Tips & Tutorials

New Nested Effects Technique in Media Composer 3.5

For those of you who do a lot of heavy effects work, you know how tedious it can get when you need to adjust an effect that is deep inside a multi-effect nest.  In Media Composer 3.5, Avid has added a new twist, allowing you to adjust every effect within a nest - without stepping in - using the Effect Editor.

Let's say I've got a shot with a 3d Warp on it, and later on I color correct it, nesting the 3d Warp inside.  Pre MC 3.5, I'd have to step into the nest if I wanted to make any adjustments to the 3d Warp.  Now, though, in MC 3.5, all I have to do is bring up the Effect Editor.

Take a look at the image below.

The Color Correction effect, which is at the top of the nest, is listed first in the list of effects on the left side of the Effect Editor.  Just below it is the 3d Warp, and if I want to adjust the parameters of the 3d Warp, all I have to do is twirl down the arrow next to it.  Stepping in not required.  (The only gotcha is if the 3d Warp hasn't been promoted to advanced keyframes, you'll have to promote it, but this can be easily done from within the Effect Editor.)

To recap: Old way - step into each effect of a nest to get to the layer underneath.  New way - One window to access every effect in a nest.

Now go forth and step in no more.