Avid has released Pro Tools 2020.3 today with the long-awaited Folder Tracks, but also a new updated Avid Video Engine, enabling you to be able to import non-MXF formatted videos into the latest macOS Catalina supported version of Pro Tools.

Folder Tracks

At last, users will be able to access and use the Folder Tracks that Avid announced at NAMM 2020 back in January.

Avid has designed Folder Tracks to improve the organisation of your Pro Tools sessions and help to eliminate clutter and distractions on the screen, which ties in with Avid’s aim to continue to free your mind to work more productively without the distraction of numerous tracks and complexity on screen.

Here are just some of what you’ll be able to do with Folder Tracks in your session:

• Organise tracks into collapsible folders (up to 8 layers)

• Drag-and-drop tracks into folders with ease

• Colour-code folders

• Edit the folder itself, thereby automatically editing the “member” tracks simultaneously

• The Basic Folder is designed for session organisation. You would put related tracks into a basic folder track so that they can be handled as a group

• The Basic Folder Track functions include reordering tracks in and out of folders, open/close folders, and propagation of show/hide and active/inactive actions to member tracks.

• The Routing Folder is designed to sum the audio of the member tracks. This, in addition to its organisational functionality, makes it a powerful tool for signal processing and mixing. You can convert Aux inputs in your existing sessions into Routing Folders, making it easier to take advantage of their organisational features.

• Routing Folder Tracks allow audio signals to be routed through the folder for stem mix workflows. All Aux track functions, including inserts, sends, and automation are available on Routing Folders. Optionally, selected tracks can be automatically routed when moved into a new Routing Folder.

• Solos and mutes on the folder will logically affect their member tracks, simplifying auditioning and mixing.

• The Overview view on the folder timeline shows a simplified representation of all the clips on the contained tracks. It provides a bird’s eye view of the contents of each folder, serving as a visual guide for navigating and editing even when the folder is closed.

• Edit all member tracks together as a group. Many edit commands are available when you make an edit selection on the folder’s timeline.

• Edit selections made on folders are propagated to their member tracks, allowing one to easily edit clips across all member tracks. On open folders, all edit commands that are currently available on multi-track selections are allowed; A smaller core set of edit commands are available on closed folders and will allow users to perform many useful edits without having to open folders.

• Use keyboard shortcuts to move tracks into new folders, open and close them, and extend edit selections to all member tracks with shortcuts.

• Modifications keys make it easier to select folder members and open and close multiple folder combinations.

• Folders with their nested members can be saved and imported as Track Presets, expanding the already powerful feature.

• When sessions with folders are opened in Pro Tools versions earlier than 2020.3, Routing Folders turn into AUX tracks, while Basic Folders are simply dropped. Nesting is flattened. Avid tell us that they have designed Folder tracks so that the sound of your session will not change when opened on an older version of Pro Tools.

Learn More About Folder Tracks In Pro Tools 2020

Avid has produced 3 videos as part of the launch of Pro Tools 2020.3 covering Folder Tracks…

Learn The Basics Of Folder Tracks In Pro Tools

Learn The Basics Of Folder Management In Pro Tools

Check out all the information and demos of Folder Tracks from articles we have already published showing what Folder Tracks can do…

New Updated Avid Video Engine

With the Pro Tools 2020.3 release, the Avid Video Engine in Pro Tools will import and playback QuickTime video in macOS Catalina. For Pro Tools users this will mean the following supported features are being added to Pro Tools 2020.3 for macOS Catalina users.

QuickTime Video (Only) Import/Playback Support for macOS Catalina - Qualified QuickTime video can now be imported and played back on macOS Catalina.  The following file types and codecs may now be used.

• DNxHR (MOV)

• DNxHD (MOV)

• Apple ProRes (MOV)

• H.264 (CFR Media Only) (MOV, MP4, M4V)

Avid MXF OP-Atom (Import/Playback Only)

• DNxHR

• DNxHD

• Apple ProRes 422 (including HQ, LT, Proxy)

• XAVC-Intra (50, 100, 380, 400)

• AVC-Intra (50, **100(a))

• AVC-LongG (b,d)

• XAVC-L (d)

• XDCAM HD/EX

• IMX

• DV25

• DV50

• JFIF (15:1, etc)

• Uncompressed SD

You can find more information about the supported video file types and codecs, from the Knowledge Base article Avid-Qualified Video Rates, Rasters, and Codecs for Pro Tools.

What this means is that there are still some video related limitations. Check out this table for more detail about what is possible when running Pro Tools 2020.3 with macOS Catalina.

Note:

• VFR (Variable Frame Rate) QuickTime files will not import or playback in Pro Tools on macOS Catalina with 2020.3. CFR (Constant Frame Rate) files are required for Pro Tools 2020.3.

• Pro Tools does not have the same restriction on other OS’s that allow 32-bit QuickTime components. VFR support on Catalina is expected in a future release of Pro Tools.

• As of Pro Tools 2020.3, the Avid LE Codec Pack requires an independent installation for macOS (only).  This installer can be found in the My Products and Subscriptions section of your Avid Master Avid account if you are entitled to 2020.3 and above.  It can also be found here for anyone else.  This installer is only needed for macOS Mojave and below.  It will allow certain codecs to playback in Pro Tools and on the OS

Avid tell us that the M4A and AAC audio import, as well as the MOV audio and video export, will be addressed in future updates.

Note that all these restrictions are for macOS Catalina. Before updating to Catalina, visit this support page.

Windows Or macOS Mojave And Earlier

If you are on Avid supported versions of Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier, then Avid tell us that you will have normal QuickTime related functionality with Pro Tools 2020.3.

QuickTime (MOV Import/Playback/Export)

• DNxHR

• DNxHD

• Apple ProRes 422 (including HQ, LT, Proxy)

• H.264

• DV25

• DV50

 QuickTime (MOV/MP4/M4V Import/Playback Only)

• H.264

Avid MXF OP-Atom (Import/Playback Only)

• DNxHR

• DNxHD

• Apple ProRes 422 (including HQ, LT, Proxy)

• XAVC-Intra (50, 100, 380, 400)

• AVC-Intra (50, **100(a))

• AVC-LongG (b,d)

• XAVC-L (d)

• XDCAM HD/EX

• IMX

• DV25

• DV50

• JFIF (15:1, etc)

• Uncompressed SD

H.264 Performance Improvement for Files that Contain Filler - Pro Tools 2019.10 introduced performance improvements for H.264 QuickTime files that did not contain filler.  Pro Tools 2020.3 now adds the same performance improvement for CFR (Constant Frame Rate) files that contain filler.

• Note: VFR (Variable Frame Rate) files with filler will not benefit from the H.264 performance improvements on OS’s that support it.

• Note: Filler is when there are blank frames in the file. This typically happens when audio at the beginning or end of the file extends beyond the picture. It may also happen due to edits that remove frames from the centre of the file.

If you are unsure the video file in your session is utilising these performance improvements, you may enable “Processing State” in the View menu for clips on the timeline, or the Clips List menu for clips in the Clip List.  A checkmark icon will be displayed on the clips on the timeline, or next to the clip name in the Clips List.

Alternative Video Workflow Solutions

If working with QuickTime related workflows on a macOS Catalina based system with Pro Tools is important to you then there are a number of tools on the market to help with the various workflows. Note that Avid has not tested or qualified these solutions.

QuickTime Video Playback with Pro Tools, as well as QuickTime Export

Check out Non-Lethal Applications Video Slave 4. This can be synced to Pro Tools using MTC via the IAC bus on macOS.

Once the audio mix is completed, you can bounce the mix, import it into Video Slave, and then export a QuickTime movie. In addition, Video Slave supports timecode overlay.

If you are interested in learning more about Video Slave 4 from Non-Lethal Applications then check out some of our articles…

QuickTime Video Transcode to MXF OP-Atom Video and Audio

If MXF OP-Atom fits into your workflow then check out the free Shutter Encoder. This free application can convert QuickTime movies (up to 1080p) into MXF OP-Atom video and audio that you can then import into Pro Tools. Here are some guidelines from Avid on how to use Shutter Encoder to do this…

1. Browse to the target QuickTime file that you’d like to play.

2. Choose DNxHD as the Editing Codec in the Choose Function section.

3. Set “Generate OP-Atom format files” in the Advanced Features section.

4. Click the “Start function” button

5. Import the resulting audio and video MXF files into Pro Tools. The audio will need to be imported into Pro tools separately from the video.

In this exclusive free video tutorial, Mike shows how to use the free macOS application Shutter Encoder to convert QuickTime .mov Avid DNxHD media into MXF formatted media suitable for Pro Tools 2019.12 on computers running macOS Catalina.

QuickTime Video Transcode to MXF OP-1A Video

If MXF OP-1A video fits into your workflows then the following applications can create OP-1A MXF files that contain both video and audio. Note that Pro Tools can only import the video portion from these files, but Avid tell us that they do offer a wider codec and raster range.

• Shutter Encoder - To get MXF OP-1A video you will need to use the output codecs XDCAM HD422 codec or AVC-Intra 100 codec and in the Advanced Features check the ‘Generate AS10 format option as we understand that the AS-10 format is basically media wrapped in an OP-1A wrapper.

• Apple Compressor - You can buy this from the Apple App Store for $49.99. If you are on macOS Mojave and above you will also be able to update the Apple Pro Video Formats to v2.1.1, which amongst other features includes the following MXF support…

  • Play MXF files in QuickTime Player and other supported macOS applications

  • MXF plug-in and presets for use in Compressor 4.3 and earlier

  For more information on Pro Video format and MXF, see Apple’s Knowledge Base article About Pro Video Formats and MXF.

• Adobe Media Encoder - Note that you cannot get Adobe’s Media Encoder beyond a 30 day free trial on its own. It is included an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for one of their video applications like Premiere Pro or After Effects, either of which cost $20.99 per month to rent on subscription.

Standalone MXF Players

It can be helpful to have a lightweight player to view incoming or finished video content outside of Pro Tools.  Here’s a list of players that Avid recommend which can import and play MXF files.

• VideoLAN - VLC Media Player

• Telestream - Switch

• Non-Lethal Applications - Video Slave 4

AAC Import

if you need to import AAC files into Pro Tools 2019.12 running on macOS Catalina 10.15.1 then you will need to use Apple Music or iTunes, to convert your AAC files before you can then import the WAVs into Pro Tools.

Other New Features In Pro Tools 2020.3

Export Session Info As Text Indicates Offline Files - Exporting Session Info As Text will now segregate ‘online’ and ‘offline’ files in the text report.  This is helpful for creating a report of missing files and their last known location.

System Usage: Resources - With Pro Tools and Pro Tools Ultimate, System Usage now includes a ‘Resources’ view, which displays the number of voices used in the session. This section is available for all system types (HDX and non-HDX). On HDX, this section was previously called ‘DSP’.

This will really help users keep track of how many voices are in use, and help us to be able to manage voice counts and on non-HDX systems be able to decide whether we need to get more Voice Packs.

Pro Tools | MTRX Studio Support - DigiLink audio interface support for MTRX Studio is provided and Avid have announced that the Pro Tools MTRX is now available from your Avid Dealer.

Pro Tools Software Fully Notarized For macOS Catalina Support

We understand from Avid that Pro Tools 2020.3 is now fully compliant with Apple’s requirements for Notarization.