Import media to Avid - Managing your videos, projects, and media onto Avid Media Composer on Mac

Importing media files to Avid Media Composer
You can access files for import from any folder, disk, or drive source mounted on the desktop, such as a CD or DVD, fixed drive, removable drive, or network server. You can import more than one file at a time, including files of multiple types.

To import files:
1. If you created one or more Import settings, select the Import setting you want to use from the Settings list in the Project window.

2. Do one of the following:
- Double-click Media Creation in the Settings list.
- Select Tools > Media Creation.

The Media Creation dialog box opens.

3. Click the Media Type tab.

4. Click the File Format menu, and select the format (MXF or OMF).
Tips:
If you are working in an HD project, you cannot select OMF as a file format. MXF is selected by default.

5. Click the Import tab.

6. Select the resolution and target drives.

7. Click OK and close the dialog box.

8. Open the bin in which you want to store the imported files.

9. Select File > Import.

The Select files to Import dialog box opens.

10. Click the Files of the Enable menu, and select an import file type to display only files of the selected file type in the source file list:

11. Click Options to open the Import Settings dialog box, and then do the following:
a. Select the options you want and click OK to save the settings.
b. Close the Import Settings dialog box and return to the Select Files to Import dialog box.

12. Use the From menu to locate the folder containing the source files.

13. For graphics and video files, click the Resolution menu, and select a resolution for the imported media.

The resolution matches the resolution selected on the Import tab of the Media Creation Settings dialog box. If you select a different resolution, the resolution is also selected in the Media Creation Settings dialog box.

OMFI and AAF files do not convert DV 25 to DV 50 or DV 50 to DV 25.

Your Avid editing application imports XDCAM media at the native resolution of the media on the XDCAM disc. The system ignores other video resolution settings.

14. Click the Single/Dual Drives button and select a destination drive for the imported file.

The target drive or drives match the drives selected on the Import tab of the Media Creation Settings dialog box. If you select a different drive, the drive is also selected in the Media Creation Settings dialog box.

15. For an XDCAM disc, type a name in the Disk Label text box.
Tips: Your Avid editing application uses the disk label for operations such as Batch Import, where you are prompted to insert a specific XDCAM disc that holds the files you want to import. A disk label is required in order to import XDCAM media.

16. Select files or deselect files from the source file list by using the standard selection methods for your operating system.

17. Click Open.
When the system finishes importing the files, the clips appear in the selected bin.

Converting Media files that do not supported by Avid to DNxHD
If you are in this situation that your media files are not in Avid MC natively supported files types, then you need a Mac Converter tool to convert your source files to something (e.g. DNxHD) that your Avid Media Composer will accept. Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac is such a Mac app to perform not only as a Video to Avid MC Converter, but also as a Camera Video to FCP Converter, as well as a Sony Footage Converter for Mac, or a Canon/Panasonic MXF Converter.

Basic steps to convert videos to DNxHD for Avid on Macintosh:

1. Click “Add video” or “Add from folder” to navigate and load your source media files.

2. Hit Format menu, the Format dialogue box pops up. Choose “Avid DNxHD (*.mov)” as output format from “Avid Media Composer” catalogue.

3. Press “Convert” button to transform different videos to DNxHD MOV for using in Avid MC.

Refer to the following articles to learn more:
Import Sony Handycam AVCHD footage to Avid Media Composer
Switch Canon MXF media files for editing in Avid Studio
Panasonic DMC-FZ200 and Avid MC Workflow on Mac
Recode Panasonic P2 MXF to AMC 5.5 with XDCAM/DNxHD

Tags : Video to Avid MC Converter, manage videos and projects in Avid, import media files into Avid MC 5.5, Avid MC media creation, Camera Video to FCP Converter, Sony Footage Converter for Mac, Canon/Panasonic MXF Converter