How to Work with AV1 Video in Avid

Before you start

Check the Avid version installed on the editing machine. AV1 support varies by release and licensed option, so do not assume that every Media Composer installation can decode or export it. Where an AV1 file is not accepted directly, a common workflow is to transcode it to a codec the installed version recognizes, such as DNxHR or ProRes, before import.

Identify the recording format and capture source before changing settings. A screen recording or camera file may arrive as an MP4 or MKV container with AV1 video and a separate audio track. Keep the original file unchanged and work from a copy if the material is unique.

Step-by-step instructions

First, test whether the current Avid installation recognizes the file. In the project window, use the Source Browser to locate the folder containing the AV1 media. If a clip appears with a valid duration and frame rate, link to it and continue. Media Composer may treat AV1 as a linked clip even when the project format is set to a different editing mode.

For import, select the destination bin, open the import dialog, and confirm that the file is visible in the file list. If AV1 files are filtered out or shown as unsupported, do not force the import. Convert the clip outside Avid to a supported intermediate format using a separate encoding tool, then import the converted file.

When choosing an intermediate encoding, set the video codec, resolution and frame rate to match the source clip. For editing work, a high-bitrate intraframe format is usually safer than another compressed format because it keeps repeated editing and exports simpler. Keep the frame rate unchanged unless the project requires a conversion.

For export, open the export settings and check the available codec list. If AV1 is not listed, export using the project's approved delivery format and create the AV1 file later in a separate encoding step. When an AV1 export option is present, note its bitrate controls and profile choices before rendering.

Check the output

After import or link, open the clip in the source monitor and check that the picture plays correctly and that audio stays in sync. Look at the clip's reported frame rate and duration in the bin columns and compare them with the original file metadata.

After encoding an AV1 export, open the resulting file in a separate player and confirm that it includes the expected resolution, frame rate and audio tracks. Play several points across the timeline rather than only the first seconds. If the player reports the codec or bitrate, compare that information with the setting chosen for the export.

Common problems and next steps

A clip may show as offline or may fail to import if the installed Avid version does not support the AV1 stream, even when the container type is supported. In that case, convert the video stream to an editing codec while keeping the original frame rate and audio layout.

Stuttering during playback in Media Composer can occur when a linked AV1 clip is too compressed for smooth editing. If performance is poor, transcode the linked clip to a project-native editing format and replace the linked media in the sequence.

For delivery, a low AV1 bitrate can make text, fine detail and fast motion look soft or blocky. Increase the bitrate or reduce the resolution only after confirming what the target platform accepts. If the destination requires a different container, first check whether the video and audio codecs meet that specification.