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Different files, with same name but in different folders opening to show the same footage – enter a very weird world…
OK, not sure where to post this, but I was using FCP with LACIE drives so, I guess here is as fine as anywhere.
Imagine the following scenario.
14 different folders, each folder has video files imported from a different video cassette, the files are numbered sequentially in each folder. Consequently each folder has a file called Untitled, Untitled_1 etc.
Now, the file named ‘untitled’ in the first folder and the file named ‘untitled’ the 2nd folder are each very different files, you can see this by the fact that one is bigger in size than the other as its obviously longer. They are captured from two different video cassettes. However, when I open either of them, they both show the same footage, they are pretending to be the same file. The bigger, longer one is pretending to be shorter than it obviously is and pretending to be something quite different than what it is.
Basically the file system has gotten really confused here, and is showing files to be the same just because they are named the same, but are different.
So in each of the folders it looks like I only captured one tape 14 times! Other than knowing that I did not, AND the tell tale sign of the size of the files that have the same names being different.
Mindbending stuff. Anyone else had this problem and how did you resolve it and get your unique files back? !!!
Moving Images for Calm People
https://www.deepplanetarts.com/reel -
6 Replies
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This is what happens when you use the CAPTURE NOW function in FCP instead of LOG AND CAPTURE. It will name the files UNTITLED, because you didn’t title it. And if you do this with several projects, you will have several UNTITLED clips…and untitled-2 and so on.
The fault lies in two places. You for not properly logging and capturing. Or if you are using FCP 6.0.4, for not naming the clip in the Browser, and then using the RENAME option to make the FILE MATCH CLIP NAME. YOu might not have known about the latter option. But logging and naming your footage beforehand is a must in most cases.
Place two is FCP and it’s poor media management. AVID will assign a random code to captured media that is unique to that media. It might include the tape name in the name, or it might not. But the name is unique so you will not have this issue. FCP’s media management doesn’t do this, thus why the need to log and capture or rename the files is so important.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thanks for your response shane. I hear you. Have you seen this before?
The strangest thing about this is that I was seeing the individual files, the correct individual files at one time, but as I opened them and watched them, the filing system slowly got confused. Very strange.
Also, I wondered if it was something to do with Lacie drives just not doing their thing in the right way?
Moving Images for Calm People
http://www.deepplanetarts.com/reel -
Malcolm
You don’t seem to understand the problem. It has nothing to do with any of the hardware or software you are using. This is human error. Without naming the clips, FCP can not interpret the footage.
This is a very common mistake by users who use Capture Now instead of Log and Capture.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
[Malcolm Jackson] “The strangest thing about this is that I was seeing the individual files, the correct individual files at one time, but as I opened them and watched them, the filing system slowly got confused. Very strange.
Also, I wondered if it was something to do with Lacie drives just not doing their thing in the right way? “
Yes, the system is confused because you have multiple files with the exact same names. You should NEVER have two files the same name on a media array, even if they are in different folders. You should also NEVER have any files called “untitled.” Everything should be properly logged before it is captured.
This has nothing to do with FCP, Lacie or any other hardware, this is an operator issue. Properly log all footage prior to capturing or give the first clip a unique name to a project before using Capture Now. Then FCP will sequentially number all the clips with that unique name.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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If you must use CAPTURE NOW, assign a name BEFORE you capture. Give the tape a unique name (as you should anyway) and then before you capture that tape, type that name into the capture window. Then when you capture the tape, you will either end up with a large clip with that name, or if there are time code breaks, clips with the name and -1, -2. That is FAR better than UNTITLED.
For tape naming examples, you can go by shooting location and date and camera…for example, Los Angeles, 11/18/08, camera A, tape 1 can be LAX111808A1, then LAX111808A2 for tape two, and LAX111808B1 for Camera B. Or you can label them by project, like ANDREW JACKSON, tape 1 can be AJ001…then AJ002 and so on.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
If I inherited this mess, I would consider renaming the files, maybe appending the capture date and time, or at least the folder name, onto the file name.
Automator can do this pretty easily, so it might be time to clean up before going much further.
I’m sure George Foreman has this issue, with 6 sons named George. But he had the excuse of being hit in the head a lot before he used duplicate names.
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