Smart/Keyword collections

Just wondering how you are using them in your projects or even at all? I'm just getting my head around how best to use them i.e camera names, file type, audio, video etc.

How are you using them?

Many

Thanks!

When you start using keyword or smart collection it will make your editing so much easier. It does require some effort in categorizing your clips according to the outcome of your project, however the backend rewards are huge!!
Check out Larry Jordan's tutorials for some in depth examples how to use!

I never start editing a production unless my assets are organized, period. Well, unless it's a 30 second TV spot, then its just too short to really matter.

I always keep it logical. Things like Interviews, B-Roll, or like Indoor & Outdoor shots.

Important to remember, and I just addressed this in my class this weekend, is that keywords are arbitrary identifiers you create yourself, that can be applied to any clip.

Smart Collections are physical characteristics of an asset that can only be applied to assets that actually have that attribute. They can not be applied to just any clip.

Thus, don't use keywords to categorize physical attributes of a clip, use Smart Collections, it's faster and easier. For example, I'd never waste time creating a keyword collection of "Photos" and then having to manually add all my stills to it. Too much like work. I'd create a Smart Collection using Media Type is Stills, then name that Smart Collection "Stills", done.

I only create collections (keyword/analysis/smart search) that I actually need. If I have things shot on different cameras, am I going to edit clips based on what camera they came from? If not, I won't bother with creating a camera name smart collection (keyword for camera name is a waste of time).

The Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro X book has some really great examples of how to use them. Including how to use folder structures to automatically create keyword collections.

Yeah I'm very intrigued by it:-) Main thing is what to use for what purpose (if you know what I mean) I've used Keyword collections for camera type and also a smart collection for any clips I name which had an interview clip but would it be more efficient to just use a Keyword collection for all the interview clips and drag them in there. All depends I suppose on whether there is going to be a lot of renaming going on. Last shoot had XF100 (so used XF utility and thats not the best for pre-naming the clips in the utility) EX1 (which I had to use XDCAM utility) also a DSLR (which I batch renamed in Bridge) so with all those different flavours of media coming in it's just trying to plan which need renaming in FCPX and that has an impact on what kind of organising the Keyword/Smart folders are going to have. Hence the original question.

Renaming clips only effects Smart Searches that are based on text.

You do know that FCP X has a pretty nice Batch Renaming function, right?
help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.0.3/#ver16e105

I'm starting to use them all the time now. It's great that now in 10.0.3 you can specify a Clip Type. So you could put all your compound clips or multi clips in the one place easily.
Used to find it frustrating after creating a multiclip or compound clip in a keyword collection and then having to go back to the Event to find it and drag it to where I wanted it.

I didn't know about how powerful the renaming was until I started playing with it.
That's awesome! Thanks BenB you just saved me a few hundred hours or so!

Thanks I didn't know you could batch rename clips. Pointless renaming in Bridge now then:-)

Also remember a couple of rules to keyword/tagging.

1- Keyword Ranges can overlap and remain separate Keyword Ranges.
2- Favorite/Rejected tag Ranges can NOT overlap, but will simply create one long range.

Standard procedures here
Keyword Collection as in Bins. I really like the way you can organize everything in Final Cut Pro X could be a full time job!
We are hopping to see a sharing features to use over a Java web browser ala Final Cut Server...

I would like to see the search filter tap into the metadata of the clips.

We don't work with physical film, there are no Bins, there are Collections (based on metadata). The whole basis of FCP X is to drop the outdated and misleading terminology and workflow of physical negative cutting as all NLE's have had for over a decade now. Those paradigms were created so that the first editors would more easily move from physical film editing to computer based editing. So now we have three different "collection" types based on: Keywords, Analysis, Smart Searches. None of which are grouped together manually like "Bins" had to be, none have to be "duplicated" to live in more than one like "Bins" had to be. And I always HATED calling a "folder" a "Bin". It was not a Bin, it was a freaking FOLDER for crying out loud!

Just trivia there, had to say it.

Organizing in FCP X is not a full time job, that's the point, it's fast and easy. Having taught and consulted for years, I've seen so many project (larger it was the worse it got) get so FUBAR'ed mid production it was pathetic. All because no one took the time to organize their media assets. I've seen it over and over and over and over. FCP X makes this process so fast and easy it's not funny. Try doing it in any other NLE, not as easy. I just taught another Intro To FCP X class with 6 very experienced pro editors. Organizing with keywords, analysis and smart searches blew them away. It was one of the top features they loved the most. All said this would cut their time down by hours, if not days. These are guys who work on long form edits.

"...ala Final Cut Server." Well, good news; those Event and Project database files (CurrentVersion.fcp****) and the DB engine that FCP X runs on top of is in fact Final Cut Server's DB engine! Same engine means I'm expecting to see some very nice networking stuff in the future (sooner the better). And it can now be done without the need for a separate JAVA app (lord save us) since FCP X runs on top of a FCSvr db engine, there's no reason to leave FCP to do that. THAT would be awesome.

Thankfully, at least for the time being, I'm still making money off of my FCSvr clients, but I am totally blown away as to how many, and specifically who, wants to see FCP X get networked so they can move to it. Come on Apple! I want it yesterday!

The search filter does already tap into metadata, although limited. When you search for text, it's searching all metadata that is text (name, log notes) I'd be interested in how folks would you like to see it expanded? Cause it could get really interesting.

Not sure what you are trying to tell me you might be bit confused.
I was comparing Keyword with Bins (a receptacle for storing a specified substance) from FCP7 as Apple does. :woohoo:
Yeah you are right but it can become a full time job escapiclly working mass footage
Not sure why keywords and smart searches blows anyone way Apple and others having been using this technology before just not in FCP. :pinch:
T

No NLE has been using metadata to organize this fast and easy before.

I don't compare a folder (bin) with a collection. Cause one you have to manually duplicate stuff and move it around, the other is automatic.

I have followed Any Neil's IN's & OUT's of FCPX which I found very useful but I am having a problem getting my head around the actual use of the Keyword and Smart collections. but am not sure how it will work around you guys
www.seoindia.mobi
reputationrhino.com/

albsmith wrote: I have followed Any Neil's IN's & OUT's of FCPX which I found very useful but I am having a problem getting my head around the actual use of the Keyword and Smart collections.

Then you need better instruction to explain it. It's pretty basic. macProVideo and Ripple Training have the best quality training. As well as my own Media Management In FCP X at macProVideo.com.

Keyword collections are just that, collections of stuff you've assigned that keyword to. Any clip can go into any keyword collection.

Smart Collections are based on physical characteristics of the media. Only clips that meet the physical criteria can belong to a specific smart collection.

For get the idea of Bins or Folders, they simply do not apply and don't compare.