Re: Folder Structure and File Naming

Yes tape based was/is easier. FCP7 was not made (not much software is) for editing 'clip' based footage. I can't stand it. Its incredibly unproductive to be sitting there double clicking footage to watch a 10 second clip.

Mostly when I am editing XDCAM EX I end up just making a timecode accurate play out of the entire cards clips. So basically i get one long say 50 minute clip (as you would get after ingesting a HDCAM tape.) I keep this native as XDCAM EX with the audio exactly the same as separate tracks. This really does not take long to do in FCP and makes editing as quick as you are currently doing it (as if it was off a tape). Of course it is completely backwards when you think about it.

Ideally Sonys XDCAM transfer would have an option to 'link all clips' with markers for shot change and any other metadata change that was previously recorded. I simply do not know how most editors work with a traditional tool like FCP7 and clip based footage, especially if they are working to tight turnarounds as I often do.

CatDV deals with xdcam very well with the MXF add on if you are keeping it all in its BPAV folder (as you should do).

Its just a shame that clip based is not really how our brains work or edit software works. I know that after I shoot for a day I have a vision of that days shoot as one long clip, so does the producer and the client. Thats how I remember it, thats how the FCP viewer deals with it and how we would all like to edit with it. I don't think there is a usable solution yet to this but I may be wrong.