User`s guide

Chapter 1: Introduction to Pro Tools AVoption and AVoption XL 1
chapter 1
Introduction to Pro Tools AVoption and
AVoption XL
AVoption and AVoption XL combine the power-
ful audio post-production features of Pro Tools
with integrated support for the import, capture,
and playback of Avid video media.
AVoption Components
AVoption consists of software and two Avid
video cards that you install in a Pro Tools audio
system. The Digidesign audio hardware provides
digital audio recording, editing, mixing, and
processing. The Avid video hardware provides
video capture and import, full-screen video
playback on an external PAL or NTSC monitor,
video playback in an on-screen window, and
professional quality video compression.
AVoption Capabilities
AVoption lets you:
• Import and capture multiple NTSC or PAL
video clips to the Movie track.
• Play the Movie track with near sample-accu-
rate precision against audio tracks in a
Pro Tools session.
• Spot or Slip the Movie track to a new time
code location, and spot audio to the video
track.
• Spot individual video clips to new locations in
the Movie track.
• View video edits and clip definitions in the
Movie track.
• View the Movie track as a series of picture
frames.
• Play video on an external NTSC or PAL moni-
tor.
• Play video in a floating window on your com-
puter monitor.
You can also:
• Import MFM (Media File Manager format) or
MSM (Media Stream Manager format) video
files created on Avid systems, such as Media
Composer, Xpress/Mac, and AudioVision into
the Movie Track of a Pro Tools session.
• Capture MSM format video media in the
Movie Track of a Pro Tools session, while re-
cording audio simultaneously.