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Replacing / relinking to transcoded files with slightly different file names.
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Michael, I sent you a zip via WeTransfer. In it, there is the original .mts file, then MXF files created by Media Composer, Squeeze, and Resolve.
Interestingly, Media Composer will not “recognize” the MXF files created by Resolve. I copy them to the C:\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1\ folder, and they never show up under the Media Tool, whereas the MXF files created by Squeeze do show up.
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I have a few questions as to how you did the original workflow, as we got slightly different results. I was able to access your Resolve created files just fine by putting them in their own numbered folder and importing the msmMMOB.mdb created from the index when MC launches.
But that being said, Resolve got the filename just fine and it shows in the Tape column in the bin. That is the filename that MC will use to relink. You can relink across any of the column names if needed. But in your Resolve created file, the timecode is not the same as I what I got in Resolve, and in both cases neither of them match the Avid timecode. So there is something weird going on there. Also your Resolve duration is way off compared to the other methods and my Resolve process. Here is what I see in MC 8.4. I did an AMA link as noted. Here is what I am seeing:
In all cases, Sorenson Squeeze would be the one I would stay away from. It has a more difficult Tape ID to parse with the added _DNX_36 in the name. Perhaps that can get turned off?
Here is what I saw in Resolve which has the proper file name for REEL, but my timecode does not match your Resolve timecode but my duration matches the other methods.
Conclusion at this point is if you want to relink between 36 and 115, do it in Media Composer. In all cases, you will not be able to go back to the master files in Resolve for a conform since the timecodes do not match, but if Resolve sees all MTS files in your project as 00:00:00:00 you can always add 00:00:00:00 to all the clips in the AuxTC1 column and make an EDL.
Michael
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I appreciate your time and effort, Michael!
I’ve done some additional testing myself, and I have finally gotten relinking to work, although it still requires quite a bit of effort. But here’s what worked for me:
In Sorenson Squeeze’s Output options (Edit -> Preferences -> Output tab), I changed the output filename format to SourceFileName only, and not SourceFileName [underscore] PresetName. That way, inside of Media Composer the MXF file shows up as the original file name (minus the extension) under “Tape.”
The second thing I had to do to make the relinking work was to edit the Start timecode of the MXF file created by Squeeze. So under the “Start” column in Media Composer, I pasted the value that was shown from the original Media Composer-created file.
Once I did these two things, I could finally relink to this new file that was created by Squeeze.
So this works, which is an accomplishment for me, but obviously I don’t want to have to manually edit the timecode of each created MXF file. Any thoughts on what, if anything, can be done about this?
P.S. My version of Media Composer still won’t recognize the files created by Resolve. Maybe it’s just something that was added/fixed in the newer versions of MC, because when I put those Resolve MXF files in my Avid MediaFiles folder, they just get ignored, whereas Squeeze MXF files show up.
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Another thing I noticed is if I set the Media Composer MXF Start timecode to 00:00:00:00, which is what is shown for Squeeze MXF files, I can also relink.
That makes me wonder… since I can in bulk “zero out” the timecode in order to make these files match, is there any reason not to do that? Forgive the naivety, but are there many reasons why I would regret overwriting the original timecode? Or would I most likely get away with it, as long as I don’t plan to do a handful of specific things that would require it?
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I apologize for the multiple posts, but something you said interested me.
“I have a few questions as to how you did the original workflow, as we got slightly different results. I was able to access your Resolve created files just fine by putting them in their own numbered folder and importing the msmMMOB.mdb created from the index when MC launches.”
What exactly do you mean when you talk about importing the msmMMOB.mdb file? Is there anything I need to be doing with that?
My practice has been simply to add the MXF files to the appropriate folder (C:\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1\), and then open up the Media Tool. That shows all of my MXF files created by Squeeze, just not those created by Resolve.
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It’s just another method to manage and create master clips from media in the Avid Mediailes folder. It is common to manage “dailies” at the MediaFile level through the use of folder numbering rather than just filling up 1, then 2, then 3 etc. It’s also a method to manage media from different project. Not elegant, but can be effective.
When I create a batch of dailies, be it from a single day, all from one camera, or however you want to organize, I start my folder numbering at 10. Then when I copy all my MXF files, you an either go the MediaTool way, or import the msmMMOB.mdb file. The latter will only be the clips from that copy making it quicker to identify rather than that all the media, with the few extra steps of sort by date, etc.
I still wonder why Media Composer sees a timecode and other applications do not. You need matching reel ID of some kind and matching timecode to make a relink work.
Michael
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Is there any “risk” to wiping out the timecode of the original clips inside of Media Composer? This way, I can do it in bulk and set ALL of the clips to 00:00:00:00 to ensure that they match.
In a small amount of testing in relinking clips from a sequence, I didn’t notice anything getting messed up by zeroing out the timecode of the original clips. I just don’t want to be kicking myself down the road if this is a bad idea.
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Enter 00:00:00:00 into one of the Auxilliary TC columns (1-5) on all the clips. This can be done as a bulk copy process. When relinking, set up the link setting to use AuxTC instead of Start.
I would not get rid of any original timecode.
Michael
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Good thinking, but unless I’m missing something, Media Composer 6.0.5 doesn’t give me the option to relink by auxiliary timecode. This is what I see in my relink dialog:
The only other option in the “Relink by” drop-down menu is “Key Number [KN Start] – video only.”
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Riiiight. Sorry, I forgot about which version you were using. Don’t know if generating an EDL based on AuxTC with 00:00:00:00 as the start value of each clip. EDL’s are pretty restrictive depending on complexity of sequence.
Michael
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