Transcoding Assets
The Transcode feature lets you perform various media operations that are available through the Interplay Production Transcode service. This feature is available for Interplay Production assets only.
Interplay Central v1.8 and earlier provided a Sequence Mixdown feature, which also used the Transcode service. This feature is now available along with other Transcode features.
The Transcode service provides media operations through the following modes. Some modes are available only for particular media types.
Mode | Description | Available for... |
WHOLE | Transcodes an entire clip. | Master clips |
CONSOLIDATE | Transcodes only the portion of a clip used to create a subclip or portions of clips used to create a sequence | Master clips, Sequences |
MIXDOWN | Transcodes and mixes down the video and audio of a sequence to create one master clip | Sequences |
DATAEXTRACT | Extracts the D1 track as a separate MXF file when you transcode DNxHD media that contains embedded ancillary data. | Master Clips, Sequences |
DUALMIXDOWN | Transcodes and mixes down the video and audio of a sequence to create a one master clip with two resolutions associated with it. | Sequences |
CROSSRATE | Creates a master clip in a project format different from the project format of the original clip. | Master clips |
An Interplay Production administrator needs to create profiles for each of these modes. This topic describes using the Mixdown feature in MediaCentral. For information about other modes, see the Interplay | Production Services Setup and User’s Guide.
A common use of the Transcode option is to mix down a sequence. For example:
• Creating a master clip that is playable in the Media viewer. If a sequence created in an Avid editing system is too complex to play correctly in the Media pane, you can use the Mixdown feature to create a new master clip. All master clips are playable. After mixing down the sequence, you can load the new master clip, mark In and Out points, and add the segment to your sequence.
• Creating a sequence that matches the send-to-playback resolution. If you want to send a sequence to a playback device, the resolution of the sequence must match the resolution specified for the playback device. MediaCentral UX warns you if the sequence does not match the send-to-playback resolution, and you can use the Mixdown feature to create a master clip that uses the required resolution. Then create a new sequence containing the mixed-down clip, and send the new sequence to the playback device.
To transcode an Interplay Production asset:
1. Do one of the following:
In the Assets pane or a Search pane, select an Interplay Production asset, right-click, and select Transcode.
In the Assets pane, select an Interplay Production asset and select Transcode from the Assets Pane menu.
With an asset loaded in the Media pane, click the Pane Menu button and select Transcode.
With a sequence loaded in the Sequence pane, click the Pane Menu button and select Transcode.
The Transcode dialog box opens.
2. Select a mode from the Mode menu.
3. Select a Transcode profile from the Name menu.
Transcode profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator in the Production Services and Transfer Status tool. The Transcode dialog box displays the parameters of the profiles, but you cannot edit them in MediaCentral.
4. Click Transcode.
The Transcode process uses the selected Transcode profile and begins the operation. You can view the progress in the Progress pane, along with the target folder and the mode.
To cancel the process, click the x icon. If the process was successful, the Progress pane displays the name of the new master clip or the transcoded master clip. Click the Monitor icon to play the clip in the Media pane.
The new master clip is created in the same Interplay Production folder as the original sequence. Click the blue link to open the folder in the Asset pane.
Media for the new master clip is stored in the workspace specified in the Transcode profile.
