Help! Missing Transcoded Footage from Canon C300 in FCPX EVENT

Hey Guys,

I am currently doing a multi episode webseries. It is being shot on both a Canon 5d as well as a Canon C300 that shoots in a mxf file format. I am running fcpx 10.0.6 on my top of the line imac. I am also using the canon fcpx 10.0.3 plugin for c300 mxf footage.

I created a event, and loaded the 5d footage, secondary audio, etc into the event as referenced media. I did not select the option to copy the footage directly into the fcpx event or to transcode it to proxy/optimized media. Initially when I tried to copy the c300 footage by dragging it into the fcpx event tab, it would actually for some reason create xdcam footage instead, or least use its codec. So I ended importing the Canon C300 footage by selecting the copy the footage directly into the fcpx event option, I did NOT though opt for optimized or proxy media. Something also unusual happened (from my little exp with C300 footage) the files upon import had their names changed to the date and time as their titles in fcpx.

Everything seemed fine, I was able to make selects, organize key collections, and create multicam clips using both camera and audio. Whenever I clicked on the info pane for the clip info of the c300 footage, it showed it as native mxf footage. Upon finally doing the intial 3 episodes and exporting some master files, I went to sleep and took the drive to my office. Upon connecting the drive and bringing it up in fcpx, my troubles began.


All the c300 footage is now showing a missing file screen. To remedy this I clicked on one of the missing files and selected reveal in finder. To my dismay the files are showing alias files referencing the media. To find out the original files that the alias' are referencing, I clicked on the option in finder to show original file location. Nothing happens though!

What can I do guys?! I dont have enough time to arrange that many clips again and I used so much multicam clips for my final edit, that it would be too time consuming to try and match my exports. Is there anyway to relink my files. Also is this possibly happening because the canon mxf plugin might not be updated for 10.0.6. If so how do I get rid of it.

Kris

Hi Kris,

Let's first try to relink the missing media, then we can explain what has been happening.

Connect your external media drive (where your original C300 footage is stored) to your system, open FCP10, R-click your Event in the Events Browser and select "Relink Event Files". The Relink Files window will open. Select Relink: Missing. Do you see all the missing c300 files in the Original files list?

I have all the original files from my C300 stored up. When i try to do the event relink and point to one of the mxf files it simply will process but not allow relinking. However the mxf file names are completely different from the missing files names now. I think this is due to the file metadata being read differently. It wont allow relinking now.

I have all the original files from my C300 stored up. When i try to do the event relink and point to one of the mxf files it simply will process but not allow relinking. However the mxf file names are completely different from the missing files names now. I think this is due to the file metadata being read differently. It wont allow relinking now.

Yes that's a problem. I think I know what has happened but that won't get you any further. I'm looking into it right now.

Okay, the biggest problem here is that your simlinks (aliases) don't point to their original files anymore. One explanation could be that you have selected to copy the mxf footage into your Event, which would indeed give all your clips a different name than the original mxf files, but you have started editing immediately and Background Tasks hadn't finsihed copying the files over to your Event folder when you closed FCP10. This could explain why you wrote:

Whenever I clicked on the info pane for the clip info of the c300 footage, it showed it as native mxf footage.

Now you have simlinks that have a different name than the files on your external hard drive and as we all know FCP10 will refuse to let you "ignore exact file names" for relinking.

I haven't found a ready-made solution anywhere for you aside from re-importing all the clips from your c300 and using the "Replace" option on all of your offline clips in the timeline :ohmy:

So I suggest a little more patience, maybe someone else on the forum has had a similar issue and found a solution. In the meantime I will also look further.

Kris,

Can you give us some more information?

You say "To find out the original files that the alias' are referencing, I clicked on the option in finder to show original file location. Nothing happens though!"
Go to your Events folder. R-click one of the aliases and select Show Info. In the Info window you will see "Original". Does this show you the path to the original xmf files on your external drive?