Basic Workflow

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Although nonlinear editing has changed the way we create, edit, and view media, there still is a process or workflow that happens when editing on any nonlinear editing system, including Avid Xpress Pro. First and foremost you must capture and record your raw footage, still images, soundtracks , or any other elements you plan on using to a hard drive. Although this can be an easy process, any errors can have serious consequences.

After capturing is complete, editing begins. Editing means a lot of different things. It might be as simple as stringing together two camera angles or adding music to 10 different camera shots. Shot selection, graphics, effects, audio mixing, and color correction are all part of the editing process.

The final step is to output your finished product. In the past there were basically only two options, creating a final tape or generating an Edit Decision List (EDL). This essentially was the difference between online editing and offline editing. Online editing means the product is finished on the same editing system on which it was started. Offline editing means that the actual editing of the finished product is completed in another editing suite. The generated EDL is transferred from an offline suite or system to an online suite. Editing on Avid Xpress Pro has both of these options and one more, exporting. Because all your media has been transferred or captured to computer files, you can now export your finished product to a range of file formats, including QuickTime, AVI, MPEG, and AIFF, to name a few. These files can be used for the web to create a CD-ROM or even a DVD. The reason I explain this workflow is simply an attempt to show the basic outline of how you'll work on Avid Xpress Pro.

The workflow for Avid Xpress Pro follows these three steps.

Capture your material.
Edit your material.
Output your material.

This is the basis for all nonlinear editing systems. The other reasons I bring attention to this workflow is to point out what Avid Xpress Pro is all about. That's editing. Don't take this the wrong way; all of Avid's products have extensive effect tools, titling options, and audio capabilities but, in my opinion, Avid's strongest feature is its editing tools. I consider it the "workhorse" editing system in the industry and this has been proven by the number of Avid systems that drive the video, television, and film industry. Although there are better software programs for building elaborate effects, like Adobe's After Effects or Boris Red and programs for more detailed audio editing, like Avid's Pro Tools, it's Avid Xpress Pro that brings all the elements together. This is the beauty of Avid Xpress Pro. You can move media in and out of the system at any time. You could be editing the program while another person works on the graphics. You could finish the edit, send it to another artist to mix the audio, have it sent back to you, and then add the mixed audio to your sequence. Editing, moving, and managing media has never been easier.

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