Final Cut Offline/XML Workflow Questions

[David McDonald]

So I'm editing a low budget feature right now and our plan is to transcode the R3Ds to ProRes files for editing in Final Cut before relinking them and color-correcting in DaVinci Resolve.......and from what I've read you're not supposed to rename any files at all in order to relink them with an XML so I'm naming all the ProRes proxies the same as the R3D names. I've also heard that the files can't even be renamed in Final Cut, so my only form of organization will be with bins and color-coding etc. in FCP. But what I'm wondering is can I have my ProRes files in organized folders on my computer (Like Scene 25), or do the ProRes files have to be in the exact same file structure as the R3D files (A separate folder for each clip with the clip name). Like does the XML just need to link the filename or does it need an identical structure of folders as well?

 

[David Battistella]

A discontinued program called Clipfinder had a feature that actually cleaned the r3d files even if they were named as .mov files for teh edit.

Consider using Prores LT.


David

 

[Mikael Lubtchansky]

Yes. Never ever change a RED filename (both the original and offline clips) or you will have trouble relinking anything... But as long as you respect this rule you can sort and organize your offline clips any way you want in folders...

The folder structure itself is not needed for offline files but should not be changed on original R3Ds.

HTH

 

[David McDonald]

So can I not organize the R3Ds into folders as well? Like I would still keep the same structure like A001_0001.RDM > A001_C001_0000.RDC but I would make a folder like "Scene 1" and then put those R3D folders into the "Scene 1" folder?

 

[Mikael Lubtchansky]

That should not be a problem either but I'm not sure why you would need to duplicate the sorting also with R3Ds if you do it already with your offlines clips (the ones you will be editing with) and let a program automatically match back the R3Ds (once the edit is locked) from their original folders

 

[David McDonald]

Yeah you're right, but I was just thinking for some extra organization....like if I ever needed to re-transcode something or look at an R3D file, I would be able to find the clip in its proper scene folder, rather than looking through like 50 RDM folders.

 

[Luis Otero]

We always organize everything by days, scenes, etc. Whatever is logic for the project at hand. Transcoding, however, is a bad word in our dictionary. That is so tape-based...!!! Proxy is the way to go. It is almost "location-agnostic" and will re-link to the original R3D as long as the R3D and its proxies are kept together, anywhere, any time.

 

[Michael Tang]

Hello,

I know not to never ever change a Red filename, but I have a quesiton: when syncing the prores footage and audio clips in FCP by using "Merge Clips" it creates new clip with the word "Merge" at the end of the File name. Will this cause troubles relinking later?

 

[Nick Shaw]

Don't ever change file names. But there should not be a problem with changing clip names in FCP. It is not the same thing. Renaming your clips in FCP is is perfectly acceptable for every workflow I've ever used (but always test your own) and is a good way of organising clips in your bins.