Instruction manual

Using your Favourite Editing Software
28
Media Composer
Avid Media Composer 6
Avid Media Composer 6 captures and plays back standard definition and high definition video and audio
with Blackmagic video hardware, and also supports RS-422 deck control. Blackmagic plug-ins for Media
Composer are automatically installed if Media Composer is installed before the Desktop Video software.
You can use the Blackmagic Design system preferences to select your video and audio connections
including SDI, analog and HDMI, as well as other settings such as up, down and cross conversion, reference
clocking and HD progressive frame type. If only using a single computer monitor with Media Composer,
disable the Extended Desktop feature by setting "When not playing video, send" to "Black" and then
restart the computer. This will avoid the software interface extending on to your video monitor.
Setting up
Step 1. Launch Media Composer and the Select Project dialog box will appear.
Step 2. Choose your preferred User Profile if you have previously created one.
Step 3. Select the folder in which you want to create the project: Private, Shared or External.
Step 4. Click the New Project button.
Step 5. Type a project name and set the project options including Format, Color Space and Stereoscopic.
Click OK. Once the project has been created, the frame rate and raster cannot be changed. The
color space and stereoscopic settings can be changed later in the Format tab of the project.
Step 6. Double-click the project name in the Select Project dialog box. The Media Composer interface
will appear along with the project window for your new project. You have completed setting up
your project.
Playback
As a quick test to make sure everything is connected correctly, go to the Media Composer Editing Guide
and follow the section entitled "Importing Color Bars and Other Test Patterns". Double-click the imported
file to play it in a pop-up monitor. You should now see the image on both your computer monitor and your
Blackmagic output.
If you can’t see any video on your Blackmagic output, check the connections again and ensure you have the
correct output settings configured within the Blackmagic Design system preferences by choosing Tools >
Hardware Setup from within Media Composer.
If using a single computer monitor with Media Composer, open
the Blackmagic Design system preferences and choose to send
Black when not playing video.
Step 5. Type a project name and set the project options.