How to locate Clips’ MXF media to transfer to another drive?

[Rosie Walunas]

Is there any copying media management tool I could use in which I put the bins of the media I want to transfer in a temp separate project then use this potential tool to copy or archive the media on another drive?

Thanks.

[Pat Horridge]

Unfortunately the media tool in media Composer is very weak in terms of copying media, It’s only useful for identifying media to create clips in bins or deleting media.
If your on a PC there is Avid_MDV that is more powerful but at the raw MXF level the most you can really see if what Project the media is associated with.

My advice would be to create a new project with a project name that’s helpful (like Stillmedia) copy your bins into that project.
Consolidate those clips with no handles to new fresh drive (or use the MXF sub folder re-numbering trick.

Of the original media you should then (making sure you have a backup first) be able to select all the stills and delete the media (but leave the master clips) then copy the consolidated media back and the master clips should re-link to that media.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Michael Phillips]

A long overdue feature is the ability to select one or more clips in the bin and via a right-click have the ability to move or copy media to a target drive in one step. Seeing as there is the ability to reveal file on a clip by clip basis, the foundation is there to do so on multiple clips as a single command.

But – you might be able to use the “send to” capabilities of the system if you are looking to move clips associated with a sequence. In the settings, there is an option to “copy media” and set a target drive/folder. For clips in the bin, you can quickly make a sequence from them and do the same.

Michael

[Rosie Walunas]

So that would only move clips, not copy them?

I think in one of Kevein McAluiffe’s tutorials he uses an external tool that allows projects to be copied, no? Is that not something to use?

Aren’t there people that keep all there media for every single project in the one MXF folder without hidding any of the numbered folders? What do they do?

[Michael Hancock]

MediaCopy by Automatic Duck. It’s free now:

https://www.automaticduck.com/products/mc/

You can use this to copy just specific bins from projects, or entire projects. It a great tool to have.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor

[Pat Horridge]

There are a number of great tools for maanaging projects and media look at Project Parking for one.
And i think that’s why Avid has stuck with such weak internal media management.

You can work Avid never interfacing with the MXF folders if you live with the consolidate function and media tool to delete unwanted media (or by reverse selection keep wanted media)

But I don’t know of anyone seriously doing post who isn’t managing media at the folder level to really lever the flexibility that offers.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Rosie Walunas]

So it has the ability to (copy) the media – as in the (MXF) files associated with a Project/Bins ?!

[Michael Hancock]

Yep. Just drag the bins you want to copy into the Media Copy window, set where you want them copied to and hit Copy. It will copy all the .mxf media to that location . Great way to move media around or archive projects.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor

[Rosie Walunas]

Thank heaven! I’ll be testing this out today and hopefully everything will [copy]. Lol – Why didn’t anyone suggest this in the first place instead of just saying how ‘weak’ the Media Tool is…? Anyhow – Thank you!

[Michael Phillips]

My excuse is, I only work on one feature film at a time, so management at the media level is very much simplified…

😉

Michael