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Importing DV tapes – multiple files in finder?
So I have imported several tapes in FCP in SD Mini DV (old school!) They are about 50 minute tapes so I split them up into 2 clips – just over 20 minutes each. When I look at them in the finder, the name I gave the clip has “-v” added to the end of it. And there are between 3 and 5 extra files, all very large, listed under the actual clip, that say “quicktime file” but will not open in quicktime. They have the same file name but have added “-v-2” and “-v-3” and so on to the end of them. So for example, I imported a clip which named: “NYC_Tape_1” and for that import, I have: “NYC_Tape_1-v” (which appears to be the working QT file) and then also: “NYC_Tape_1-v-1” and “NYC_Tape_1-v-2” and “NYC_Tape_1-v-3”
What are these files and do I need them to give to my editor? The first file plays fine in QT but the rest say they are not recognizable. Any help appreciated!
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5 Replies
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Either you have captured to a FAT32-formatted hard drive, or you have “Limit Capture/Export File Segment Size to” turned on in FCP’s “System settings.”
You can deliver these files to your editor, but you must deliver them all, and you must keep them together. The first file in the set refers to the subsequent files, so if you open the first file, you should see the entire clip in Quicktime and FCP. If you separate the files, that linkage could be broken and your clip will be incomplete.
Working with FCP on a FAT32-formatted drive isn’t recommended; you should be using HFS+ instead.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
Does this effect the quality of the video? I just imported the clips to an external hard drive – is this formatting thing something I can do in disk utility? Should I re-import this stuff or is it of the same quality? Thanks again!
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Actually this wasn’t the problem, something to do with the length of the clips… anyone?
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[Brad DeCecco] “Actually this wasn’t the problem, something to do with the length of the clips… anyone?”
It’s more to do with the improper format of the hard drive as Walter mentioned. FAT32 has a 4Gb file size limitation.
Most of the firewire drives on the market that come pre-manufactured, with the exception of LaCie, come formatted FAT32 for Windows and have to be formatted as Mac Extended using the Apple Disk Utility. It literally takes about ten seconds.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
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[Brad DeCecco] “Actually this wasn’t the problem, something to do with the length of the clips… anyone?”
They’re related. If FCP is segmenting your files at 2GB, and you are capturing DV25 (13 GB per hour), your clips will be segmented every 9 minutes or so. A clip shorter than 9 minutes would fit in under 2 GB, and it wouldn’t be segmented.
[Brad DeCecco] “Does this effect the quality of the video? I just imported the clips to an external hard drive – is this formatting thing something I can do in disk utility? Should I re-import this stuff or is it of the same quality?”
File segmenting won’t affect the quality of the video.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events
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