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FCPX and Pervasive Metadata
In the “Thanks for All the Fish” thread, Walter Soyka posted the following:
“Pervasive metadata is absolutely the way of the future.”
This is also a view that I’ve heard stated in similar ways from other users as well.
So is it?
On the one hand, we are told that the future is these freelancers shooting on their DSLRs and coming back to FCPX on their Mac Book Pro/iMac and churning out video that is fully “baked” inside Apple’s NLE. This implies low cost/quick turnaround video.
So where does metadata fit in? With video being “cheaper”, the longer one spends per project, the less one actively makes. So why spend an hour logging all the footage when you’re shooting one project before moving on to the next and time is money? Where does metadata fit into this revolutionary new workflow? Cataloging footage in this manner comes in hand in two scenarios: 1) long-form work and 2) database footage. Outside of b-roll, the second doesn’t seem likely for these new individual shooters, and how does the second work when it’s all short-form Internet distributed material?
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21 Replies
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What I like about FCPX is that it allows you to be as organized or as disorganized as you want and still have quick access to footage.
I can organize over 1000 clips in 15 minutes or less. I talk a bit about this here:
https://library.creativecow.net/garchow_jeremy/FCPX-Ask/1
Now, you can spend more time and get more descriptive if you want, or you don’t have to. It will also come in handy in the clip index.
Jeremy
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[Jeremy Garchow] “I can organize over 1000 clips in 15 minutes or less.”
Can you be a bit more specific about what you mean by “organize” in this example?
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David Lawrence
art~media~design~research
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Agreed. I would rather have more options than less. But what I’m saying is that there are those touting that new production paradigm AND the new metadata as being the wave of the future, when it seems counter-productive TO that new production paradigm.
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[David Lawrence] “Can you be a bit more specific about what you mean by “organize” in this example?”
I talk about it in the article, with screengrabs! :0) It is preliminary “bucket” organize. ie throw related clips in a “bin”.
https://library.creativecow.net/garchow_jeremy/FCPX-Ask/1
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[Jeremy Garchow] “I talk about it in the article, with screengrabs! :0) It is preliminary “bucket” organize. ie throw related clips in a “bin”.”
Ah yes. I Just saw the thumbnails at first and missed the keyword list. Yes, that’s something I like in FCPX a lot. In fact it’s even easier to favorite regions than you say, just hit F, no need for the control key!
_______________________
David Lawrence
art~media~design~research
propaganda.com
publicmattersgroup.com
facebook.com/dlawrence
twitter.com/dhl -
[Gary Huff] “But what I’m saying is that there are those touting that new production paradigm AND the new metadata as being the wave of the future, when it seems counter-productive TO that new production paradigm.”
Why? Because assigning useful metadata extremely fast slows you down? I don’t get it.
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[David Lawrence] “In fact it’s even easier to favorite regions than you say, just hit F, no need for the control key!”
Ooo, could be a typo. Control-f is show faves. Good catch!
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[Jeremy Garchow]I talk about it in the article, with screengrabs! :0) It is preliminary “bucket” organize. ie throw related clips in a “bin”.
I saw the article and I don’t understand how it’s any different from another NLE with an actual bin and sorting clips the traditional way.
Exactly how were things sorted differently than you would have before in a way that was better?
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[Gary Huff] “I saw the article and I don’t understand how it’s any different from another NLE with an actual bin and sorting clips the traditional way.”
You make a keyword, and FCPX automatically makes that a keyboard shortcut. You sort the event by “No Ratings or Keywords”, select the relevant clips, and either assign a new keyword, or use one of the already created keywords. It’s ultra fast and very fluid. No waiting for drag and drop and you instant access to all clips to view and sort right in the event by single clicking it. All clips available all the time, no double clicking, no watching in a separate window, you simply start skimming it want to start editing. You simply can’t do it in FCP7, or any other editor as far as I know.
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[Jeremy Garchow]Why? Because assigning useful metadata extremely fast slows you down? I don’t get it.
But you’re not assigning any level of metadata at a fast level that is that useful. Select clips “interview”, select the next batch “b-roll”. And you’re done. That’s not that different or more useful than creating two bins called “Interview” and “B-Roll” and moving your footage into them.
But that’s not the power of metadata by any stretch. The power comes from more detailed descriptions and selection moments inside clips and whatnot.
And who is going to spend the time to do that? You said you organized 1000 clips, but in very rough and down-and-dirty form. Now what if you wanted to explicitly label every single one with very detailed keywording, including labeling selections within clips. Are you going to do that yourself? How long is that going to take and how long are you willing to spend doing it?
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