Axial "Secrets & Lies"

Wed, Aug 27, 2008

Basics Caching EDL Workspace Triggers Macros Graphic Timeline Clip Library RAVE

Secrets of Caching

LAYER BACKUP

Description

Ever wondered how to make a sort of multi-recorded backup of every edit while you are doing a layering job? Well, look no further than the Axial's built-in LAYER BACKUP feature. This feature allows you to use a cache recorder using the settings you have specified in the shift+reel menu (cache start and end times) to record every edit you do to the master as well as this cache recorder. It automatically appends the material it records, keeping the first layer and adding the second layer immediately after the first. It is a really great feature with the vulnerability of pre-reading.

Oh, I forgot, your clients NEVER change their minds halfway through a 20 layer pre-read job, right!?

Instructions

Here's all you have to do to use LAYER BACKUP caching:

Select the source that you want to use as the LAYER BACKUP machine
Press SHIFT + REEL to bring up the expanded reel menu.
Type the new reel name of "Layer" (without the quotation marks) so that the Axial knows this machine is the LAYER BACKUP device
Scroll down to the edit enable section and enable Auto Caching (press the spacebar so that the box next to auto caching is solid)
Scroll down to the cache settings section
Type the timecode numbers where you want to start and end backing up your recordings
(don't forget that you may can use a vtr for this, too)
Record any edit and watch how the LAYER BACKUP machine that you just set up also records the edit

Now, using that LAYER BACKUP to go back to a previously recorded layer is not quite as easy as it should be, but not that hard. You will not be able to match to the LAYER BACKUP machine or use timecode transfer to pull a number out of the EDL either. Since these numbers are essentially part of the Axial's caching memory, they are not "real." However, you still have the LAYER BACKUP numbers in the EDL, just like an ordinary cache. You just have to type the LAYER BACKUP number in by hand. "Aw gees, are you serious?" Yeah, Accom never implemented a way to get the LAYER BACKUP back.

Some things you still have to do by hand . . .

DEFERRED CACHING

Description

Another great caching feature is the ability to go through an EDL before the client gets in the room, before you actually have all the source tapes and before you steal the DDR back from the graphics folks and put in some cache instructions. What in the #@$% am I talking about you ask?

Well, maybe you have a layer job with the matte and fill on the same digi-beta reel and you know that you will need to cache one of those off to the DDR. You have the EDL already which shows exactly where the elements are, but the client is late, again, and has all the tapes with them. Being the industrious sort that you are, you want to start setting things up so that when the client does show up, you can justify billing them for the entire hour. Well, one way to do this is to add some cache lines to certain edits so that you can then use the Rock N' Roll Auto-Assembly (or is that the Roll-Through Auto- Assembly, I forgot) and just scream through the EDL. Thus, allowing you to still get home on time and perhaps save your marriage.

Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes.

Instructions

Here's all you have to do to use DEFERRED CACHING:

Setup a source as your cache machine
Highlight the effect in the workspace (i.e. cut, dissolve, wipe, roll) that you want to cache off (use the trackball)
Press shift + cache + cache

The Axial adds a cache to the highlighted effect so that when you actually preview or record this edit, that part of the edit will then be cached off to the first available cache recorder at the first available location (based on the setting you set up in the shift + reel menu).

Check it out! You can probably think up some better examples of why and when you might use DEFERRED CACHING.

Cool, huh?

IMMEDIATE CACHING

Description

Version 4.0 software brought some really great enhancements to caching. One of those is the easy way of immediately caching something off in the workspace. Oh, sure you can always press cache and the source you want to cache something to, but there is an easier and faster way.

Instructions

Here's all you have to do to use IMMEDIATE CACHING:

Setup a source as your cache machine
Highlight the effect in the workspace (i.e. cut, dissolve, wipe, roll) that you want to cache off (use the trackball)
Press cache + cache

The Axial immediately caches off the highlighted effect to the first available cache recorder and puts it at the first available location (based on the setting you set up in the shift + reel menu).

Cool, huh?

All material in Axial Secrets & Lies is the opinion of the author(s) and may not reflect the opinion of the manufacturers.

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