Questions about the Avid MediaFiles folder and organization

[John Pale]

Sure it can.

Just select those files and consolidate to the new drive.

If the drive is blank, it will set up an Avid MediaFiles folder. Your consolidated files will be in the “1” folder.

If this drive has Avid media on it already, simply rename the existing “1” folder to something else and Avid will create a new one with only your consolidated media in it.

[Sean Mcnally]

I see what you mean. Turns out, you can’t Consolidate/Transcode directly from the Media Tool, but you can copy all the files into a new bin, and do it from there. Good idea on changing the name of the “1” folder. Just have to make sure you un-check “Skip native media files already on the target drive”

Basically, I just need to think of the Avid MediaFiles/MXF directory like a USB hub, and the folders within it like virtual USB drives. Remove them, the media will go offline, but put it back, Avid will find it again.

So, thanks to all of your guidance, as well as research I’ve conducted since starting this thread, here’s my new method for organizing my media files:

1) Import Footage
2) Rename Avid MediaFiles/MXF/1 to something else, say Project_1_MXF.
3) Once I’m done with Project 1, I can move my Project_1_MXF folder somewhere else, wherever I want. Then, if I need to work on Project 1 again, I can just pop that folder back into the Avid MediaFiles/MXF directory.

If I somehow screw up and get the mxf files from two projects jumbled together in the same folder, I can:

1) Open Media Tool
2) Select my drive and the project whose files I want to extract
3) Select Master clips and both Precompute clips options
4) Copy everything that turns up in the Media Tool window to a new bin
5) Select everything in the new bin
6) Right click, consolidate/transcode
7) Make sure there isn’t a folder called “1”, so Avid will create a new one
8) Use the consolidate option (whose name is a bit confusing. Nothing is really “consolidated” or lost, it just moves things from one drive to another, or in my case, a new “1” folder.)
9) Make sure “Skip native media files already on the target drive” is un-checked.
10) Press consolidate, and you’ll have a brand new “1” folder with all your project’s media in it, which you can re-name and move somewhere else.

I’ve also found that 10-step process can be automated, that is, if I’m willing to shell out $100 for Automatic Duck’s MediaCopy. But, as long as I keep on top of it, I shouldn’t need to re-generate those folders at all. Even if, for example, I import more media for Project 1 after renaming the folder, and a new “1” folder is created, I can just move the new files into the Project_1_MXF folder.

Thanks so much!

– Sean

[Shane Ross]

Sorry, the media has to be in the structure Avid wants. You can’t do it any other way.

Shane
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[Sean Mcnally]

Well sure. But as long as the MXF files are stored in Avid MediaFiles/MXF/[FolderName], I should be good, right? Doesn’t matter what the name of that folder is. What’s the problem with my solution?

[Shane Ross]

The folders in the MXF folder need to be named with numbers. Sure, you can do “1 Magic Mike”, “2 Unforgettable” and so on. But then the media databases don’t update if you add media. They only work if the folder is a number only. And if you are working on a project and add new media and renders, it automatically goes to “1”. So if you have a named folder, and move that new media from “1” to “2 Magic Mike,” Avid won’t update the databases, and it won’t be seen. Unless that folder is just a number.

Shane
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[Sean Mcnally]

Reminds me of the old Get Smart series…missed it by that much!

Alright, so it seems to me like the only issue is if I want to go back to a project and add more media. So, I guess I’ll just have to re-name whatever folder I’m working with to “1” while I’m using it in Avid, and then back to “Project_A” before I put it into storage somewhere else on the drive. Any issues there?

[Shane Ross]

[Sean McNally] “and then back to “Project_A” before I put it into storage somewhere else on the drive. Any issues there?”

Yes…that doesn’t start with a number. It’ll have to be “2 Project_A” or any number. But the first thing in the name must be a number in order for it to be seen by Avid.

Shane
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[Sean Mcnally]

[Shane Ross] “Yes…that doesn’t start with a number.”

But why would it matter what I name it before it goes into storage? Next time I use the folder in Avid, just before taking it out of storage and moving it to the AvidMedia Files/MXF folder, I’ll just rename it to “1” again, so Avid will see it as a working folder.

[Shane Ross]

Ah…If you intend on doing that, this is what I do. I make a folder called PROJECT_A_MEDIA…and put the WHOLE Avid MediaFiles folder in there. So that I then keep everything separate. So I can have PROJECT_A, PROJECT_B, PROJECT_C and so on…and just put away and pull out the media folder when needed

Shane
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[Sean Mcnally]

[Shane Ross] “I make a folder called PROJECT_A_MEDIA…and put the WHOLE Avid MediaFiles folder in there”

Not a bad idea. Might go with the idea of renaming the individual folder though, that way I get in the habit of always keeping a close eye on the folder structure and contents. Looks like I’ve finally got a solution!

1) Import Footage
2) Edit
3) When done, rename Avid MediaFiles/MXF/1 to something else, say Project_A_MXF and move elsewhere
4) Next time I want to work, rename “Project_A_MXF” to “1” and move it back to Avid MediaFiles/MXF/.

Thanks, guys!