P2 Workflow Question

[darwinandpaine]

On my second P2 offload, I put the new stuff into a folder called "CONTENTS2" (on the same hard drive as the stuff from my first offload). Then, FCP couldn't find the footage and there was no way to navigate to it manually.
I ended up changing the name of the folder back to "CONTENTS" and everything was okay. Is this what everyone else has experienced, or is my FCP a bit whacky?
If this is just the way it works, do I have to create a new folder on the top level of the drive each time for a new "CONTENTS" folder?

[Barry_Green]

Don't change the name of the folders. FCP expects it to be "CONTENTS" (nay, FCP DEMANDS it to be CONTENTS). If you want to have multiple cards on the drive, make a new folder for each card and copy the contents folder and lastclip.txt file into that new folder.

[darwinandpaine]

Thanks, Barry. That's what I figured, but it's great hearing it from the horses mouth (not that I think of you as a horse. It's just... well, you know... oh, nevermind!).

[Barry_Green]

I don't usually get associated with THAT end of the horse...

[dregenthal]

Don't change the name of the folders. FCP expects it to be . . .

Barry- I have the same question regarding AVID XPRESS PRO HD. Would the solution be somewhat similar?

[Barry_Green]

My experience with Avid was brief, so I am far from an expert on it. I got Avid to work by copying the files off the cards and putting them in c:\avid mediafiles\mxf\1 (or 1\mxf, don't remember).

[smelni]

barry is correct - copy into c:\avid mediafiles\mxf\1 then use media tool to drag them into your project

if you are not seeing the files in media tool it is due to file ownership and/or windows file system permissioning - make sure the user you are logged in as has both

[TwoHatCat]

barry is correct - copy into c:\avid mediafiles\mxf\1 then use media tool to drag them into your project

if you are not seeing the files in media tool it is due to file ownership and/or windows file system permissioning - make sure the user you are logged in as has both

First off, don't use C:. Make a file in some other dedicated media drive with the exact spelling, spacing, and capitalization of "\Avid MediaFiles\mxf\1", and simply drag the mxf files into it. For other projects, add to the same root \2, \3, etc, for example "G:\Avid MediaFiles\mxf\2". Avid finds and indexes them all on start up. It's very straighforward.

[dregenthal]

barry is correct - copy into c:\avid mediafiles\mxf\1 then use media tool to drag them into your project . . .

Thanks to all three of you. That's what I have been doing but thought to myself, "this can't possibly be the right way to do this!" And, my gawd! . . . if you should ever drag a file in the that Avid doesn't like get ready for all the alarms to start going off! You get two warning boxes, then you have to click "quarantine" (there are other choices, but don't make that mistake), then after it moves the offending file to the quarantined folder you get another warning box telling you it did that--which, of course, you then have to click on . . .

I own Raylight, PPro 1.5, Avid Xpress Pro HD, and have the trial version of Canopus with the Broadcast features on a Dual Xeon Dell WS (only 2 gigs of ram). Here is my impression:

Raylight - Cool work-around, but I don't have the time.

PremierePro - No P2 support? Adobe has seen the last dollar they're getting from me.

Avid - What you have to go through in order to get files into your system is ridiculous--they can do better.

Canopus - The way to go--just waiting to see what acquiring ver 4.0 is going to cost me (when it comes out) vs. buying the current version and upgrading . . . too bad there isn't some kind of announcement already.

(I know someone will probably want to mention FCP . . . I'm looking forward to what is announced about it in the coming weeks as well).

Matrox (Axio) - At that price? . . . ha, ha, let me add it to my list (NOT!).