Avid® DS™ 11 ReadMeAvid recommends that you read all the information in this document before using Avid DS 11 or later.

For a complete and updated list of known issues and limitations, go to the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com) or the Avid Knowledge Base.

For links to specific information, see the following topics:

• Installing Avid DS 11

• Avid DS Product Family

• Supported Platforms and Operating Systems

• Avid DS Enhancements

• Products Qualified with Avid DS

Installing Avid DS 11

The latest version of Avid DS is available on DVD or can be obtained from the Avid Download Centre (http://www.avid.com/US/support/downloads).

• This is a full version of the software so you will require a new license in order to run a fully functional version of the software.

An Avid DS 11 license will activate either Avid DS or Avid DS Graphics-Link (if appropriate AJA and/or graphics hardware is present), or Avid DS in software-only mode. A separate license activation is required for Avid DS RP (remote processing station).

If you run Avid DS 11 without a license, it will run only in Training mode with limited functions—see “Avid DS Training Edition” on page 3.

• Any previous versions must be uninstalled before installing Avid DS 11.

To install Avid DS 11:

1. Download the AvidDS_v11.zip file or insert the Avid DS DVD into your system.

- If you are installing from the DVD, run the Autorun.exe.

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- If you have downloaded the version from the Avid site, extract the contents of the zip file. Then go to the AvidDS_v11 folder and run the Autorun.exe.

2. Select Installation for a Standalone System or Installation for Workgroup Systems.

This will open an online version of the guide. Move the window to the side and follow the guidelines as you proceed with your installation.

Licensing Instructions

All licensing instructions, such as extracting a dongle ID, installing a license file, or troubleshooting issues, can be accessed from the Start menu.

Go to Start > All Programs > Avid > Avid DS 11 > Licensing Instructions.

You can also find this information on the Licensing page of the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com).

Avid DS Product Family

The following options are available for the Avid DS product:

Avid DS: with AJA dual link card for capture/output.

- full capture and output

- real-time playback

• Avid DS (software)

- no capture or output

- unguaranteed real-time playback

• Avid DS (graphics link): with graphics card for external monitoring

- no capture or output

- real-time processing by GPU

- GPU drives the output to an external monitor (up to RGB 4:4:4)

- audio can be handled by dual-link card if specified during installation

• Avid DS RP

- handles processing of effects from Avid DS workstations in the workgroup

Supported Platforms and Operating Systems

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Avid DS Training Edition

The Avid DS 11 Training Edition is an academic software designed especially for trial and training purposes. This edition does not have capture from tape or any output capabilities (You may capture media from file).

You can install this free educational application from the Avid DS DVD or download it from the Avid web site.

n IMPORTANT: The Training Edition can also be invoked if you start your Avid DS without a license. Any project opened by the Avid DS Training Edition will be unusable by licensed Avid DS systems.

To transfer a project from Avid DS to Avid DS Training Edition, the project must first be archived and that copy restored with Avid DS Training Edition. Avid DS archives may be opened by the Training Edition. Any editions or modifications made to this archive are not legible by a licensed Avid DS system.

Free Avid Media Composer

With every full version of Avid DS, Avid is also bundling a free copy of Avid Media Composer 6 (software-only) that also runs on Windows 7.

Media Composer is enabled by a software activation key instead of a dongle. For details on activating the software, see the Installation Guide for Avid Editing Applications.

Avid DS-Sapphire Bundle

If you purchased the Avid DS-Sapphire bundle, you can request the Sapphire promotion code at the same time that you submit the request for your Avid DS license. Instructions for installing and acquiring your Sapphire software will be provided electronically with your Avid DS License Confirmation email.

Supported Platforms and Operating Systems

Avid DS is offered on Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Professional for both hardware-based and software-only systems. Security Updates for Windows are also supported.

The following platforms are supported:

• HP Z800/Dual-link

• HP xw8600/Dual-link

n Avid DS no longer supports Nitris and Equinox hardware.

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Please Note:

• Avid is no longer shipping dual-boot systems. For existing dual-boot systems, please refer to the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com) (Configurations > Dual Boot Compatibility) for the qualified support.

• For Avid DS and Avid DS Training Edition software, a qualified graphics card is required. See the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com) for additional qualified cards.

• The Graphics-Link mode allows you to direct your output to an external monitor for viewing of high-res sequences (HD or higher). You can use the Graphics-Link mode if your system is equipped with a qualified card.

• Real-time GPU processing is automatically available if your system is equipped with a qualified graphics card.

Avid-Certified Systems

With Avid DS, you have the option of either buying an Avid-certified workstation, or purchasing your own “generic” system.

A Generic Avid DS workstation is a self-built system using equipment qualified by Avid.

An Avid-certified Avid DS workstation is a system built and sold by Avid. It is tested and guaranteed by Avid against software defects, and assures media I/O and real-time playback for all supported formats.

If Avid-certified equipment is not used, Avid DS is not guaranteed to maintain synchronized audio and video capture, nor real-time playback. Refer to the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com) for the list of minimum system requirements for an Avid DS system.

Operating System

The Avid DS workstation comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. Avid DS will run best after some minor changes to the default Windows 7 operating system. Refer to the optimization instructions on the Avid DS DVD or the Avid DS Support Center.

Avid DS Qualified Drivers

The Avid DS setup does not install any drivers. These must be installed separately depending on the hardware components that you add to your system. For the AJA cards, see “AJA Kona 3G Dual-Link Card” on page 8.

Avid DS Enhancements

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Documentation requires Adobe Reader v6.0 or greater

To read the Avid DS documentation and perform full text searches, you must use Adobe Reader v6.0 and greater. You can update to the free Adobe Reader at Adobe’s web site: www.adobe.com.

Avid DS Enhancements

The following enhancements have been made to Avid DS since the last release.

Artist Transport Controller

Avid DS now supports Avid Artist Transport which allows you to quickly navigate and edit projects using the surface controls on the unit.

You must use the External Controller Setup in Avid DS to do the key mapping and not the EUCON Control software. Refer to “Using the Avid Artist Transport Controller” in the online help for more information.

Artist Color Controller

Avid DS now supports the Avid Artist Color series which is a tactile input surface that eases color correction tasks. Refer to “Using the Avid Artist Color Controller” in the online help for more information. You will need to load the corresponding mapping presets from the External Controller Setup in Avid DS.

n The Artist Control and Artist Mix controllers are not supported by Avid DS.

Long-GOP Support

Avid DS can relink to XDCAM media (OP-Atom) used in Media Composer / Symphony sequences. When conforming Long GOP sequences in Avid DS via AAF/AFE, you can link to the media that was imported or transcoded in Media Composer.

n Avid DS does not currently support recapture of the original media, nor does it relink to media previously linked via AMA. If you have linked to the media via AMA, you need to transcode your sequence before generating the AFE/AAF.

Similarly, XDCAM OP1A media must also be transcoded to an XDCAM Avid-wrapped MXF file before sending the sequence to Avid DS.

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Ability to Output Custom Canvas Size in Effects

Avid DS now gives you the ability to create and output custom canvas sizes for source generators and graphics effects which are different (either larger or smaller) than the sequence settings. In addition, you can modify the output of any effect to either respect the customized canvas size or leave it at the default sequence settings.

Each effect now has these settings in its property editor (Options tab). If you set the Output Size mode to Custom, you can enter the desired frame size.

n When working with Paint and Titling effects, you need to click on the Graphic Properties button to get access to the Options tab.

DNxHD RGB

Support for the Avid DNxHD 444 codec has been added to Avid DS, therefore you can now link to MXF RGB 4:4:4 media.

n This format cannot yet be played back in real-time. It must be processed for playback and output.

Blending Modes in the Timeline

You can apply blending and matte operations directly on the Timeline to single or multiple clips without entering the Compositing layout. This is useful when you are compositing images using the simple track compositing method. For details, refer to “Applying Blending and Matte Operations on the Timeline” in the Avid DS online help.

16-Channel Audio Support

You can capture and output 16 audio channels. This also applies for import/export to file or AAF or AFE.

All points in the Avid DS interface that previously allowed 8 streams of audio have been increased to 16 streams. The AJA Xena 2Ke / Kona 3 cards support 8 audio channels in AES and 16 via SDI embedded. The Kona 3G supports 16 channels for both AES and SDI embedded audio.

OpenEXR

Avid DS supports the import of OpenEXR (HDR) image file format. This will allow you to work with a higher dynamic range and color precision than most 8- and 10-bit image file formats. This file format also includes support for 16-bit floating-point, 32-bit floating-point, and 32-bit integer pixels, as well as a multitude of lossless image compression algorithms.

Products Qualified with Avid DS

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n The Imath library and some C++ classes are not currently supported by Avid DS.

Conforming Projects from Media Composer/Symphony to Avid DS

Sequences created in Media Composer/Symphony 6.0.x can be successfully conformed to Avid DS 11.

n Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) sequences from Media Composer/Symphony are not currently supported in Avid DS.

Products Qualified with Avid DS

The following products have been qualified with this version of Avid DS:

Avid Media Composer 6 Compatibility

Avid DS 11 is compatible with Avid Media Composer 6.

Avid MetaFuze Compatibility

Avid DS 11 is compatible with Avid Metafuze 2.5.

Avid ISIS Client Support

Any Avid DS 11 on Windows 7 clients with a 1 GB Ethernet connection, are supported on Avid ISIS 5000 v3.5/4.0 and ISIS 7000 v2.5/4.0. Please note the following:

• 10-bit DNxHD media playback is limited to 1 stream in the above qualification.

• 10-Gbit Ethernet connections to Avid ISIS are not qualified for use with Avid DS.

You must ensure that an ISIS account is created to match the Avid DS Media Indexer Services (Media and Project Indexers) dedicated account credentials. If the Avid DS indexer is not in the ISIS System Director accounts list, then media access will be problematic on the ISIS workspaces. The storage spaces will either not work properly, or the Avid DS clients will not able to get real-time playback on the ISIS storage.

For the latest compatibility information, refer to the Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com).

Avid MediaNetwork 5.1.x Compatibility

Avid DS 11 and later is supported in the Avid MediaNetwork 5.1.x fibre environment (ethernet is not supported). We recommend that you install MediaNetwork v5.4 Windows client software on all Avid DS client workstations.

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The number of streams and clients supported depends on your MediaNetwork configuration. Refer to the storage table on the Avid DS Support Center.

AJA Kona 3G Dual-Link Card

Avid DS 11 now supports the AJA Kona 3 and its K3-Box, as well as the newer AJA Kona 3G card and its K3G-Box. This requires a driver update that is included in the download package. Both the Kona 3 and Kona 3G boards use the same driver. The same new driver also supports existing legacy Kona 3 (Xena 2Ke) and K3-Box hardware, so be sure to read the AJA instructions to properly uninstall the old Xena2 driver and install the Kona3 driver.

This new AJA driver adds the AJA Device service and that it must be stopped before using any of the Avid DS Media I/O functions. Refer to the AJA Driver Installation section on the Avid DS 11 DVD or Avid DS Support Center (http://aviddssupport.avid.com).

Avid Interplay 2.5

This version is compatible with Interplay 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6. No new functionality has been added, but Avid DS/Media Composer workflows are supported in the Interplay environment.

Supported Storage and Cards

The following cards are supported when connecting to the respective storage:

RED Support

Avid DS 11 includes support for RED SDK version 4.3.

Third-Party Plug-ins

Please refer to the Avid DS Support Center for the current plug-in support. http://aviddssupport.avid.com/index.htm?section=download/plug-ins.htm

Storages Card

SAS—Avid VideoRAID SR, Xtore StudioRAID 16Re 16TB

Onboard built-in LSI-Logic SAS 3000 1068e

SCSI—Avid VideoRAID RTR (2x10-bay) and MediaDock Ultra320

Atto UL5D U320

Avid Unity MediaNetwork Atto Celerity FC-41ES

Avid ISIS Intel Pro1000 PT

Legal Notices

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Avid DS requires QuickTime v7.6 or greater

To capture and link to any Quicktime files (including the ProRes format), you must have QuickTime v7.6 or greater. Refer to the QuickTime posted on the Avid DS Support Center http://aviddssupport.avid.com).

Wacom Intuos 5 Tablet Support

This version introduces support for the new Wacom Intuos 5 Touch tablet. You can download this driver from the Wacom site.

Legal NoticesProduct specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc.

The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com. The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of Avid Technology, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Avid Technology, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights LegendU.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are “commercial computer software” or “commercial computer software documentation.” In the event that such Software or documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to FAR §12.212(a) and/or DFARS §227.7202-1(a), as applicable.

Trademarks

Avid and the Avid logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All trademarks are listed in the Avid DS online help under the Legal Notices. See also www.avid.com/US/about-avid/legal-notices/trademarks for more information on Avid's trademarks.

Adobe and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Apple and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Avid DS 11 Readme • June 2012

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