this method, mark-ins and mark-outs are set while the tape is running or recording (Capture) is in progress.

STUDIO

LIQUID

No comparable function. Logging “on the fly”

1 Start tape playback. Click the Log button

once to set a mark-in.

2 At the end of the scene click the Log but-

ton once again to set the mark-out and transfer the clip to the Rack. ... and so on ...

Digitizing (recording) “on the fly”

1 Start tape playback. Click the Digitize

button to set a mark-in. The system transfers the clip to the hard disk.

2 At the end of the scene click the Digitize

button once again to set the mark-out and transfer the clip to the Rack. ... and so on ...

Do not click the “X” to finish the capture or logging process: this discards the current clip, markin and mark-out are cleared.

Status: Digitizing in progress

If activated, all the clips are sent directly to the Timeline

Direct Insert function:

(and to the Rack) and are available for immediate editing (but not in the case of clips that have only been logged).

5 Automatic Scene Detection

Scene detection saves you from having to define all the clips manually. Avid Liquid recognizes two types: Scene detection based on DV timestamps and scene detection based on video content (although the latter is not available in the Logging Tool).

STUDIO

Selecting the scene detection type

You can select various types of scene detection under Setup > Capture Source.

Scene detection based on video content

In Avid Liquid, scene detection based on video content can be found in the Clip Viewer.

With DV input only

Note the following for both Studio and Avid Liquid: Scene detection based on timestamps works only with DV material played via the DV (IEEE

1394) interface. It does not work with analog signal inputs.

LIQUID

Scene detection based on timestamps

In DV form at, it is possible to mark t he begi nning and end of recording on the tape (depending on the type of camera). Avid Liquid uses these markings to identify the individual clips.

Activating scene detection

With the Logging Tool open: Click the



button on the top right and select Properties > General > Automation > Scene detection. Select Masterclips to activate

scene detection.

 Or from the menu bar: Select Edit > Set-

tings > User > Logging / Batch > and con-

tinue as described above.

Scene detection activated

After activating scene detection, start playing back a tape in the Logging Tool and click the Digi- tize button to begin transferring material to the hard disk. The system continuously monitors scene changes. When you click again to stop capturing, it stores the detected scenes in the Rack. With many clips detected, this may take a while. Do not forget to stop the player.

Following scene detection, the

detected clips are numbered and

stored in the Rack.

6 Recording Audio: Stereo/Mono and Level

While recording, you can’t adjust DV audio but you can adjust analog audio signals.

STUDIO

Audio faders in the Diskometer

During analog recording, the Diskometer sprouts two “ears” with the appropriate faders.

Balance slider

This slider lets you adjust the level of the recorded signal (for analog input only).

LIQUID

Audio tab in the Logging Tool

This tab is always visible but, as in Studio, you can’t adjust the audio during DV recording.

Audio can be adjusted for playback by means of the Audio Playback fader. It allows you to determine the volume at which the recorded clips are played back on the Timeline. You can also turn down loud ambient noises in advance (instead of having to do it later for each individual clip).

Stereo or mono

In Avid Liquid, “Stereo” and “Mono” are clip properties. A stereo clip has two sound channels, one to the left speaker and one to the right. A mono clip has one sound channel that plays at the same volume on both speakers. For DV recording, you should generally select stereo: Click the or button to toggle between the two states.

Audio recording only

If you only want to record an audio clip, click the

button to deactivate the video source. Deacti-

vating the audio channels results in “mute” clips.

At the digital audio input (e.g. DV),

meaning the volume at which the clips

will later be played back on the Time-

The clips are written to the hard disk

you can adjust only the

Audio Playback,

line.

Stereo/Mono button

Analog audio can already be

adjusted at the input.

at a higher or lower volume.

When recording audio

only, the

V button is

deactivated.

The loudspeaker icon

appears in the Inlay.

7 Naming and Numbering Clips while Recording

Avid Liquid has several options for naming and adding comments to clips while recording.

STUDIO

File name is the clip name

After selecting the Start Capture command, enter a file name that also serves as the name of the clip and is stored in the Album. You can find the clip under this name in the Windows Explorer.

LIQUID

Clip name is independent of the media file name

Avid Liquid’s Media Management automatically name files and manages file names. However, you can also name each clip individually (for example, “Amusement Park 01”) in the Logging Tool as well as afterwards.

Clip tab

Fill in the text fields to describe the particular clip. Use the Scene and Ta ke /S ho t fields if you’re working with a screenplay. The Clip Name is formed from the active fields (checkmark visible). Click the plus sign to manually increment the number by +1; if the double plus sign is activated, numbering is automatically incremented for each new clip.

Textual clip presets

You can fill the text fields with textual presets that will reappear for each new clip and can be expanded and edited.

With the Logging Tool open, click to open the Properties menu and select General > Textual Clip Presets. Exit the Logging Tool and reopen it. The

text presets now appear in the appropriate fields.

The clip name

is formed by

combining the

activated fields.

This button positions the

cursor in the title field

(if necessary, retrieve it from

the Tool Library)

Manual and automatic numbering

Use textual clip presets so

you won’t have to fill in all

the fields every time.

8 Recording/Digitizing Tips

With these tips, you’ll have no problem importing clips to the system.

STUDIO

LIQUID

Timecode and reel name

Avid Liquid’s Media Management, i.e. the management of clips and their media files, is based on timecode data and Reel names. This is why it’s important that

 all tapes have a continuous timecode

without breaks,

 the same Reel (=tape) name never be

used more t han once in a Project. The Reel description together with TC data is part of the media file name. Recurrent Reel names and identical TC data cause existing files to be overwritten.

Tapes with a lot of TC problems should be copied to another tape before digitizing. However, the Logging Tool Properties also contain several options for working with TC breaks.

EZ Capture Clips

EZ Capture clips are file- and directory-based, thus following the logic of Studio. For more complex Projects, generate the clips using the Logging

To o l , especially if you want to perform a Batch Capture later on.

HDV

Always use the highest quality tapes available for HDV recording.

The timecode options in

the Logging Tool options

define what will happen

when timecode breaks

occur.

Another possibility for

problematic tapes is

LIVE capture.

9 Scene Detection in the Clip Viewer

This section describes how to split your recordings into scenes/clips in Avid Liquid, either manually or using automatic scene detection.

STUDIO

Detect Scenes by Video Content

Select this command under Album > Scene Detection.

Split/Combine scenes

Studio’s Combine command corresponds most closely to the Fuse or Container function in Liquid (see the Reference Manual).

LIQUID

Scene detection in the Clip Viewer

A clip with lots of different takes can be divided into scenes (clips) automatically in the Clip Viewer.

1 The clip must be digitized. Double-click

the clip in the Project, click the triangle button to open the extended dialog box in the Clip Viewer, and then select the Scenes tab.

2 Select the method (Metadata = based on

DV timestamp; or Video Content).

3 Start the procedure.

Check the results, especially when analyzing video content; if necessary, repeat detection at a different Sensitivity.

4 Then click Create clips. The (sub)clips are

stored in the Rack.

Creating subclips

Load a clip in the Clip Viewer and select a range by setting a mark-in (A key) and a mark-out (S key). Press the U key to generate a subclip.

Detected scene clips

Green marker for each new scene

A subclip is part of a larger clip. Be careful when deleting the media

file for a subclip: This will cause all the other subclips and the mas-

ter clip to lose their media data.

“Create Subclip” button

10 Protecting and Muting Tracks

In Avid Liquid, you can make Tra c k s immune against almost all operations. You can also deactivate audio and/or video playback.

STUDIO

Inserting a video-only scene

The original audio Track is disabled.

Muting audio tracks

Click the loudspeaker icons to the right of the corresponding Timeline tracks.

LIQUID

Inserting a video-only clip

If you’re working with a video-only clip without original audio: Simply drag the clip to the Time- line video clip. The video clip’s original audio is unaffected.

Inserting an audio/video clip

Protect the Tr a c k with the original audio clip: Right-click the Tr a ck name to display the shortcut menu and select Protected. Continue as described above and then disable protection.

Protected tracks

Clips on protected Tr a c k s can’t be moved, deleted, overwritten, etc., nor can additional clips be inserted.

Deactivating/activating video and/or audio playback

Each Tra c k has two columns in its header area: one for Video Playback (monitor icon) and one for Audio Playback (loudspeaker icon). Left-click in the relevant area to activate/deactivate audio/ video playback for each individual Tr a c k .

The monitor icon represents video playback.

The loudspeaker icon represents audio playback.

Simply position a video-only clip on the existing video clip.

Because the “Name 4” Track is protected, the audio of the existing clip is unaffected. Only the video portion of

The following icons identify the clip and its status (in the Rack in Detail View):

Digitized video/audio

Undigitized video/audio

Digitized video

Undigitized video

Subclip

Digitized audio

Undigitized audio

Sequence

Video effects

Clip 3 [Sub (1)] is inserted. Protected tracks are behind a “gray shroud”.

Audio effects

Graphics (title, image)

Graphics (roll title)

Graphics (crawl title)

Animation

Realtime video effects

DVD menu

11 Trimming with the Trim Editor

The Trim Editor is the ideal tool for precision trimming, especially of transitions (edits), because you always have both frames in view. This section provides a brief introduction.

STUDIO

Clip Properties Tool

This tool is opened from the Video Toolbox and allows you to trim the mark-in and mark-out of the scene currently selected. In Avid Liquid, on the other hand, both clips are always trimmed at the selected edit.

In Avid Liquid, click the and buttons to jump from edit to edit.

LIQUID

Opening the Trim Editor

Position the Playline at the edit between two adjacent clips. Click the button or press open the Trim Editor. Ye ll o w h a nd l es ap p ea r at t he v id e o Edit and at the edits of any associated audio clips: The Trim Ed i- tor always operates in Film Style. You can now precision-trim using the , ,

and buttons:

F5 to

Trimming both clips

(Preset) Click the area between the two inlays. The mark-out of the left-hand clip and the markin of the right-hand clip are shifted by the same amount. The total Sequence length remains the same.

Trimming the outgoing (left-hand) clip

Click the left inlay. The mark-out of the left-hand clip shifts and the overall length changes.

Trimming the incoming (right-hand) clip

Click the right inlay. The mark-in of the righthand clip shifts and the overall length changes.

This is the last frame of the left-hand

(=outgoing) clip.

This is the first frame of the right-hand

(=incoming) clip.

Edit with outgoing and incoming clipsTrim tools and frame counters (above)

12 Trimming Video and Audio: Split Editing

What are known in Studio as “L-cuts” and “J-cuts” are no problem for Avid Liquid. You simply need to unlink the video and audio clips.

STUDIO

Performing L- and J-cuts

To perform these cuts, lock the audio Track.

As in Studio, audio fades can also be subsequently applied in Avid Liquid to create smooth audio fade-ins, fade-outs or transitions. See page 44.

LIQUID

Unlinking audio and video clips

Until now, you’ve been editing video and audio together on the Timeline (for example, when trimming). Now click the button so it’s no longer yellow. Video and audio clips that actually belong together (original audio) can then be selected and edited separately.

Audio clips on separate tracks

You don’t have to do this but it helps improve clarity: Click (and unlink) one of the audio clips involved and press

CTRL+UP/DOWN ARROW.

Trimming audio clips

Make sure Overwrite Style is activated. Drag one of the clips by the red handle until you’ve achieved the desired J or L overlap.

Can’t trim (drag) the audio?

Then you’ll first have to trim the entire clip (video and audio) a little (if desired, in the Trim Editor). Or trim the video and shift the video and audio ( activated) together to create the overlap.

Edit mode is activated, clips are unlinke

In this case, the audio from the left-hand clip was simply dragged to the right, over the audio of the right-hand

clip (just like an L-cut in Studio). However, this does mean the audio of the right-hand clip is simply deleted.

First the right-hand audio clip is shifted on the bottom Track. The two audio clips are then extended in opposite

directions so that the audio overlaps.

This is a combined L- and J-cut including overlap.

Disband stereo audio clip(s): Right-click a stereo audio clip (recognizable by the two waveforms and the S1 desig-

nation in front of the Track) and select Disband Clip(s). The two audio tracks are divided into separate clips as

shown in the screenshot.

13 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically

Even when clips are already positioned on the Time line, they can be moved to new positions.

STUDIO

Swapping positions

Simply drag a clip to another position. The overall length of the film remains the same and no gaps are created.

Avid Liquid: Active Tracks?

Click a Tra c k ’s Name field. If it’s highlighted, the Tr a c k is “active”, i.e. certain actions are applied to

this Tra c k , such as the selection command described on the right. This is especially important when working with the Insert Arrow (three-point editing; see the Reference Manual).

LIQUID

Selecting a clip or clips

Click a clip to select it (hold down the

CTRL or

SHIFT key to select multiple clips).

You can also drag a lasso around the relevant clips. Another practical method it is to use the Select

after playline ( ) command. All clips on active Tr ac k s (!) at and to the right of the Playline are

selected. This is an easy way to create a gap in the Sequence.

Moving a clip or clips

CTRL

Select using the lasso: Beginning in an empty area on the Timeline, drag the lasso until it either surrounds the

Custom selection: Hold down the CTRL key and click the relevant clips. You can now, for example, move the

selected clips as a group. Or open the Clip Properties dialog box (right-click > Properties) in order, for example,

relevant clips or its outline touches them.

Edit mode pointer

to rename multiple clips.

Deactivated

tracks

Selection as of the playline: In this case, the Track status is important; the command is applied only to clips on

active tracks. To activate or deactivate tracks, click on the Track names. Deactivated tracks are dark and active

tracks are light-blue.

Selected

Not selected because tracks are deactivated

Selected

14 Good to Know...

Here are three more functions frequently used in Studio that have corresponding functions in Avid Liquid.

STUDIO

Find Scene in Album

This command from the shortcut menu for a Timeline scene lets you find the scene in the Album.

Mark scenes used

Album scenes that are used one or more times on the Timeline/Storyboard are marked with a green checkmark.

Grab a frame of video (Film)

This command from the Video Toolbox generates a bitmap either from the current film or from a connected player.

LIQUID

Match Frame

This command loads a Timeline clip into the Source Viewer.

1 Position the Playline on a Timeline clip

and right-click this same clip.

2 Select the Match Frame command.

The Source Viewer now contains the exact same image as in the Master Viewer, i.e. the “match frame”.

Mark clips used in current Sequence

The same function as in Studio except that the checkmark is gray (Edit > Settings > User > Project > Mark clips used in current Sequence).

Snapshot (Timeline)

This command ( on the Time line toolbar) creates a still at the current Playline position and stores the image as a “Snapshot” in the currently active Rack (if you don’t see this button, rightclick the toolbar and select Customize > Special tab).

The clip TC on the Timeline

and in the Source Viewer

are identical

Match Frame loads a Timeline clip into

the Source Viewer and displays the exact

same image as the Master Viewer.

Snapshot from the

playline position

Clips used in the current Sequence are

identified by a checkmark in picon view.

15 Effects: Working with Key Frames

Key Frames can be used to dynamically shape the course of an effect, such as initiating an abrupt change but ending it more slowly.

STUDIO

Key frames in Studio 10

This option has become available as of Studio version 10. With key frames, the course of the effect is defined for the duration of a clip or transition.

Static effect, no key frames

If you want to work in Avid Liquid without key frames, i.e. want to create a static effect, open the Effect Editor and Select Options tab > Key Frames: Deactivate Key Frames. Any change will be applied for the entire length of the clip.

LIQUID

Inserting key frames

First you need a clip with a clip effect as described on page 36.

1 Open the Effect Editor. The position bar

below the video inlay contains one Key Frame at the beginning of the clip and

one at the end by default.

2 A Key Frame stores effect parameter val-

ues. The values change from one Key Frame to the next, either at a continuous

rate or an accelerating rate.

3 Position the Playline in the middle of the

clip. Click the button to insert a new Key Frame.

4 Change any of the effect’s parameters

(e.g. Size) and view the results in the preview ( ).

5 Play around with the Parameter Cur ves.

They affect the temporal sequence between Key Frames.

Curve for the change in size

Key frames

Clip effect with key frames: The image becomes smaller and then larger.

Each of the four key frames was defined at a specific size - the curve pre-

cisely defines the course of the change between the key frames.

You can also insert key frames directly in the curve (by clicking it) and

Each key frame in a curve has a shortcut menu (right-click to open). You

can use this menu, for example, to define the interpolation between the

key frames: Linear, Bezier, Constant.

move existing key frames.

Deactivate key frames: Options tab in the Effect Editor

16 Audio Scrubbing

One of the key features in Avid Liquid is precision audio editing. This section introduces an extremely useful tool.

STUDIO

Scrubbing as of Version 10

Audio scrubbing is available in Studio Version 10 and later.

LIQUID

Audio scrubbing

To listen to audio frame by frame (e.g. to cut an “ummm” from an interview), use the Audio S crub function in Avid Liquid.

1 Press the SCROLL LOCK key (this key also

deactivates Audio Scrub).

2 Act ivate Audio Playback for the Tr a c k

containing the clip. Then hold down the

SHIFT key and click the Loudspeaker icon

to display it as a contour.

Audio Scrub is now activated for this Tr a c k .

3 Move the Playline (using the mouse, key-

board, tool buttons or jog/shuttle).

4 Right-click the button on the task-

bar to toggle between Analog Scrub and Digital Scrub.

5 Analog Scrub sounds like a decelerated

tape; Digital Scrub plays only a few frames in a loop.

Any number of Tr ac k s can be selected at one time for audio scrubbing.

The SOT 1 and SOT 2 tracks are activated for audio scrubbing (as indicated the transparent loudspeaker icons). Press SCROLL LOCK and select one of the two scrub modes: Digital or Analog. You can toggle between the two in the Audio Tool menu at the bottom right on the taskbar (first right-click, then left-click).

Digital audio scrub can be precisely cus-

tomized (Edit > Settings > User > Audio).

A small auxiliary level on the taskbar helps you keep an eye on the audio level. Click it to open the Audio Tool. You can then adjust the master audio output.

17 The Audio Editor

Avid Liquid’s counterpart to Studio’s Audio Toolbox is the Audio Editor. This module must always be open during complex audio editing.

STUDIO

Audio Toolbox

The Audio Toolbox contains the faders necessary for your four audio tracks.

LIQUID

Audio Editor

The Audio Editor (press F4 or click to open) comprises three areas:

 Mixer

When Audio Playback is activated speaker icon visible), a Fader is configured here for each Tr ac k . You can use these Fader s to edit the volume, pan/balance and effects.

(loud-

 Output Mapping

Here the signals from the Time line are combined on Output Busses and routed to the actual system outputs.

 Settings

Here you can activate or deactivate specific segments for the Mixer.

Any changes you make in the Audio Editor (with the exception of Output Mappings) are saved with the current Sequence. In the case of a new Sequence, the Audio Editor is set to the default settings.

Volume line (clips)

Audio Editor with Mixer: A fader unit is displayed for every Track for which audio playback is activated. “Stereo” is the output bus. All audio signals are finally mixed together on this dual-channel bus (in this example).

18 Audio Mixer and Volume Lines

As in Studio, Avid Liquid lets you to edit the Vo l um e L i ne s while the Audio Editor is open (F4, ) using the mouse. This is called “rubberbanding”.

STUDIO

Volume lines

These lines represent the rise and fall of the volume in a clip. As a balance indicator for a stereo audio clip, the lines identify the left/right dominance in the signal.

Avid Liquid also has Pan lines (for mono clips) and Balance lines. You can adjust the volume for the entire Tra c k (activate Output Level/Input Level segments of the Mixer). You can also set the Pan and Balance for the entire Tra c k . To set Pan/ Balance for a single clip, activate Classic Routing (see Settings tab).

Virtual mixing console

Each of the audio tracks represented has a fader and several other buttons.

LIQUID

Rubberbanding

Normally, the clip Vo lum e L in es are immediately visible as light-blue lines when the Audio E ditor is opened. (If not: Right-click the Audio Playback column in the Track Header Area to activate the line). To edit the line:

 Click the line to set an Audio Ke y Frame.

Drag this Key Frame to the desired posi-

tion. Note: The Undo Key Frame command is always applied to the clip currently selected (clicked).

Audio Mixer

When you set Audio Key Frames on the Vo l u m e Line, the slider in the Fader belonging to the Tr ac k moves.

When you click the slider, an Audio Key Frame is set at the Playline position and on the audio clip.

Additional functions are described with the screenshot on the right.

Mute/Solo: Mutes Track/ plays audio for this Track only.

Track balance: Distributes audio between the left and right output channels.

Key frame and fader

are linked

Stereo output bus: Sum of the audio signals from active Tracks.

Key frame buttons in the Audio Editor.

Drag Key frame with the mouse

The Audio Mixer is the most important audio editing tool in Avid Liquid.

Green line:

Track ba lance

19 Output Mapping

Yo u c a n ha ve a ny n um b e r o f “a u di o Tra c k s” on the Timeline but at some point, all the audio signals must (for example) end up on the left/right channels of the DV output.

STUDIO

Stereo output

Studio has no advanced configuration options. The signal is output in two-channel stereo, regardless of whether it’s to DV tape, to DVD or exported to a file.

LIQUID

From clip to fader

The clip’s audio signal is routed to the Fader belonging to the Tr a c k on which the clip is positioned.

From fader to bus

Each Fader in the Audio Mixer outputs its signal(s) to an Output Bus, usually the Stereo Output Bus.

From bus to output

In this case (Output Mapping tab), the signals on the bus or busses are distributed to your system’s “real” outputs: e.g. sound card, breakout box or DV (IEEE 1394) output. The dots in the boxes represent active assignments. Click the fields to set or delete dots.

System settings

The Output Mapping settings are applied system- wide, meaning they are accessed for each new Sequence.

Fader Output bus

Audio Tool

(master output)

Output bus DV and analog* output

Track

The audio signal’s path through the Mixer, output bus and Output Mapping.

Timeline audio clip

* Optional

20 Audio: Settings Tab

This tab is important mainly because it lets you determine the appearance of the Mixer. In other words, it lets you enable and disable certain segments of the Faders.

STUDIO

Fixed user interface

You can’t alter the appearance of the mixer tool.

Additional audio tips for working with Avid Liquid



Internally, Avid Liquid works with 32-bit floating-point audio files. This special audio format is extremely resistant to overload and clipping, but you should still keep an eye on connected recording devices to make sure you don’t go too far into the red zone.

 Arrangement on the Tra c k s -

Audio editing is much easier if you reserve specific Tr a c k s for specific types of audio, such as positioning all the music on a Tr a ck called “Music”.

 Activate the Audio Tool (F3) so you can

view the audio master output at all times.

 Knob or slider? Right-click below the “+”

sign next to the fader (in the Audi o Mixer).

LIQUID

Activating Mixer segments

Click the checkbox to display the desired segments in the Faders, such as Input Level (Track).

The fewer the segments, the more straightforward the display.

Tooltips

The tooltips for specific areas of the Audio Mixer can be very detailed. If you find the text fields to be too large, disable the function here.

Mix Automation/Voice Over

These options are for the live mixing of audio Tr ac k s and for recording Voice Over (see next set of facing pages).

Display fader for Track volume

Affects all the clips on the Tra c k . Activate the Input Level (Track) (or the output level).

Settings: On this tab, you can change the functions

For greater clarity, activate only as many segments as

You can hide the detailed tooltips as soon as you’re

and appearance of the Audio Editor.

you need for your purposes.

familiar with the functions.

All the vertical sliders can also be displayed as knobs,

but then you lose the level indicators.

To change, right-click the +/- area.

21 Recording Voice Over

This tool, which records a voice over in sync with the image, is also available in Avid Liquid. To record sound, you need a microphone and a sound card.

STUDIO

The Voice-over Tool

Make yourself comfortable behind the microphone of your virtual sound recording studio ...

Voice Over tips

Be careful not to overwrite any clips on



the selected Tra c k (voice over is always in Overwrite Style). It’s best to configure a separate Tra c k for Voice Over clips.

 Divide the voice over recording into man-

ageable segments.

LIQUID

Checking audio settings

Click the menu bar > Edit > Settings > User > Audio Settings. Look under Preferred device to see

whether it contains the soundcard to which the microphone is connected. Then select Preferred quality. In the extended area, test whether the system is picking up the audio.

Recording a voice over

1 Open the Audio Editor (F4, ). 2 Set a Timelin e mark-in at the point where

you want to start recording (if desired,

you can also set a mark-out at the end).

3 Select a Tra ck for a Voice Over clip: Acti-

vate the pale red box below the Clip Fader

belonging to the Tra c k to act ivate (the box

must now glow bright red).

4 Click the microphone icon . Follow-

ing a brief preroll time, recording begins

at the mark-in

5 Press the SPACEBAR or click to stop

recording.

6 The Voice Over clip is inserted on the

Tr a c k selected.

Here you can test the microphone input, select the soundcard to

be used (if more than one is available) and define the preroll and

Audio Properties:

postroll for recording.

Select Track for voice over clips

Voice over Rack

Start & Stop

Beginning and end of recording

Dialog box after

recording

22 Live Mixing of Audio Tracks

In Avid Liquid, this function is called Audio Mix Automation. As in Studio, you can use it to set the various audio sources to the correct volume ratio during playback.

STUDIO

Playing and changing settings

Start playback and alternately adjust the various sliders. This sets audio Key Frames that you can later edit manually.

LIQUID

Audio Mix Automation

1 Open the Audio Editor (F4, ).

2 Set a Timelin e mark-in at the point where

you want to start mixing (if desired, you

can also set a mark-out at the end).

3 Select one or more Tr a c ks for Mix Auto-

mation: Click the pale red box(es) below

the Clip Fader(s) belonging to the

Tr a c k ( s ) to activate (box(es) must glow

red).

4 Click to start mixing. Adjust the

sliders.

5 Click or press the SPACEBAR to stop

mixing. A dialog box is now displayed in

which you can confirm your action and

define the resolution (number) of the

Audio Ke y Frames.

Linking faders

To move more than one Fader at a time, you can link Faders. Click the Padlock and select the same color from the color field for all the linked Faders.

Fader Name4 controls the live mix.

When mixing is completed, define the density of Audio Keyframes for the volume line.

23 Sound Effects

Avid Liquid lets you apply sound effects directly to the Timelin e clips or as “insert effects” in the Aud io Mixer.

STUDIO

Audio Effects

This area of the Audio Toolbox is your gateway to audio effect editing. Some of the Studio VST effects can also be found in Avid Liquid.

LIQUID

Audio clip effects

These effects are applied in the same way as video clip effects (see page 36 and Library tab > Real- time Clip FX > Audio, etc.)

Insert effects

1 Open the Audio Editor (F4, ). On the

Settings tab, activate Insert FX/Send FX.

2 A new segment appears in the Mixer (if

necessary, click the small “+” sign to dis-

play it in its entirety).

3 Click the dotted line and select an Audi o

Effect for the Fader (=audio channel,

Tr a c k ).

4 Click the small “e” to open the audio

Effect Editor.

5 Use the procedure above to insert addi-

tional effects.

Note that Insert Effects are applied to the entire Tr ac k . For information on Send Effects, see the Reference Manual.

100

Pinnacle Systems Liquid - 7.0 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Upgrading to Avid Liquid

1 Avid Liquid: Brief Overview

2 Initial Contact with Avid Liquid

3 EZ Capture

4 Album and Project

5 Collecting, Sorting, Viewing and Finding Clips

6 Importing Clips, Titles, Graphics and Stills

7 DVD Menus, Titles and Effects

8 Film Window and Timeline: Basics

9 Inserting Clips on the Timeline

10 Inserting/Deleting Clips on the Timeline

11 Trimming Clips on the Timeline

12 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically

13 Effects: Basics

14 Effects: Transitions

15 Effects: Clip FX (Video Effects)

16 Effects: Render or Realtime?

17 Timeline Settings

18 Audio: Basics

19 Fast Audio Fade-ins and Fade-outs

20 Making a Movie: Options

21 Recording to DV Tape

22 Burning Disks / Exporting Files

23 The Most Important Settings

1 Recording from DV/HDV Video Tapes (Capture)

2 Comparison of Recording Instruments

3 Recording Clips with Mark-Ins and Mark-Outs

4 Recording or Logging Clips “on the Fly”

5 Automatic Scene Detection

6 Recording Audio: Stereo/Mono and Level

7 Naming and Numbering Clips while Recording

8 Recording/Digitizing Tips

9 Scene Detection in the Clip Viewer

10 Protecting and Muting Tracks

11 Trimming with the Trim Editor

12 Trimming Video and Audio: Split Editing

13 Moving Clips Horizontally and Vertically

14 Good to Know...

15 Effects: Working with Key Frames

16 Audio Scrubbing

17 The Audio Editor

18 Audio Mixer and Volume Lines

19 Output Mapping

20 Audio: Settings Tab

21 Recording Voice Over

22 Live Mixing of Audio Tracks

23 Sound Effects