Re: FCPX metadata--how significant is it? And why?

[Walter Soyka] "However, today, reel ID is still important (though not always meaningful) across many workflows"

Absolutely. I think the way MXF4mac has implemented it is very smart. It points to a file, not a file's location or container. The file could be anywhere in any container (folder not media container).

[Walter Soyka] "This is a recurring theme in my frustration with FCPX. Apple made a clean break from existing technologies and standards to focus on their vision of what post production ought to look like."

Yes. And they released it too early, or did they? They knew this thing was going to be a new venture. They new it was going to be full of bugs and holes as they don't beta test. So in this sense, since the people that are using it now are beta testing, the little island they have created is necessary. Otherwise it would be sure bedlam if everything were turned on and even more busted and not working. I also think they have to wait for certain OS features to be in place, but that's my optimism talking again, and who knows FCPX may never get there. But when I look at things like the sheer amount of metadata that's in there, those aren't amateur features. So, I can only think that something more will come of it. If not, there's other options. I still use FCS3 everyday for my regular work.

[Walter Soyka] "Apple can't just declare things like EDLs and reel IDs big bags of hurt, ignore them (even if they offer new alternatives like FCPXML), and still keep their market share and mind share."

I totally agree, it's not a very smart move.

But let's look at the capability they do give you. You can import DSLR h264 movies, which have no tc/reel. You can import from a camera archive like P2/AVCHD and the "reel" and tc come in to the files (Reel is the folder name in this case, just like FCP7). And then they have a Camera Import SDK for other formats. I haven't seen anything released in hat regard yet, so maybe it's not quite all the way functional. For the rest, there's an extensive batch naming system that works really well and really fast. So it's there, but not quite "there" if you know what I mean. I think all the pieces are in place, it just sucks it had to be released in this state, whatever the reason.