Can I do post with my current setup?

LivintheDream · 12th July 2007

I've been asked to do post production and sound design for a student film, and I want to make sure I've got a setup that will handle it before I agree. I've got ProTools M-Powered 7.0 with a Maudio 1418 interface. I've read where you have to get DV toolkit for ProTools LE in order to synch with video, but that's not available for M-powered. Can M-powered do video synch or do I need to purchase something? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm a newbie to postproduction.

starcrash13 · 12th July 2007

You can certainly sync to a Quicktime movie in M-Powered. You just won't be able to unlock the Feet+Frames or timecode option in the main counter which is a DV Toolkit feature. The other major drawback will be the inability to import an OMF file from the picture department. If you can get your hands on the academic version of M-Powered, then you will gain both the timecode counter and OMF import.

introvert · 12th July 2007

Is there an academic version of LE? And does it have the timecode/feet+frames unlocked as well?

starcrash13 · 12th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by introvert

Is there an academic version of LE? And does it have the timecode/feet+frames unlocked as well?

Nope. Just M-Powered. For LE, you would have to buy DV Toolkit.

LivintheDream · 12th July 2007

Thanks for the input. This is just going to be a short film. Probably 6-7 minutes. Do you think just locking to a quicktime would do for something short format like this?

introvert · 12th July 2007

I would think so, as long as there aren't going to be a ton of edits. Are they going to finalize picture before sending it to you?

LivintheDream · 13th July 2007

I don't know. I'm guessing all the editing would be done by the time they send it to me. What is the difference either way?

introvert · 13th July 2007

Well, when they make edits after you've begun doing audio, everything in your project must shift. If you're working with timecode you can do a conform and adjust your session to fit (well, at least it will get close). Otherwise you're left moving everything around every time they make a change.

If you're going to be without timecode, I would highly recommend locking down picture before you start work, if at all possible.

Henchman · 13th July 2007

Don't touch it untill thye've locked picture

dropblacksky · 21st July 2007

You can certainly do a short film like that in LE. You won't have timecode, of course, but you can still do the work. See if they can burn in the timecode into the video so you can have a common reference when communicating with the director or editor. Definitely make sure they achieve final cut before you start laying things on the timeline as was said earlier, otherwise it'll get messy when they start changing things around.

The other issue might be tracks. If it's a deep sound project, the best plan would be to have separate sessions for SFX, Dialogue, Foley, and Ambiences. Bounce each of those to 4-6 track stems and import them into your final mix project. You should be all good from there. For me, especially with short films, track management is more of a pain in LE than the lack of timecode.

12th July 2007	#1
LivintheDream Gear Head Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 45 Thread Starter	Can I do post with my current setup? I've been asked to do post production and sound design for a student film, and I want to make sure I've got a setup that will handle it before I agree. I've got ProTools M-Powered 7.0 with a Maudio 1418 interface. I've read where you have to get DV toolkit for ProTools LE in order to synch with video, but that's not available for M-powered. Can M-powered do video synch or do I need to purchase something? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm a newbie to postproduction.

12th July 2007	#2
starcrash13 Gear addict Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Marin County, CA, USA Posts: 495	You can certainly sync to a Quicktime movie in M-Powered. You just won't be able to unlock the Feet+Frames or timecode option in the main counter which is a DV Toolkit feature. The other major drawback will be the inability to import an OMF file from the picture department. If you can get your hands on the academic version of M-Powered, then you will gain both the timecode counter and OMF import. __________________ Pascal Garneau \| IMDb www.pascalgarneau.com

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12th July 2007	#3
introvert Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 277	Is there an academic version of LE? And does it have the timecode/feet+frames unlocked as well?

13th July 2007	#7
LivintheDream Gear Head Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 45 Thread Starter	I don't know. I'm guessing all the editing would be done by the time they send it to me. What is the difference either way?

13th July 2007	#9
Henchman Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: LA, USA Posts: 6,836	Don't touch it untill thye've locked picture

21st July 2007	#10
dropblacksky Gear addict Joined: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 495	You can certainly do a short film like that in LE. You won't have timecode, of course, but you can still do the work. See if they can burn in the timecode into the video so you can have a common reference when communicating with the director or editor. Definitely make sure they achieve final cut before you start laying things on the timeline as was said earlier, otherwise it'll get messy when they start changing things around. The other issue might be tracks. If it's a deep sound project, the best plan would be to have separate sessions for SFX, Dialogue, Foley, and Ambiences. Bounce each of those to 4-6 track stems and import them into your final mix project. You should be all good from there. For me, especially with short films, track management is more of a pain in LE than the lack of timecode.