Method to replace media with file sequences in bulk ?

[Les Dittert]

I am developing my workfow where I edit in Prem. with proxies (eg: AVI ) and then at a much later stage of the pipeline, I then need Prem. to replace media with directories of Tiff's that are the high resolution finals of the AVI proxies.
Is this still not easy in CS 6 ? Perhaps a script would help ?

This would be a common occurrence for people editing mov or avi proxies then going back to DPX sequences, for example.

Thanks!

 

[Les Dittert]

Nobody does this I guess.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Tiffs are not the best option to do this I think since they do not hold reelname tc etc. Much better to use DPX that can hold the meta data that also most editing/online programs can use. If you have dpx with time code you could just relink to these files and premiere should be able to conform from your new graded files. (thats how I do in flame I'm guessing premiere would work just the same).

 

[Mike Harrington]

In PPro you would have to manually relink everything if the extension is different....one file at a time
You can export XML then edit it in notepad ect to swap extensions....

Not sure how that would work going from avi to tiff...
I usually only go from r3d to cineform avi or vice versa...

Also I believe exr can hold any metadata needed....and it has the added option of some nice compression schemes....

 

[Les Dittert]

Mike, my AVI's are Cineform 2k proxies and the finals are Tiff . I will take a look at the XML or EDL to see if I can do my own 're-link'.

I don't think PPro will even do a 'one at a time' of this manually, they don't see the directory of DPX or Tif as a file sequence ? Just thinks it's stills.

 

[Mike Harrington]

Ya your probably right.....
The XML is better then the EDL...more robust transfer of dissolves ect....

While I would like to see this work....there is another option for you as well

The DPX to cineform command line converter also works with tiffs....it will convert tiff sequences to cineform avi's....very fast
The relinking process is simple then....offline a media folder(not just a clip...or it is one at a time) then relink the folder with the new cineform avi's...

I think adobe sorely needs a media manager that would automate this....it should be a simple matter of scripting...
First one to right in this kinda functionality could make a lot of money...

 

[Mike Harrington]

Just to dissect how the XML treats sequences....

You should import a tiff sequence into PPro and export a final cut XML....then examine how it is described in an XML for your search and replace editing...

The thing that will probably sting you is the time code....as it is probably basing the cut off of media generated time code..

I have had situations like this before exporting an EDL into fusion....and a lot can be solved by going into the right click menu...and setting time code to 0 at the start of the clip within PPro.....note this can be done batch with a multi select...

Good luck...let us know hoe it goes..