Back on Track
Tracking tips with the Avid Media Composer tracking tool.
No matter if you prefer using alternative visual effects tools outside of Avid or aren’t particularly technical, the Avid Tracking Tool is something almost everyone will need to use at some point. Here are a few helpful tips I’ve picked up over the years.
The Avid Media Composer isn’t known for its extensive effects tools, nor has it kept pace with newer technologies as well as other NLEs. Like many of its features, the tracking tool hasn’t seen significant updated in some time. As a result, it may feel a bit outdated. However, it’s still a relatively good tool to use for tracking. As with many things in Avid, you may need a few workarounds to get the best results.
Contrast: The Key to Tracking
Before we dive in, here are some basics for beginners. The tracker has two boxes:
The inner box defines the area the computer memorises and tracks from frame to frame.
The outer box defines the area the computer scans in the following frame.
For best results, choose an area with high contrast and sharp edges. This improves tracking accuracy, ensuring a more precise match. Ideally, select an item in the same area of the frame as the object you want to attach the track to.
Right-Click for More Options
Many assume you can only track objects that appear throughout the entire shot. While this is ideal—since sudden offsets can cause jumps—you can switch tracking points mid-shot. To do this, go to the desired frame, right-click on the tracker, and select “Add New Track Region.” A new tracking box will appear, allowing you to move and track a different object.
Right-clicking also lets you set the in and out points for a track, meaning you can start or end tracking at any point within the shot.
Copy and Paste
For years, I thought Avid didn’t allow copying and pasting tracks, but at some point, they quietly added this feature. Somewhat counterintuitively, it’s done using Cmd + C and Cmd + V (on Mac). To copy a track from one tracker to another:
Open the first tracker and press Cmd + C to copy.
Open the target tracker in the other shot and press Cmd + V to paste.
Deep Dive Tutorial (from Avid)
For those who want to explore the Avid Tracking Tool in greater depth, check out this tutorial from Avid:
Not sure how embarrassed I should be about this, but I never knew about the right-click functions. Thank you!