# 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. *** ## **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. *** ## **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**. *** ## **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. *** ## **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. *** ## **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. *** ## **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**. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://academy.shade.inc/guides/how-to-use-shade-with-avid-media-composer.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.