Optimizing .AVI export for import to AVID?

[Guest]

Can anyone give me tips on optimizing .AVI export for import to AVID? I've sized the Captivate project to 720X486 and when I look at the published .AVI it looks pristine! I was super pumped b/c we've been looking for a way to put software demos into video without having to spend an arm and a leg on a scan converter. When I import the .AVI into Avid it becomes all distorted. It seems like an Avid issue, but I figured I'd ask here. Thanks in advance!

[Steve Howard, ACP]

"all distorted" how? Like the image is squashed into a different pixel dimension? Is AVID expecting non-square pixels by any chance?

Steve

[Guest]

Steve, yes AVID is non-square. I tried just about every import setting AVID has with no luck. I finally gave up and decided to just lay the Captivate files over my video file in After Effects...I loose one generation and it's an extra step but the final video looks much better. Thanks!

[EOppie]

I am trying to do the same thing right now, only get the Captivate file into Premiere, or Final Cut.

Was your workflow exporting the file as swf to after effects and then putting the after effects file into your NLE ?

[Guest]

I exported an .AVI from Captivate and an .AVI from AVID and then laid the Captivate .AVI over my AVID .AVI in AE and exported from there. If you leave (a text) placeholder in your edited Premiere or Final Cut export, you have no problem matching them up.

I had no luck getting the AE file into AVID without distortion...my final video has to be size to 320X240 for web, so I need the best possible screen captures to optimize viewing at that size. It's not much of an issue if you're final is going to be 720X480 or 640X480.

Hope that helps! If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask.