rename source file in fcpx

hi!

I ve got a little problem here - usually at my last projects I managed to solve it by a kind of workaround, though it´s no solution.
when i import data directly from camera (f.e. from my old sony vx 1000) and i want to name each file, only the file seen in final cut pro x gets the desired name. when i click the button on the clip "show in finder" - the source file hasn´t got any name - only the usual automatically generated name.
i coped with the problem by copying the source file on desktop (or another folder called "import") - renamed it - and then imported the files by drag and drop in fcpx. it worked. both source file and "official final cut pro representation" got the same name now.

the question:

is it possible to avoid this workaround? is there any function in the fcpx settings where i can force the program to rename the source file too - each time when i name the recently (by camera) imported clip?

thanks ahead,

Pete.

Not really, yet. I'm sure it's coming. My question would be, what is the purpose in renaming the Finder files?

Hi Pete,

No, there is no way of doing this from within FCPX. Changing the file names before import would work but once the clips are imported you'll have to resort to your other tricks. There has been some debate about whether this is a sensible function for Apple to add as it could mess things up for other editors in a shared environment. Personally I don't really care what the source clips are called as long as FCP can find them.

Ian.

I have an example where this would be useful. It has to do with media imported from a camera card and legacy projects.


If you have a legacy project (from before 10.1.3 I think) and created media from a camera card like a Canon C300, it created autonamed QuickTime files based on the date/time of the shot rather than using the original clip name from the camera (e.g. AA12345.mov)

If you need to restore a project that was created pre-10.1.x and did not back up the optimized/generated media, if you go to re-import that media from the cards, the new FCPX is going to create .mov files based on the clip name. The filenames for the "regenerated" media will not match the filenames stored and linked in the original project.

It would be good to rename the media links for those event clips based on the new filenaming/storage conventions (or the old ones).

cheesus2000 wrote: … i want to name each file, … the source file hasn´t got any name …

What Ben asked - what for? :blink:

FCPX is its own 'data base' which goes far beyond rigid 'drawers' = each clip just in ONE file/bin/folder/whatever …

A clip can have just one name, but several, partly or even overlapping tags
... which is by far superior than any single 'file names'.

Watch this excellent (and fun) demo of Michael Garber
www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/tutorials/1436-...-with-michael-garber

probably beyond 90% users needs, but a best-practice-case study about tagging.

"I have an example where this would be useful. It has to do with media imported from a camera card and legacy projects."

Nope, I've done this several times, worked with students who do this lots, and it isn't an issue. I would not consider updating ancient projects a legitimate example, sorry. Every time I've worked with updating very old productions, it has gone very smoothly. Not to mention it is an example that will only be around a few more months then be obsolete as folks catch up on their versions.

Point is, trying to get the physical file to change names in a database system is a waste of effort and worry. We don't work that way anymore. Let it go.

BenB wrote: "I have an example where this would be useful. It has to do with media imported from a camera card and legacy projects."

Nope, I've done this several times, worked with students who do this lots, and it isn't an issue. I would not consider updating ancient projects a legitimate example, sorry. Every time I've worked with updating very old productions, it has gone very smoothly. Not to mention it is an example that will only be around a few more months then be obsolete as folks catch up on their versions.

Point is, trying to get the physical file to change names in a database system is a waste of effort and worry. We don't work that way anymore. Let it go.

I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you implying that FCPX handles this issue on its own? If I have an old 10.0.x project for which I've lost the generated media but still have the camera cards backed up, will FCPX be able to successfully regenerate and relink the media? I haven't done this before, so I'm speaking purely hypothetically - if FCPX has this worked out, then great.

But if not, your insistence that this is not a "legitimate" example is not valid. Just because in your world you do not regularly restore and update older projects does not mean that others do not.

hey!
the reason is kind of profane - we make skateboardvideos. I work with final cut pro x and other friends have other editing programs. so, to share/show/store the skateboard footage (which are far more than 1000 single clips per project), it is, i.m.o. inevitable to have a solid, common file-name).

Pete.

@ Pete,

When you need to edit media across different NLEs (which is something I never would allow) you have to make sure that your clips are properly named and organized before anyone works with them.

There are many utilities that let you name and organize footage from camera cards and that can convert the clips to a decent editing format, one of them is ClipWrap.

The golden rule: leave original media untouched once they are imported. This applies to any NLE. You can rename clips to whatever you may like inside the NLE, but It makes absolutely no sense changing names of original media once they have been imported. This has always been a cause of media management problems with FCP7, and I hope they never add this "feature" to FCP X.


@ Scott:

If I have an old 10.0.x project for which I've lost the generated media but still have the camera cards backed up, will FCPX be able to successfully regenerate and relink the media?

Yes, it will. Just select the Event and choose File > Import > Re-import from Camera/Archive. As long as you haven't touched the Original Media folder of the old project FCP X will re-import the clips from the cards.

- Ronny

Yep

You deserve a karma point for making skateboard videos. Say hi to Ed Templeton.

how cute!