Hello,

For years I have been doing the following;

Upon mediacreation/transcodes in a new project, Media Composer generates a numbered folder, in my case, number 1.

This is ok first time starting new project.

However, this is not giving me complete control over project related media, so I rename folder to my project number after exit MC to keep it neat, clean and traceable.

This is to not mix media in same folder when starting next new project.

When I need to go back to another previously generated project, I rename the projectnumber folder back to 1 and resume editing.

(To keep track I have a spreadsheet with projectnumber, names, details etc so I know which number to rename folder 1 back to when finished edit)

So, now when I work on several projects, I have to switch back and forth between them.

To be more efficient I deleted msmFMID and msmMMOB in the projectnumber-folder and let MC reindex files and hoping new media would stay in this folder. But no, It generates still a number 1 folder.

Is this still valid way to go, or is there a hoperfully smarter way?

As soon as you rename to something not a number you basically make them unavailable for new media. This is a strength in my opinion. When working locally this is exactly how I manage my media and it's never steered me wrong. I'd say you're doing it the correct way if you are working locally and not on a Nexis. It takes a bit of organisation but it's solid.

Andi

Thank you for replying, Andi

The thing is, I do only use numbers on folders.¨

That is why I can't get my head around why MC generates new numbered folder when MC reindexes media in my 2401 folder or any other numbered folder only contains number.

Lars

One thing I've done in the past is use the the old DOS SUBST command to create virtual drives from folders.

This allows you to make any spare drive letters (G: H: etc) appear as separate drives (as far as Avid is concerned) but are in fact just folders on your physical hard drive.

So, you could have (say) three projects with their own folders, which also have the normal Avid media folders (the usual Avid Mediafiles/MXF/1), but these would appear as separate drives.

That way, you simply have to change the default (virtual) drive in Media Creation settings for each of your projects and Avid will write to the number 1 folder of that drive. 

One of the problems with the SUBST command is that the virtual drives would need to be reset on each reboot of the OS. This could be fixed by writing a DOS batch file (which ran on startup) to reinstate the drives.

Luckily, there's a small utlilty that does all this for you in a GUI. It's called Visual SUBST and it's available here...

https://www.ntwind.com/software.html

I think Avid wants to put all new media in the "1" folder by default. Even if there are other numbered folders in the MXF folder, creating new media will place the new .mxfs in the "1" folder. If you delete the databases in another numbered folder, Avid should still re-index them, it just won't put new media in them. I presume that has to do with the 5000 file limit per folder. When a folder reaches around 5000 files it renames it and makes a new "1" folder. So potentially, any other numbered folders will be at their file limit so you wouldn't want to add more media to them.

Just because you have deleted the databases in a certain folder doesn't mean you necessarily want Avid to put new media in there. That could cause all sorts of issues. 

Sometimes I need to consolidate from a generics drive which has multiple old media folders on it and I'll often get a crash and an error which normally tells me I need to reindex the folder that media is stored in. As long as the folder is a number and I delete the mob files, Avid reindexes and often media will pop back online. But if I then go on to render something or import something, that media will get made in the "1" folder. And that's what I want, I don't want new media unintentionally going it to an old generics folder.

I think it's very elegant actually. What I do is ingest all my media for the day, rename the "1" folder something meaningful e.g. TM01_240801_A001 (show name, date, camera) and then when I come to do the next day I'll repeat that process and at the end of the series I end up with a bunch of neatly named media folders whose name tells me everything I need to know about what they contain.

If I want new media to go in a certain folder then I must rename that folder to "1" first, then remember to rename it back after I'm done. It's second nature to me now but could definitely trip you up if you're not paying attention.

Andi

I remember doing this Bruno. I haven't been using a PC for Avid for a while but you've made me look in to if it can be done on a Mac and turns out it's very simple so I might have a play with that and see what happens. (Probably not mid-series though...)

Andi

Hey Lars,

Isaac T. here. I've written quite a bit on renaming managed media folders lately. Perhaps these will add more clarity for your workflow.

On Renaming Avid Media Composer’s Media Folders

Prepping Dailies for Avid Media Composer Without… Buying Media Composer?

Related: How can EditReady prep my source media for immediate use in Media Composer?

• I wrote this when I was one of the resident Avid experts at Hedge, makers of Mimiq and EditReady.

I have used a similar workfow for years, except i dont use strictly numbers, but simply call the folder what it is.

"Project A Transcodes" or "Project A working files".  It is true, by using numbers only, you are keeping the folder writeable, but all that really means is you could manually add avid media to that folder, and Avid will automatically reindex the folder, or as you stated, you can delete the database, and Avid will reindex the folder.  No matter what you name that folder, Avid always put any new media into a number 1 folder, unless your number 1 folder is too full, then it will put it into a number 2 folder.

For me, i do the transcodes in resolve, get Avid to index the folder, then call it Project1 Transcodes.  I then work in Avid, letting Avid create it's "1" folder. When I switch projects, i rename the 1 folder Project1 working files.  

Jump to the a different project and work on it. (Avid creates a new "1" folder.  When done, or about to jump back to the first project, i rename the 1 folder to Project2 Working, and rename Project1 working to 1, so anything new from that project will go into that folder.  Rinse and repeat.  When it is time to cleanup, archive and or delete folders for what ever project you want to clean up.  Typically the working folder is mostly renders, as i usually link to graphics and audio, so I usually don't need to archive those folders, as they a files that can be recreated by Avid, but your mileage may vary.

I've met with many-a-Media Composer team over the years, and renaming managed media folders consistently trips up all the right people at the wrong times. 

In my opinion, it's a bad workflow practice that should be abandoned – too many avoidable late nights and quality of life lost.

Hello Isaac,

Thank you for good, and entertainable, input :)

I too see all the benefits for going down this way and indeed to my opinion MC is very good at handling media.

Ive been doing it with this method for over 20 years without issues.