I'm having some really annoying probably simple problems that I'm hoping someone can help me with.

1. When tapping the left arrow key to move backward one frame it tends to snap to the last edit point and go into trim mode. Is there anyway to stop this?

2. Almost every time I use the "Add Edit" command it also goes into trim mode. Anyway I can stop this. I love trim mode. I just don't like it always assuming I want to use it.

3. Almost every time I hit the "ctrl" button  up jumps "About Avid Media Composer". Any way I can keep this from happening.

I realize these are probably extremely stupid noob questions and I appreciate you guys being patient with me

Don't worry about the questions, just ask them as they come up and people will be glad to help you thru it. Regarding the left arrow key, that's not the key to move 1 frame backward, that's the key to take you to the previous transition. The key to move 1 frame backward comes mapped to the #3 key. Good luck.

 Strange. I have it mapped to the left arrow key. But even when I use the 3 key it tends to jump to an edit point after some taps and go into trim mode.

 

Actually the left and right arrows are used to move one frame at a time but I believe you are referring to the arrows located on the "A" and "S" key...right?

Unlike 'Pro, MC uses this function to jump to next edit AND put you into trim mode. So, in order to duplicate the function you are used to from 'Pro, just map the FF and RW keys to a convenient location on your keyboard. In your settings, you'll find a menu to control the behavior of the FF/RW keys.

If you've got MC3 you can use the optional keyboard settings for Xpro users who have migrated.  The details are in the read me that came with version 3.0

 

On my Bella keyboard (pro series for Avid) there is a set of arrow buttons up, down. right & left on the hand rest of the keyboard. By the global settings default these keys (right & left) are for frame advance, there is no need to map them. It's an expensive keyboard, but IMO well worth it esp. on long projects.

Leo 

Leo153:

On my Bella keyboard (pro series for Avid) there is a set of arrow buttons up, down. right & left on the hand rest of the keyboard

I assume these are the arrows right under the home/page up keys, etc. If so, these are the same on any keyboard, and should, by hitting right ot lrft arrow, move you back or ahead 1 frame - There's no need to map them, they are default. If the "a" or the "s" keys are the keys in question, that's a different story.

jwrl:

If you've got MC3 you can use the optional keyboard settings for Xpro users who have migrated.

[RANT]I don't mean to hijack this thread and maybe I can be called curmudgeonly or surly or whatever, but I think it's kind of silly to have this "option".  To me, it's hand-holding at it's worst. 

If you're old car breaks down and you go to get a new one the dealer/manufacturer doesn't offer you a port over of all your old car's dashboard layout, etc.  You just get used to where the new stuff is and that's that.

Having this security blanket of one's former XpressPro settings will not (IMO) help those that have upgraded to adjust to MC, it will allow them to continue working as if they're on XpressPro.  XpressPro and MC settings (especially keyboard mapping) are not that different.  When I upgraded from XpressPro to MC last July I just re-mapped the MC keyboard to what was beneficial to my workflow, not based on what it was in XpressPro. 

All in all, I guess I feel like having the XpressPro keyboard option is allowing new MC users to kind of miss the point of using MC and not allowing them to actually explore the MC interface for all of it's gems. 

[/RANT]

 

 

Sorry Kenton.  I'm not using them.  Truly!

Seriously, I agree to a point.  Which is why I've always had my own keyboard settings that are neither MC nor Xpress, although they are pretty close to MC.  They vary mainly with the addition of shifted key commands.

However if someone is more comfortable with the Xpress way of doing things, surely they can regard the Xpress keyboard layout as their own personalised version.

Kenton.VanNatten:

I guess I feel like having the XpressPro keyboard option is allowing new MC users to kind of miss the point of using MC and not allowing them to actually explore the MC interface for all of it's gems.

Not at all.... I find it a very usefull standardisation for people here jumping backwards and forwards between Pro and MC several times a day.

 

 

My keyboard settings are a hybrid of Xpress and Media Composer - I didn't like MC's instance of jumping into trim in many cases. I also have some very different settings as well, inherited often from co-workers. The configurability of the Avid keyboard is good that way.

My FCP keyboard is also mapped to be similar to FCP, which is probably not the best idea, but given that I use Avid much more and it make a lot more sense to me it has been the easiest.

Adapt your settings to you, if you want... Or adapt yourself to the defaults.

 

Hiya, I had the same problem with MC going to trim mode most of the time when I didn't want it to coming from Xpress. Here's how to get around that:

http://community.avid.com/forums/p/34437/190844.aspx#190844

I understand not trying to make MC an Xpress, however, this drove me crazy until I found out how to get around this. I also set up my keyboard that's a bit of both, but I think that's all personal perference.

good luck!

mediaartsolutions:

I also set up my keyboard that's a bit of both, but I think that's all personal perference.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the personalization of one's settings (especially keyboard), what I was ranting about was the fact that it's kind of silly to have to provide a special "option" or whatever for those that upgraded from XpressPro -  It feels like saying "we think you'll be too confused to use Media Composer after having used XpressPro, so we'll provide an option for you to use your MC as if you were still on XpressPro" 

Explain to me why did they upgrade to MC then?

I'd like an option to port over my old MC settings to the new MC so I can have Weightlifter and Scissors icons for Lift and Extract, where's that?

 

 

well, when you work for "the man" as I do, you don't have any choice on what system they give you to work on. There's no "would you like Avid or FCP, what version do you think is best for your market/workflow", etc. rather, it's "here's your Avid, go to it!"

I also understand what you're saying about updating/upgrading. It's wise, IMO, to keep up with the latest changes and use products as they were designed to be used. Personally, I would prefer it if when software is changed (so called "updated"/"upgraded") it makes it easier and more efficient to use instead of more difficult by adding more steps in some cases, making accomplishing the same thing more complex.

 

 

mediaartsolutions:

Personally, I would prefer it if when software is changed (so called "updated"/"upgraded") it makes it easier and more efficient to use instead of more difficult by adding more steps in some cases, making accomplishing the same thing more complex.

There's no such thing as "universal efficiency", the same workflow that offers optimum efficiency for one editor may be too complex to be adopted or to streamlined to be creative for another. Efficiency is what gets your jobs done, and if changing MCs keyboard layout to mimikry your former NLE allows for greater short term productivity then some people may keep their jobs (or their business) by deviating from "the Avid way", even if in the long run they'll gradually converge to avids pseudo standrads.