FCP to Scratch: renaming clips?

[ilinx]

Hi,

I'm working on a project that will be cut in FCP for the offline using QT proxies and then conformed in Scratch for the online. I want to make sure my cut lists will be functional for Scratch after editing.

This might be a dumb question, but I'm wondering if it's OK to rename the clips imported into the browser. I assumed if the file name stays the same it's OK to change the clip name to a more user-friendly "scene-take" type clip name, but someone told me they think I can make merged clips with audio with new names, but a master clip with the original file name has to stay in the browser. This doesn't make sense to me since I think in an EDL I can choose to output file name over clip name, but I think what they'll be using is an XML, and I'm a bit fuzzy on what gets output there.

Can anyone out there clear this up for me?

Thanks!

 

[I Bloom]

EDL's are actually based on Reel Number and Timecode, filenames are included as comments.

But to answer your question, changing the name in the Final Cut browser does not change the filename commented in the EDL. You should never change the name of an R3D file on your file system (in the Finder) but changing the name in the Final Cut Browser is generally ok.

One situation can arise where this is a problem, and that is if the proxy files are not available when you move the cut to a different FCP station. For this reason I recommend leaving the Red file name at the end of the browser name. So that you have that reference in all situations like so:

A037_C006_0901XG_H
in your final cut browser becomes:
Scene 31 Take 5 - Two shot Mary Kate and Ashley - A037_C006_0901XG_H

This way the information still exists in all cases.

IBloom

 

[ilinx]

Excellent, thank you!!

 

[ilinx]

EDL's are actually based on Reel Number and Timecode, filenames are included as comments.

(...)

A037_C006_0901XG_H
in your final cut browser becomes:
Scene 31 Take 5 - Two shot Mary Kate and Ashley - A037_C006_0901XG_H

This way the information still exists in all cases.

IBloom

Oh wait... two more questions:

1. I've worked with DI systems that conform using both the reel number and timecode AND the clip names or file names from the comments. What does Scratch use? Are we going to have to generate reel names before outputting an EDL or XML?

2. With leaving the reference code as you suggest in the file name, should I do that with merged clips as well? I assume so, since those will be master clips, right?

Thanks again for your help!!

 

[I Bloom]

1. Is a great question for Offhollywood. They are Scratch experts.

2. What are you referring to as merged clips?

Don't confuse the name in the browser with the filename, they are two different things.

IBloom

 

[Jose Luis Diaz]

Hi ibloom,
When ilinx sais "Merged" he is refering to the action Final Cut does linking an image with a sound based in Time Code and meta data.
That is my recent problem.
That difficult name Red gives to each clip nothing has to do with the name of the take. When you "Merge" both elements (image and sound) in FCP the name of the sound is changed by that difficult Red one.
Sound Editor has here a big problem. An XML file exported by FCP will talk about a sound called A037_C006_0901XG_H instead of Scene 31 Take 5, for instance.
I'm stuck in that problem.
That change of sound name in FCP makes impossible to relink with the original sound file.
It would be great that you can name an image file Scene 31 Take 5. Same than its sound. And without generating a problem in the Scratch.
Thanks.
Jose Luis Diaz

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Oh wait... two more questions:

1. I've worked with DI systems that conform using both the reel number and timecode AND the clip names or file names from the comments. What does Scratch use? Are we going to have to generate reel names before outputting an EDL or XML?

Scratch can conform from clip names OR reel # & TC OR edgecode - we always use an EDL not an XML from FCP, and it has no problem with "merged clips" from FCP.

We have yet to have a RED project that Scratch could not conform, and trust me, we have been handed some F#$%K'd up projects from folks!!

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Scratch can conform from clip names OR reel # & TC OR edgecode - we always use an EDL not an XML from FCP, and it has no problem with "merged clips" from FCP.

We have yet to have a RED project that Scratch could not conform, and trust me, we have been handed some F#$%K'd up projects from folks!!

That's good to know. Fighting a tiny bit with that, right now. Good to know that the fight will be worthwhile...