How to use Shade with AVID Media Composer

This guide will walk you through how to effectively use the ShadeFS Mount with Avid Media Composer, enabling your team to seamlessly collaborate remotely and eliminate the need for file syncing or relinking media. With ShadeFS, you can edit high-resolution media directly from the cloud without downloading large files locally.

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1. Setting Up Your ShadeFS Mount for Avid Media Composer

Step 1: Connect to ShadeFS

To begin working with Avid Media Composer on a ShadeFS mount, follow these steps:

• Ensure ShadeFS is installed and running on your system.

• Mount a drive and verify that it appears correctly in Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows).

• Navigate to the designated project folder within the ShadeFS mount.

Step 2: Create a New Avid Media Composer Project

• Open Avid Media Composer.

• Select New Project and set the project save location inside your ShadeFS mount.

• Organize your project folder with the following recommended structure:

  • /Projects – Store Avid project files here.

  • /Media – High-resolution footage storage.

  • /Proxies – Lower-resolution proxy files for remote editing.

  • /Exports – Final rendered outputs.

Step 3: Configure Media Creation Settings

To ensure your media files are stored correctly in ShadeFS:

• Go to Settings > Media Creation in Avid.

• Set the Media Files Destination to a folder within the mounted drive (e.g., /Media).

• This ensures that all media is stored in the cloud, making it accessible to all collaborators.

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2. Importing and Linking Media in ShadeFS

Step 1: Adding Media via AMA Link

• Open your Avid bin and right-click to select Input Source Browser.

• Navigate to your drive mount where media is stored.

• Select the desired clips and choose Link via AMA.

Step 2: Transcoding to Avid Native Formats

After linking the media, it’s best to transcode to an Avid-native format for smooth playback and editing:

• Right-click the linked clips and select Consolidate/Transcode.

• Choose Transcode and set the destination folder inside the ShadeFS mount (e.g., /Media).

• For best performance, select DNxHD LB or DNxHR LB for efficient cloud-based editing.

Because ShadeFS allows real-time access to cloud storage, your media files will be instantly available to collaborators in the Avid MediaFiles folder inside the root of your mounted drive.

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3. Real-Time Collaboration with ShadeFS and Avid

Step 1: Working on Shared Projects from Different Locations

ShadeFS enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple editors to work on the same project seamlessly.

• Since ShadeFS is cloud-based, team members can access the same project and media instantly without the need to sync files.

• This eliminates the need for emailing bins, manually copying media, or using external hard drives.

• Editors in different locations can work on the same project as though they were using a shared local server.

Step 2: Enabling Bin Locking for Collaborative Editing

Since Avid's built-in bin locking is designed for Avid NEXIS, you’ll need third-party bin-locking software like Mimiq or Osiris to prevent conflicts when working in shared ShadeFS environments. This software tells Media Composer that the storage system being used is shared, prompting the creation of lock files when bins are in use.

• Bin Locking Workflow:

  • When a user opens a bin, it gets locked with a red lock icon.

  • Other users can view the bin but cannot make changes.

  • Once the editor closes the bin, it unlocks and is available for editing by others.

• Using Separate User Directories:

  • Each user should have their own directory inside the project folder (e.g., /Users/Adam/, /Users/Reece/).

  • This ensures that any newly created media files do not get overwritten by another user.

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4. Optimizing Performance for Editing with ShadeFS

Step 1: Streaming Media vs. Downloading Locally

ShadeFS allows you to stream high-resolution media directly from the cloud, meaning you don’t need to download files before editing.

However, for smoother performance in low-bandwidth environments, consider working with proxies:

• Option 1: Generate Proxies in Avid Media Composer

  • Create proxies and store them in the /Proxies folder in ShadeFS.

  • Use DNxHD LB or DNxHR LB to reduce file sizes while maintaining quality.

• Option 2: Use Pre-Generated ShadeFS Proxies

  • If you’ve already uploaded high-resolution media, ShadeFS provides edit-ready 1080p proxies.

  • Right-click the media folder and select Download Proxies to get lightweight versions of your footage.

  • Attach proxies to your original media for faster editing.

Step 2: Set Up Avid’s Cache and Media Folders

To prevent performance bottlenecks, configure Avid's cache and temporary media storage correctly:

• Set Media Cache & Renders to a fast local drive instead of the ShadeFS mount.

• Under Settings > Media Creation, specify the mounted Shade drive for media storage but keep cache and renders local for best performance.

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5. Exporting and Delivering Your Final Project

Once your edit is complete, you can export directly to your mounted drive, allowing easy access for team members, clients, or review purposes.

Step 1: Exporting Sequences

• Go to File > Output > Export to File.

• Select a folder inside your mounted drive (e.g., /Exports).

• Choose Avid DNxHR or ProRes for high-quality exports.

• If you need to share smaller versions, use H.264 with a lower bitrate.

Step 2: Reviewing & Handing Off to Another Editor

• If another team member needs to continue working on your project, ensure the bin is closed before they take over.

• The lock icon will turn green, indicating the bin is available for editing.

• Review exports by playing them back directly from your mounted drive without downloading.

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Final Thoughts

ShadeFS provides a fast, reliable, and cloud-native solution for editing with Avid Media Composer. Whether you’re working solo or collaborating across different locations, ShadeFS eliminates the need for manual file transfers, syncing, or relinking media.