This class represents the essential first step on your journey toward achieving confidence, creativity, and professional efficiency with Avid Media Composer, which is the industry-standard non-linear film and video editing application used in the vast majority of movie and television productions worldwide. When you complete this course together with the second course in the series, Media Composer Fundamentals II (MC110), you will have received the foundational training required to successfully achieve the professional credential of Avid Certified User in Media Composer.
Media Composer Fundamentals I is carefully designed as an introductory course to get new users up-and-running on the software quickly and efficiently. Through this comprehensive course, students develop a thorough understanding of the video editing process and acquire the basic skills necessary to complete a video editing project from beginning to final end product. This foundational learning includes understanding the critical relationship between media and project files, understanding proper media storage location and organization, developing the ability to create a new project file, learning how to bring in source video and audio files, mastering the ability to edit the sequence, learning to add titles, music, and basic visual effects, and finally understanding how to export and deliver the finished sequence to your intended audience.
Who Is This Class Ideal For:
This introductory course is appropriate for video editors, assistant editors, and multimedia producers who are new to Media Composer. This course is also highly appropriate and beneficial for those who currently work with Avid Symphony, which shares many fundamental interface elements and editing concepts with Media Composer.
Course Prerequisites:
- No prior experience with Avid Media Composer is necessary to enroll in or succeed in this course
- A working knowledge of either Windows or Macintosh operating systems is expected and required
- A background or previous experience in video editing, media production, or post-production work is strongly recommended to help you understand the context of the lessons
Comprehensive Syllabus:
Section One: Introduction to Media Composer
This section covers the essential startup and configuration of Media Composer, including how to launch the application, navigate the initial project selection interface, and understand the overall application interface design and layout.
- Launching Media Composer: How to start the application and access the welcome screen
- Understanding the Select Project Window: Navigating the interface for choosing and creating projects
- Learning the Interface: Understanding the layout of bins, timelines, and other key interface elements
- Working with Bins: Understanding how to organize and manage media bins within your project
- Creating a New User Profile and Changing User Profiles: Personalizing the application for multiple users
- Personalizing the Application: Customizing preferences and settings for your workflow
Section Two: Getting Started
This section provides instructions on the fundamental steps of setting up a new project and preparing it for editing work, including creating files and importing media.
- Creating a New Project: Starting from scratch with a new editing project
- Setting Up Your Project: Configuring project settings and parameters
- How to Input Video and Audio Clips: Understanding the methods for bringing source material into your project
- Importing Media Files: Using the import function to load video and audio material
- Preparing to Edit: Getting organized before beginning the editing process
- Saving Your Work: Properly saving and managing your project files
Section Three: Building Your Sequence
This section covers the fundamental techniques of assembling your video sequence using basic editing operations and tools.
- Overview: Understanding the overall process of sequence construction
- Creating a New Sequence: Initializing a new editing timeline
- Working with Tracks: Understanding video and audio tracks within your sequence
- Locating Audio Cues: Finding specific audio points for editing purposes
- Building Your Sequence with Splice-In: Using the splice-in editing mode to insert clips
- Editing with Overwrite: Using the overwrite editing mode to replace existing content
- Removing Material from a Sequence: Deleting unwanted clips and sections
- Essential Tools: Understanding and using the core editing tools and functions
Section Four: Drag-and-Drop Editing in Segment Mode
This section explores alternative editing methods using drag-and-drop techniques and the Smart Tool for more intuitive editing workflows.
- Understanding the Smart Tool: Learning the capabilities of this versatile editing tool
- Building a Montage with Drag-and-Drop: Creating sequences of clips using drag-and-drop techniques
- Adding Narration with Drag-and-Drop Overwrite: Placing voiceover narration into your sequence
- Editing Audio in the Sequence: Making adjustments to audio tracks and audio levels within the timeline
Section Five: Refining the Sequence
This section covers techniques for improving and adjusting your edited sequence after the initial assembly is complete.
- Moving Segments in the Timeline: Relocating clips within your sequence
- Changing Shots in the Sequence: Replacing one clip with another
- Deleting from the Timeline: Removing clips from specific points in your sequence
- Changing the Length of Timeline Segments: Adjusting the duration of individual clips
- Exploring Trim Mode: Using specialized trimming tools to refine edit points
- Useful Tools: Additional utilities for sequence refinement
Section Six: Introduction to Transition Effects
This section introduces the application of transition effects between clips to add polish and visual interest to your edited sequences.
- Creating Transition Effects: Applying transitions between clips, such as dissolves and wipes
- Modifying Transition Effects in the Timeline: Adjusting transition parameters and duration
- Accessing Effects from the Effect Palette: Finding and selecting available transition options
- Modifying Effects in Effect Mode: Fine-tuning transition properties and settings
- Creating Audio Crossfades: Applying audio transitions between soundtracks
Section Seven: Introduction to Segment Effects
This section covers the application of visual effects directly to clips and segments within your sequence.
- Adding Segment Effects: Applying visual effects to individual clips
- Stabilizing Shaky Footage: Using stabilization effects to reduce camera movement
- Using Automatic Color Correction to Improve the Footage: Applying color correction effects to enhance video quality
- Hiding Jump Cuts with FluidMorph: Using morphing effects to smooth transitions between shots
- Resizing a Shot: Changing the scale or size of video clips
- Using Standard Keyframes: Creating animated effects through keyframe animation
Section Eight: Combining Multiple Effects
This section teaches how to layer and combine multiple effects on a single clip for complex visual results.
- Nesting Effects: Creating nested effect stacks with multiple effects on one clip
- Changing the Order of Nested Effects: Adjusting the processing order of multiple effects
Section Nine: Freeze Frames and Motion Effects
This section introduces motion effects and freeze frame techniques for creating dynamic visual sequences.
- Types of Motion Effects: Understanding different motion effect options available
- Creating Freeze Frames: Pausing motion to hold a single frame in time
- Creating Motion Effects: Applying speed changes, reverses, and motion graphics
Section Ten: Creating Titles
This section covers the creation of titles and text graphics for your video sequences.
- Title Creation Tools: Understanding the available tools for creating text and graphics
- Quick View: The Avid Title Tool: Overview of the dedicated title creation interface
- Create a Title: Step-by-step process for creating new title elements
- Revise a Title: Making changes and corrections to existing titles
Section Eleven: Exporting Your Video
This section covers the final step of delivering your completed project in various output formats.
- Exporting Your Video: Understanding the export process and available options
- Exporting your Sequence: Creating a final video file from your completed sequence
Section Twelve: Technical Fundamentals
This final section covers troubleshooting and technical maintenance tasks necessary for smooth Media Composer operation.
- Fixing Technical Problems: Addressing common technical issues that may arise
- Troubleshooting Missing Media Files: Locating and reconnecting to disconnected media
- Recovering Lost Work: Methods for recovering unsaved or lost project work
- Deleting Media: Properly removing media files from your system when no longer needed
