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FCP7 to APP CC: Workflow for Preparing Video for Import into Premiere
New Mac Pro (Tube CPU)
Storage: 17.5TB External Drobo; ThunderboltObjective:
I’m looking for a good solution for archiving media at my new workstation where multiple editors will need to access and share footage. My biggest concern is the logging process. Everyone on the team needs to be able to easily search and find footage shot by other team members.Previous Workflow:
In the past we were using Final Cut Pro 7. After shooting video we could dump the new video footage into a location beneath the project name that would look like this: HardDrive2/CurrentProjects/BestMovieEverMade/CaptureScratch/’video footage’I would then open the project in FCP7 where I would use the Bin to label each video clip, and the rename original media to match the titles I just changed within the Bin. Now, each video clip can be found in Finder so anyone may find it for use in their projects. I’m aware this ‘rename file to match clip’ function is not able to be done in Premiere and why. Didn’t like it at first, but I got over it.
Because of this functionality difference, I now don’t know of the ‘best practice’ way to offload footage, where, and how to make sure I can label footage so that everyone can search for and find footage. What are other professionals using, and what is their workflow?
I have attempted to use Adobe Bridge to tag using ‘Keywords’ for search purposes, and continue storing video files within a project name/capture scratch for old-time-sake. And I’m skeptical of the Adobe recommended “Prelude”.
Any ideas or workflow tips?
Ian Smith
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3 Replies
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[Ian Smith] “that everyone can search for and find footage. What are other professionals using, and what is their workflow?”
From what I can glean, everyone seems to have a different workflow, in the details anyway.
Ours doesn’t differ much from yours. It appears you will have to force your file naming style into Adobe’s method of Prelude > Batch Rename in Bridge. I think its very clunky, but it would be better to deal with the clunkiness if-and-only-if you can find the footage you need as quickly as you need it when you need it.
The Adobe website has tutorials and tips.
Please report back with what your practice is and whether and to what extent it is working for you and any improvements. Thanks!
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The possible solution I have been experimenting with for a couple weeks has been using Adobe Bridge. Here is how I use Bridge:
Step 1. Using Bridge, offload video footage from CF card into specific project folder:
ie. External HD/Current Projects/Project Name/Capture Scratch/Footage.movStep 2. Highlight clips and add relevant Keywords to clips. DONE!
Now, you should be able to find video clips as long as you have an idea of what project the clips you want were captured during. So, some of the frustration may still be there if you don’t have any idea of what project the clips are associated, but I’d rather not dump ALL video files into one huge folder. Find the project the files are associated, and simply tick the keywords that fit footage you’re looking for and Bridge will sort and display all associated within that project. From there, you could also use Collections, and even Smart Collections to grab clips from multiple projects and locations. This would be useful for a project that is going to use clips from several projects.
NOTE: If there are multiple producers to keep in mind, the “Keyword” list should be exported each time it’s updated and shared between users. Notify your colleagues if you update the list! If your keyword list is missing keywords used by a fellow colleague, you won’t be able to find clips you need. I recommend keeping two keyword lists online for everyone to quickly grab (the most recent file) each time they come home to offload from a shoot. Now you have the most recent keyword list, and may even update it and re-save it online for your colleagues to use when they offload. Keeping two online (one with an earlier date) will keep away hassle of possibly corrupted file.
A Thought:
I’ve been wondering if you could instead of using Keywords, use Metadata to add these “keywords”, so the clips would be searchable even from Finder. Anyone know if that’s an option, and sensible?Ian Smith
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I’m not sure of any way to rename the actual file via Premiere or Bridge. I’ve never used Prelude (no real need as all our projects are only handled by one or two editors anyway) but it seems like it’s the way to go. If it’s the best tool for the job, why the aversion?
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