HELP- before shooting a feature with external recorded audio: WORKFLOW PLEASE?

roei z

roei z

Veteran
Hi- i hope this is the right place for the thread, as i tend to work on MC5, and i never done this before, so i'll appreciated a little guidance :)

so-

each shooting day i'm gonna end up with a bunch of MTS files, to be imported to Avid. i refer to them as video files with included in camera recorded audio guide tracks.

+ i'll have the additional separate audio wave files, to also be imported AND synced with 'video' files.

right?

what i need to know-

should i re-name all original files with proper description while logging and backing up?
before importing them all to Avid DNxHD?

and after doing that, now what do i do?

i presume most of the files will be shot in chronological order.

BUT-
there will be some wave files a lot longer than the synced video files, or some additional room-tone wave files, in between takes...

should i use pluraleyes? something else? this looks very confusing.

please please please - i must have some tips on how to make it easier before going to oblivion with the workflow. i'm getting a little anxiety attack.

thanks in advance.
 
I'll give you my workflow when using double-system, but it may not work exactly the same way for you. We always copy over the entire original SD maintaining the same names, file structure, etc. For this we use a program called Shot Put Pro, which dumps the cards, and verifies them byte by byte as it copies (we actually will copy to 2 different hard drives at this point). Shotput pro will also append a name as a prefix and/or suffix that we choose, and also incrementally number each folder. These folder names will become our "Reel" names after importing into Avid or Final Cut. From there if using mts files, since Avid will not read them using AMA. we would import them as DNxHD files into our Avid project. From there, we would log and sort the footage in Avid by bins and add notes in the comment field. We generally do not change the names of the original files. We then sync the footage to the sound files using either Plural Eyes or syncing manually using a slate (or even a "clap" from the talent on screen). When shooting double system it is always a good idea to use a clapper (either an actual slate or clapping hands), and also to remember to call out the scene # so you can hear it on the audio to be able to match to the video). Plural Eyes is good, but I have not found it to be 100% reliable. Also, keeping good notes while shooting, so that after you bring it all in to Avid, you can quickly organize what video file goes with what sound file.
 
my main question is:

why don't you prefer to name the basic original MTS files after you log your daily footage, according to the scene you shot?
(example- CU actor, take 1, etc.)

building the workflow on original file numbering could get very confusing along the way, don't you think ?
(you will probaly end up having around twenty '0001','0002','0003' etc. shots hiding in the workflow- one mistake and it can all mix up)

i guess part of the answer is - you prefer to back up immediately from the SD card, without pausing and re-naming the files.
so how can you provide some kind of auto re-naming based on date ? with the software?

thanks.
 
weismangroup said:
I'll give you my workflow when using double-system, but it may not work exactly the same way for you. We always copy over the entire original SD maintaining the same names, file structure, etc. For this we use a program called Shot Put Pro, which dumps the cards, and verifies them byte by byte as it copies (we actually will copy to 2 different hard drives at this point). Shotput pro will also append a name as a prefix and/or suffix that we choose, and also incrementally number each folder. These folder names will become our "Reel" names after importing into Avid or Final Cut. From there if using mts files, since Avid will not read them using AMA. we would import them as DNxHD files into our Avid project. From there, we would log and sort the footage in Avid by bins and add notes in the comment field. We generally do not change the names of the original files. We then sync the footage to the sound files using either Plural Eyes or syncing manually using a slate (or even a "clap" from the talent on screen). When shooting double system it is always a good idea to use a clapper (either an actual slate or clapping hands), and also to remember to call out the scene # so you can hear it on the audio to be able to match to the video). Plural Eyes is good, but I have not found it to be 100% reliable. Also, keeping good notes while shooting, so that after you bring it all in to Avid, you can quickly organize what video file goes with what sound file.
Click to expand...

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...c-is-there-any-better-ones.&highlight=shotput
 
roei z said:
my main question is:

why don't you prefer to name the basic original MTS files after you log your daily footage, according to the scene you shot?
(example- CU actor, take 1, etc.)

building the workflow on original file numbering could get very confusing along the way, don't you think ?
(you will probaly end up having around twenty '0001','0002','0003' etc. shots hiding in the workflow- one mistake and it can all mix up)

i guess part of the answer is - you prefer to back up immediately from the SD card, without pausing and re-naming the files.
so how can you provide some kind of auto re-naming based on date ? with the software?

thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, if your camera is resetting back to clip #001 everytime you start a new card, then yes, renaming the clip to match the scene/shot would be preferable. We shoot mostly now with our EX1, which we have set to assign unique clip names even after formatting new cards until we reset the starting # in camera. I suppose for your mts workflow, I would import the days shooting into a new Bin in Avid, and from there proceed to log and rename the clips.

By the way, even though my profile shows "Miami", we actually spend most of the year in Israel just outside of Jerusalem. Purim Sameach!
 
hmmm..
isn't this a bit late for renaming the footage clips?
what if i need to batch import for on-line?
i need my ORIGINAL files to have logged names, no?

* lives in Israel, huh?
so what's your 'setup'? why is it divided between here and Miami?
 
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