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re-connecting media to a more compact codec
In an already-edited project, I want to substitute a low-res version of a file for the original, higher-res version. Is this possible, without a lot of clip-by-clip editing?
background: I am now archiving a project, and have discovered that some of the camera files were digitized using an uncompressed codec, rather than ProRes422. As a result, just a few files are making the projects way too large for convenient archiving. I would like to shrink the files (replacing the uncompressed originals with ProRes copies) before archiving.
(Just in case you are about to suggest a classic offline/online solution using camera tapes: My procedure for backups is to copy everything, exactly as it is on the hard drive, onto LTO backup tape. That way I can restore a project very quickly, without needing anything but the LTO tape — a Godsend for quick turnarounds when a client needs a “slight tweak” years from now. In addition, it is necessary for me to do this when a project contains HDV sources, as this one does, because I capture the entire tape, sans timecode, through my HDConnect device, for maximum quality and minimizing the hassle of stopped or incomplete captures due to timecode breaks.)
I tried making a ProRes copy of the original uncompressed file, then using “reconnect media” in FCP to substitute the new, smaller file for the original one.
No dice. Oddly, in one sequence, the new file moved in without a murmur. But in the others, the new file was new recognized, and I could not substitute it for the original.
In general, I have found the “reconnect” function problematic; I recognize that here, I am trying to stretch it.
Thanks for any advice.
Bob C
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8 Replies
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Yo Bob!
This is one of the many jobs that Media Manager does. If you can’t figure it out on your own, call me and try pleading and/or outright begging.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.comDon’t miss my new tutorial: Prepare for a seamless transition to FCP X and OS X Lion
https://library.creativecow.net/weiss_roth_david/FCP-10-MAC-Lion/1POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.
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[David Roth Weiss] “call me and try pleading and/or outright begging.”
Gee whiz, can anybody else help me?
Just kidding — I’ll try to figure out how to use Media Manager.
Thanks David.
b
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[Bob Cole] “Just kidding — I’ll try to figure out how to use Media Manager. “
The problem is that MM will transcode all the footage, not just the Uncompressed stuff.
rafael -
I just duplicated my first try at this, and confirmed that the following is really true:
The new file with the smaller codec can be reconnected successfully, and the new file appears in a sequence that is very simple — just that one file. But in my real sequence, where that file is just one of many, actually one layer of many, I get the red graphic with media-not-found.
Why should it work in one sequence, and not in another?
Bob C
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[Bob Cole] “where that file is just one of many, actually one layer of many, I get the red graphic with media-not-found.”
You tried reconnecting from the time-line?I don’t off-line but i would have a look to this article of Shane on off-line editing:
https://library.creativecow.net/ross_shane/tapeless_online/1
rafael -
You would need to transcode the files form the Finder and make sure they match exactly (Reel , tc, etc) then try and use FcpReconnect:
https://www.videotoolshed.com/product/41/fcpreconnect
Jeremy
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[Jeremy Garchow] “transcode the files form the Finder”
How do you do that? I was just going to put the file into its own sequence, name the sequence after the file, and export a ProRes422 QT.
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[Bob Cole] “How do you do that?”
Take the original files in your capture scratch (or wherever they are in the Finder) and drop them in Compressor.
If you export from FCP, all the info will be different (tc, reel, etc) and FCP reconnect won’t work.
Jeremy
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