In all versions of Avid (xpro, adrenaline, etc) I've used before, I can drag my edit position bar through the time line, regardless of what tools are open.  With the media composer 2.8 upgrade, if my effect editor menu or bin is open, but no effect selected, the clip or video layer my bar is over highlights but will not drag. If I close the effect editor the function works great.  What's changed?  I've checked everything I can find in settings to no avail.  Guess I missed something?  I really hate closing my effect editor just to drag or scroll through my timeline to my next task then reopen the effect editor.  Ideas?  The same things happens whether I use a mouse or pen.

 Ken, I'm afraid that's standard procedure for the Media Composer Adrenaline software. Ironically, Newscutter Adrenaline (virtually exactly like Media Composer except for a few minor GUI wrinkles and the NRCS - newsroom computer system - software) does exactly what you want - effect editor tool stays open in source/record edit mode.

 Larry,

Thanks for your quick reply, even if the wrong answer.  Incidentally, where are we doing this correspondence.  Both my time stamp and yours is in the 5pm hour.  It's 12pm EDT where I live.  Are we doing this through India or something?\

Ken

 Ken, that's odd because all the time/date stamps on this thread on my computer show as 12:xx PM. I'm in Silver Spring, MD. Where are you?

 Larry,

I'm in a Detroit burb working through comcast if that means anything.

Ken

 I'm not in front of my Avid right now, but when in the effects mode, I've never been able to drag the position bar beyond the limits of the effect clip I'm on. I can drag within that clip, but not outside of it, until switching back to edit mode. This is where I find the customizable toolsets invaluable to quickly switch modes. I have them mapped to my function keys for instant changes.

 Larry,

Sorry it took so long to reply..working on a project.  Anyway, this problem only occurs when effect editor menu is open (whether I have selected an effect or not), along with bins, audio mixer, audio tool, title tool, multiple palettes, Boris, capture tool, etc.  As soon as I close the effect editor, even with all other tools open, dragging or scrubbing with mouse through timeline works fine.  MC 2.8 so far is the only editor I've experienced this with.

Ken

Hi Ken,

Like Larry said, that's just how Media Composer works.  I don't know why it's different from Xpress Pro.  Sorry I don't have better news for you.

good luck,
Carl

 The only thing I can think of for you to try would be to rebuild the site settings files. Quit the app and in the settings folder, trash the following: MC State, Site_Settings, Site_Attributes.  On re-launch the system will detect the missing files and build new ones. If this is erratic behavior for the effects editor, rebuilding these files should correct it. I'll have to try this tomorrow on both MCA and NCA and see what happens.

 Just did the trash/rebuild routine (which I've done before), didn't work.  Also had a devil of a time getting the composer to find my projects after the rebuild.  I only deleted those file you indicated.  Back up and running though.

Let me know what happens tomorrow when you get back on your systems.

Ken

KenK:

...had a devil of a time getting the composer to find my projects after the rebuild.

When that happens, check the path that's indicated in the initial select project window. Also, check the project category (private, shared, external). Is it correct? If not, choose the right category and if necessary, click on the browser in that window and define the proper path to the projects folder. I've had that path screw up occasionally.

I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.

 Did all those things, just took awhile.  For some reason in all the Avid folders, there weren't any with projects listed till I went back to my old AXP.  Found it still lingering there.

Thanks for the tips though

Ken

 OK Ken, here's what I've found out.

On Newscutter Adrenaline, when in the effects mode, I can drag within the highlighted effects clip IN THE KEYFRAME TIMELINE ONLY. I cannot drag within the clip in the main timeline. Clicking outside the marked clip puts the system back into the edit mode, but the effect editor tool remains open, albeit blank. Switching manually from the effects mode to the edit mode turns off the effects editor window.

On Media Composer Adrenaline, the results are exactly the same, except when clicking outside the effects clip, the system remains in the effects mode - does not switch back to edit mode.

In both cases, dragging throughout the timeline when in effects mode is not possible.