Quantel is equipping its eQ and iQ postproduction and digital-intermediate systems with new Advanced Authoring Format tools for offline-to-online interchange. eQ and iQ can now directly import AAF V1.1 metadata created offline in Avid Xpress Pro or Avid Media Composer Adrenaline. Quantel says this considerably simplifies the course of online sessions.
The metadata includes segment labels, effect transitions, complex effect descriptors, audio splits and fades, time-expansion commands, layer-related event timing, and details of layer order or priority. With existing eQ and iQ tools such as Reel Lock and Resolution Co-existence, low-resolution offline images are synchronized with online adjustments on the fly. Quantel says last-minute checks can be performed without difficulty. Users of eQ and iQ systems running version 3.5 receive the new tools free of charge.
The AAF toolset will also form part of Quantel’s new Pablo Suite colour-correction system, which is scheduled to begin shipping at the end of November 2005.
The new AAF implementation was demonstrated at IBC 2005 as an example of collaboration with Apple Final Cut Pro via Automatic Duck. The tools extend existing AAF functionality with Digidesign Pro Tools and Sadie digital audio workstations.
“AAF’s appeal lies in its comprehensive data model, which can be applied to numerous postproduction workflows,” said Phil Tudor, head of the AAF engineering group at BBC R&D. “Using a single interchange standard between multiple applications simplifies integration and minimizes metadata loss.”
The AAF Association, Inc. was founded in January 2000 as an independent, non-profit trade association intended to support the development and usability of AAF technology throughout the media industry.
