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Events – media dated for offline media creation
I’ve spent the last week testing FCPX and I’ve run up against a problem. I’m cutting a long form doc where we down converted all the original media from DSLR format (Canon 7D) and others (P2, HDV) to Apple Pro Res proxy. When I bring that media into FCPX it dates it the day we down converted it versus the original creation date. I’m guessing if we had done this in FCPX upon ingestion it wouldn’t be a problem.
We always organize our material by date so I understand the impulse of Apple to structure its media management in this way. They have been doing this in iPhoto for years.
I’m guessing the only work around is to rely on folders and collections in this situation and to ignore the dates. Am I wrong?
I have a larger question. Why? Why not give us control over the management? I recently migrated all my photos out of iPhoto into Adobe’s Lightroom. I import from iPhone and a Canon 60D. Lightroom lets me set how to organize the material. I organize it exactly as iPhoto does, but the critical thing is that I have control.
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1 Reply
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You do have control over how you manage your media. That’s what you’re doing when you suggest using folders and collections to organize it vs. having FCPX organize it for you via dates.
However, regarding your issue: I think the problem is that the conversion took place outside of FCP. What program did you use to convert the files? FCPX has an option where it will convert all your H264 files to ProRes Proxy from within the program in the background and then quietly swap footage out as it becomes available.
Chances are, whatever program you used rewrote the Creation Date metadata as it was creating new media.
I don’t know if this will work, but you might try tricking FCPX into thinking it converted the media itself. Start a new event. Import all your footage in its original format (this may only work for the DSLR and P2 footage). Make sure that Optimized Media and Proxy Media are off in the import dialogue. In your event folder, find or create a folder called Transcoded Media. Inside there, create a folder called Proxy Media. Place all your proxy clips into that folder. Back in FCPX, go to your preferences and switch to Proxy Media in your playback settings. See if it links to your proxy media. Worth a shot.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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