My workflow sucks

[randomname]

I'm a self taught editor, and while I'm usually happy with the finished products I put out, I'm pretty sure I have one of the worst workflows ever, simply because I barely have any kind of system. I shoot with a 7D and record audio on to an H4n, and edit with FCP. could someone outline a solid workflow for DSLR shooting and editing?

 

[photonashville]

You are using basically the same gear as I so here's what I do.

Organization is paramount. I have a folder of folders (empty) on my desktop so for every new shoot (project) I just copy them to my working RAID:

project files
720p converted
1080p converted
audio
audio backup files
graphics
masters
music
REF
timelapse processed files
raw footage
canon_raw_5DII
canon_raw_7D
timelapse frames
trash

That way I can find what I need in every main job folder/client folder.

I bring all footage in with a card reader into the "raw footage" folders. I use PhotoMechanic to do a quick batch renaming to YYYYMMDD_client_0001.mov. With MPEG Streamclip, I use a preset I built for ProRes(LT) which I prefer for file size/quality balance. I batch all my files to either 720 or 1080 depending on the project. Most things I only work in 720p since it's straight for web, iphone or ipad use by the client.

I use Expression Media to catalog all my footage and audio. Actually more often now, I use Exp. Media to catalog the raw assets, video and audio, rename then batch convert to ProRes. Exp. Media lets me play, star and color rate the clips. Only the desired clips are drag and dropped in FCP. I keep the bin system very clean and similar to my folders when working in FCP.

I create a lot of sequences that keep a trail of previous versions as I'm working. Helps if I want or need to go back to copy and paste entire past sections within a sequence.

I manually sync my audio to video clips for all my interview stuff. I've gotten fast at it and actually just as fast as PluralEyes. I'm more accurate too. I find PE to fail about 25-50% of the time. Forcing to spend more time for more accuracy makes it take so much longer than doing it myself.

I keep b-rool footage separate from interview footage in FCP bins. I trim b-roll. I'll always keep a sequence of the full original interviews if needed at later date to back track. And I always do for some need or another.

Then the rest is just building up the edit. I'll work in small sequences sometimes either to nest and drop in my main sequence or for temporary use.

The best thing that helped me was watching a webinar with Diana Weynand. She went through good practices for organization, naming clips, naming sequences, using bins, color coding, etc. Since then I've been much more productive.

I'm continually learning more about FCP which is like Photoshop, never ending.

Just what I do, everyone does it a little differently.

And a few more things. Since I work at my studio and home, I have a travel mirrored raid which is a complete copy of current projects. I can work at home on MBP or at office on Mac Pro. I always keep copies of the main FCP file in my Dropbox. Certainly original assets are important from day to day the FCP file is key.

And as far as output, I use Compressor, built presets for Vimeo, Youtube, iphone, ipad and others. I just copied those over to have both machines identical. So it helps to have FCStudio, plugins, presets and supporting applications all the same.

Everything is eSATA at the studio and FW800 at home running the same travel raid box. I have 5 more raid pairs currently with everything from photography, my main work, to video. I also keep a single drive copy of all those at home, updated weekly using a SATA dock.

you'll notice I keep a trash folder in the job folder. I don't dump bad clips/assets until the job is delivered and paid. Once a project is over, I make a text file with all basic info on the edit, mainly what files and how were converted, I empty all the converted footage folders and empty the trash folder. That frees up a lot of space and less long term storage. I can always reconvert the files from past work. MPEG Streamclip is pretty quick since it can do 4 clips at a time on multi cores.