User Manual

10 Acquisition of File-Based Media (AMA)
You can link, import, or export clips and sequences from many third-party volumes or third-party
files to and from the Avid editing system. You can manipulate and edit this media as you would
any other clip or sequence.
File-based media can be acquired from a third-party device (a camera, reader, or drive), from a
CD or DVD, from a folder on your system, or from a virtual volume (a server connected to your
system). To move the media into your Avid editing system, you have the option to use the AMA
method (Avid Media Access) which links the file based media directly into a bin through an
AMA plug-in, or you can use the non-AMA method which imports the media onto your system.
When you work with high-resolution media, the AMA method is the preferred and the faster
method.
AMA linking also allows for more metadata to be brought into the bin which gives you more
information about the media. For example, essence marks (or markers) associated with the clip
are automatically brought into your bin.
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For information on importing and exporting media, see “Importing Files” on page 281 and
“Exporting Frames, Clips, or Sequences” on page 1005.
Before you begin working with AMA, make sure you have done the following:
•Go to avid.com/ama to make sure you download the latest plug-in for your specific
third-party device.
• If you are using an XDCAM, XDCAM EX or a P2 device, make sure you have the
appropriate drivers installed. See your third-party documentation for information on
installing drivers.
• Connect the third-party device according to the documentation supplied with the device.
The Avid Media Access (AMA) Workflow
Avid Media Access (AMA) is a plug-in architecture that lets you link directly to clips on an
external third-party device. The device can be a camera, a card reader, an optical disk, a virtual
volume. AMA lets you be more productive by browsing and editing directly from the device or
volume.