To rename or not to rename

[Simon Modery]

Well, I think there is no definite right or wrong on this. But it is one of my policies never to rename files, because:

– If you keep the original names, you have consecutive numbering and you know (and can proof to others) that you didn’t loose a file. (I get this quite a lot, that directors think they shot something they actually haven’t)

– If you need to go back to the original camera files, it is almost impossible with changed names (let’s say in the event that you transcoded material the wrong way and didn’t notice for a while).

– If several people in several locations work with the same footage, it makes conversations and exchange via EDL / XML a lot easier if all have kept the same filenames.

Head of Postproduction
Motherlode

http://www.simonmodery.com

[Tom Maclachlan]

Thanks Simon,

That’s probably good advice.

I am now logging in Prelude and keeping the name of the file at the start of the clip name, then just adding the scene/shot/take numbers to the end. This way I always know which file is which if needing to re-link clips to files.

I then just add my comments with a comment tag in Prelude. Seems to be working well.

Cheers,

Tom

[Alex Udell]

Depends on the source unfortunately.

In the case of editing material native from P2….you simply can’t because the media is dependent on the file/folder structure.

In the case of .mov’s or other types of media.

I use Adobe Bridge a lot to create useful file names, but that append, the original file name:

like: 2013_Wide Shot_Ext_bldg pan_0x314.mov

this allows searches at the OS level that mean something and can also help avoid naming collisions and relinking issues.

hope that helps….

Alex Udell
Editing, Motion Graphics, and Visual FX

[Kris Merkel]

+1 to Alex’s comments. I would also like to add if you are doing a ton of card based offloads you might want to consider Shot put pro. Also if you rename in bridge ect. it will retain the link to the original filename.

I for one try to make it a habit to give every file a unique name based on the project, because who wants to do a search for MVI_1008.Mov and if you do find it will it be the correct one. So if you are loggin in Prelude change the file name there instead of the finder, that way if you ever need to go back to the original card backup you will still be able to associate the media with the original filenames from the card.

“Think of everything in terms of building capacity.”

Kris Merkel
twitter: @kris_merkel
Product Manager, Flanders Scientific Inc.
http://www.shopfsi.com
Co-Founder, Atlanta Cutters Post Production User Group
http://www.atlantacutters.com

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[Tom Maclachlan]

Nice idea.

I generally try to batch rename all clips for the project with the program Name Mangler. Quick and useful.

Is it possible to rename the actual file in Prelude? I thought you had to go to Finder for that.

[Alex Udell]

Not a Prelude Expert…

But based on cursory info….I’d suggest that using Prelude would actually generate a whole new file by way of a transcode, in which case you’d be able to set the file name to whatever you’d want.

Alex Udell
Editing, Motion Graphics, and Visual FX