What software produced this error screen?

July 16, 2006 12:45 PM

What video editing software did this "media not available" error come from?

http://indecisions.org/bigbite-f-up.jpg

I saw this in the intro of today's episode of Guy's Big Bite on Food Network. This was, sadly, one of a whole lot of blatant, obvious editing errors that even an amateur should have caught...but I digress.

I've always been curious about the behind the scenes setup that various TV networks use, and this has to be a giant clue. So...what software is this?

posted by CrayDrygu to technology (7 comments total)

I suspect it's an Avid DS. Definitely an Avid.
posted by catesbie at 1:09 PM on July 16, 2006

A Google search for "media not available" error video editing turns up several references to Avid's DS Nitris.
posted by jjg at 2:19 PM on July 16, 2006

It's such a generic-sounding error, I didn't even think that Google would be of use. Thanks to the both of you!

(I should have guessed it would be an appliance, not just software.)
posted by CrayDrygu at 2:27 PM on July 16, 2006

CrayDrygu, most production companies will buy a proven turnkey system instead of trying to cobble together something that works in-house. They get support for it (depending on who you get it from, possibly from the people that wrote the software), they get a reliable system where everything works, and they (hopefully) don't have to hack too much ontop of it. Avid & Discreet are the two big people in NLE right now. Pinnacle & Canopus are two other decent sized ones. There are turnkey systems built around Adobe Premiere, but I don't think Adobe sells the systems themselves. NewTek sells at least a couple full turnkey systems. I'm sure there are others.
posted by devilsbrigade at 2:56 PM on July 16, 2006

devilsbrigade, interesting insight. So what role does FCP play for production companies? (I'm only trained on FCP, so it's relevant to me if I decide to try to break into editing professionally.)
posted by tweebiscuit at 3:37 PM on July 16, 2006

Getting off topic, but in response to tweebiscuit, FCP is widely used by production companies. But most shows that are not shot on DV are edited on Avid. And even some of the lower budget shows use Avid Xpress DV because "serious" editors in Los Angeles tend to prefer the Avid interface. This is certainly changing, and there are many places where you can work without using an Avid, but probably more than 95% of the material being shot on film or HD is edited on them.
posted by mzurer at 4:03 PM on July 16, 2006

I can certified that it's a Avid DS. I should know, I'm an FCP, DVDSP, Motion, Avid MC, Symphony and DS instructor.

An MC/Xpro/Symph would say "Media Offline"
posted by filmgeek at 9:16 PM on July 16, 2006