[Arthur Levivier]

Hi Heath,

Unfortunately, no-one replied to me yet despite of the answer you see above…
It is very very annoying.

I will ask again someone else I was in contact with and get back to you if I have any news. If you have news on your side, please post here. Thanks.

[Arthur Levivier]

Hi Bill,

Thank you so much for your reply.
Looks like I’m not familiar enough with some of the terms you use…
I’ve commented some of the things you said below, it would be great if you can tell me a bit more.
And a big than you anyway.

‘”The other thing that’s important is that X is a “volume” based system. By that I mean that the database is constantly monitoring for “mounted volumes” as the source of it’s content. “‘>”The other thing that’s important is that X is a “volume” based system. By that I mean that the database is constantly monitoring for “mounted volumes” as the source of it’s content. “

I’m not sure I get that right… Are you talking about external hard drives ?

“So, when you work with “non-native” media ( media in a codec that Apple does not DIRECTLY support at the OS level) you have some issues with making sure you are VERY consistent with where you store assets so that the X database can consistently locate and work with them. “

Is this about the fact that OS can’t read what’s inside the AVCHD folder but FCP can ?

“Generally, the X system works best when you’ve developed a storage structure that starts correct, and requires little change. Now I know that’s not always possible, and there are faciliites in X to move stuff, but as a general rule of thumb, it’s pretty important to AVOID moving stuff around via the Finder if it’s at all possible. “

To import my files, I have always copied from SD cards to External Hard drive (one folder per SD card) and THEN I have imported to FCP from external hard drive. I have never modified the finder on the external hard drive after importing. However, YES i have made lot of modification in the library organisation while working.

“It appears you started off with MXF files (non-native media) and then REFERENCED those without transcoding. Is that correct? “

Indeed this is correct. I imported clips from the AVCHD folder (from the external hard drive) directly without transcoding. FCP only created “original media” in the original media folder we can see in the library (when we click “show package content”).

“If so, then the database in X would expect that in order for those files to show up in the interface, they’d be on the exact same VOLUME in the exact same stage locations as they were when the database links were originally created. If they are NOT, you’ll have the type of issues you’re facing”

OK, so does that mean that if anything happen to the external hard drive containing my library I will not be able to relink the files using a back library ?

IF the links are broken, the two paths you have to fixing things are to either (a) relink to new locations, or 9b) reimport assets to form new links to the correct places.

OK. But it seems I can’t do a) because FCP X won’t recognise the AVCHD folder. It seems that it needs to see the files and not the folder. However, when we relink, we can’t open the AVCHD foler to show the files…
For b) does that mean I will lose all the keywords and selecting ranges I’ve put on the clips ? That’s the thing is that my clips are full of keywords and i’ve already done the “rejected” and “favorite”…

“With MXF files prior to 10.1.4 that was more difficult. Now it can be direct, but still requires you to be able to mount the VOLUME abstraction that presents the MXF files in a way that X can see. “

OUPS, I’m lost here…

Many experienced X editors use “virtual volumes” to avoid this situation. Instead of importing directly from original media, we make some type of volume clone that we can backup and relaunch, which then appears to the database that the original location is still active. Others regularly transcode using the internal “Optimize media” function which transcodes the files into a format X understands directly and stores them inside the program..

Not sure I understand this either. Sorry.

And now an other question very important to me :
At the moment, on the same Library I have 2 kinds of media :
1 >>> 2/3 of the clips (until my new macbook pro) are Prores LT link to my library but from the external hard drive. These are from the time I still broke the AVCHD folder to get the MTS and then converted MTS to Prores and then Imported the Prores. I have no problem with those. they represent a total of 3To

2>>> The ones we have been talking about who are from the AVCHD folder located on the same external hard drive but imported directly to FCP and that FCP copied into the library as original media. For that reason, the library is about 450Gb. Now I want to Optimised those ones.

SO 2 questions :
1.What’s the best way to optimised those clips in order to be sure to don’t have any relink issues later.
2.What’s the best way to backup the Library in order to be able to relink everything quickly if my external hard drive fail or break down AND using as less space as possible. (I think once all the files will be transcoded I will have like 6To total of media but my second external disk is only 4to…

So far, I have all my original media folder copied exactly identical on an other hard drive and a copy of the library (450go) on the disk. But its annoying to copy 450Gb every time I work and I’m not sure how does it work with the automatic backups… Especially with those AVCHD folder. Im worried that if I rely only on the automatic backups, if something happen it will be impossible to relink all the files from AVCHD folder…

I’m sorry, I know all this is confusing, I hope I’m not asking you things you already replied and didn’t noticed…

Anyways, I will understand if you have other things to do.

A big thanks anyways.

All the Best.

Arthur.

[Arthur Levivier]

Thanks Joe, this help a lot too.
Cheers.
Arthur.

[Arthur Levivier]

Hi Mark, thanks a lot for your help.

One thing you say that Is a bit confusing to me :

“The other thing I frequently do, is to import the AVCHD media in FCP, saving the media to an external folder and not within the library. Once all the media is in, then I delete it from the event (it will stay in the external folder), rename the files, and drag them back into FCPX. It’s an extra step, but it’s fairly easy.”

So that means you do those steps :
1.Import AVCHD from SD card to FCPx
2. Copy AVCHD folder to external hard drive (not with FCP)
3. Delete the clips from FCP.
4. Rename the files (this I don’t understand, which files do you rename and where ?)
5. Put files back to FCP

I am sorry but I don’t understand the process ?

Could you explain me again please… ??

Sorry.

Thanks a lot.
Arthur.

[Arthur Levivier]

Thanks very much Jeremy this helps.

Also, as I said I normally transcode my media in Prores before importing but as you say FCP x import quite well AVCHD straight away so I am wondering if I should really trandscode them as it is taking LOT of space on my hard drive ?

(You have to know the project I am working on is a BIG one. I have thousands of clips, hundreds hours of interviews…)

Also, so far all my media are transcoded in Prores but they also have proxy media. I have 400go of proxy media on my hard drive. What will happen if I delete those and keep only the original (prores) media ?

Thanks for your help and sorry for the late reply but I just saw the message now.

Cheers.
Arthur.

[Arthur Levivier]

Hi there,

I am having an issue with those MTS files and FCPX.
(I am using Macbook pro os X and FCP X 10.1.3)

I am sorry if this subject has been deal with before. I have been looking for answers but every time I find only bits of answer not connected together and I get lost…

This is what I normally do once I get my files as MTS from my camera :

1.I copy them on my hard drive
(Opening “AVCHD”, “Private” folders ext., I copy all MTS files in a new folder of my hard drive)
2.I rename them with Automator to avoid to have many “001.mts” later and be able to reconnect them easy with FCP X if problem.
3.I convert them in Prores to have no problem with FCP X
(I tried to import directly to FCP X as MTS files (optimised media) but I find it much slower to work with.
4. I import in FCP X

My issues :
– Long process, takes lot of times and too many steps…
– All MTS files longer than 2.12 Go are divided in many files and I lose some audio in between every files…

So my question is :
– Is there a way to make all this easier and have all my videos in one piece and not cut every 2.12go…

– Also, when I put the SD card from my camera to the laptop, on FCP X I have the import window that opens and I could import clip in one piece straight away but I don’t know where it goes, I can’t rename it as I want and again, the optimised media is slower to work with than when I convert in Prores and then import…

– Basicly, I want to go from my SD card to 1.Good organisation in my hard rive and 2. Prores imported in FCP X and all of that without cutting my clips…

Thank you very much for your time.

Have a good day.

Cheers.

Arthur.