Issues With Using Video With Pro Tools

There is a very interesting thread on the Post Sound Mixers group on Linked in at the moment that has some enlightening thoughts and observations I thought it would be useful to highlight here….

Michael Wabro

I’m running 768 tracks on a HDX3 at the mo- with hires mojo .mxf video in the session- none of this lame satellite business. I run a Media Composer as well. It’s rock solid! Mojo kills anything else hands down- in fact its the same if not even better than media composer at playing frame accurately. Out of interest, I have tried again- now that I have upgraded to Mojo SDI- to play the DV Pals & H264a- forget it. They are a joke. Rubber bandy bandy crap. No professional in audio post using Pro Tools should be using those videos. Though DV Pal much more usable than H264- thats for sure.

 Paulo Mendes

Some updates: 

• SDI has been discontinued. Options now are the Avid qualified Blackmagic cards. These cards won´t play MXF files streaming from Isis 5000 or 7000. Only native Quicktime SD or HD. 
• video into PT timeline using Blackmagic cards is not possible. You need to close PT and use the BM´s capture tool instead. Then import the files into PT. 
• Satellite LE won´t allow capture either. 
• Those that need to stream MXF files(that link to AAF´s generated from Media Composers in video edit suites) from Isis servers and also need to layback those video files to Digibeta, Video Satellite is the only feasible option. Basically a Media Composer with a Mojo DX and of course another computer and another licence for Satellite Link itself. 

So basically, to replace a simple device called Avoption V10 that allows MXF streaming from Unity and layback to Digibeta, just for the sake of upgrading to PT HDX10 and upgrading a Unity server to Isis, Avid demands that you have another computer, a Media Composer plus the Satellite Link licence. Fantastic…At least they could allow the Mojo DX to work with PT, so we would have to buy only the video interface. It seems silly to have to buy another computer with a Media Composer plus the Mojo DX to replace a V10.

If at least Media Composer could run at the same time in the same computer as PT 10, but not even that is possible. You need more computers, more software, more headaches in sum. And of course a lot of extra money to fill Avid´s pockets. 

It´s all easy for post operations that get a simple quicktime as a ref and only need to deliver Wav files to clients. But for multi room broadcast environments, things are getting more complicated than ever. 

Mike Aiton

Rumour has it Avid are integrating the avid video engine into ProTools….now that will be exciting n’est ce pas?  What’s wrong with buying a second hand mojo SDI or vanilla mojo to run your on your Isis now? Cheap as chips. With or without satellite link (you choose) Why all the ball ache? You can choose to get your editors to flatten to DV Pal mxf and enjoy rock solid sync, or go with satellite link and MC if you are in more of a hurry. I am with Mike Wabro on this. Mojo’s rock! Spend little during a period of change is wise…

Florian Ardelean

@Mike Aiton - That’s not the point. Mojos are SD only. Besides there is no support for them (from AVID I mean - MC 5.5 was the last version to officially sport them), and will almost certainly be incompatible with Pro tools 11 because of the 32-bit architecture their drivers are on.

Besides, what about HD broadcast? It’s called Protools HD but it can’t really be integrated seamlessly in an HD workflow. So for frame-accurate mixing in the box, if video was SD, any Mojo was sufficient - you didn’t even need the more expensive MOJO SDI.

For HD video, to properly maintain frame-accurate sync you need a Blackmagic card, Sync HD, genlock and tri-burst generator. Worst of all, Blackmagic cards are not reliable in a broadcast sense. 

For HD MXF’s, however, you need an entire edit suite in the same room, producing noise, complicating life with satellite link and a scrubbing method that isn’t as good as Protools’ internal video engine. And, worst of all, crashing when Media Composer feels like it. AND, frame-accurate HD from Media Composer requires everything listed above. Except you have the option to chose a more reliable video card than the Blackmagic - MOJO DX or something cheaper like AJA for example, for output from MC. If Mojo DX was supported, then all of these problems would go away - and we’d have MXF HD videos straight in PT.

Mike Aiton

Well the UK’s largest independent production company where I regularly freelance uses mojo dx and mc and vid sat quite happily on Isis. Why do you need HD in audio? Does it make your mix better? V10 is a very old peripheral now. Where’s the rush for PT 11? Think that will be stable when its released? Get mojo and play with sound nicely ( which works happily on another clients Isis where I freelance), or get mojo dx and go the HD route with mc and vid sat.

Well it seems to be another area that for users who want to view HD content with Pro Tools is turning into an expensive solution. That said I am with Mike Aiton, SD for working with sound is surely fine.

But what do you think?…..