What Does Vegas Media Manager Do? at DVinfo.net

Jason Robinson · June 21st, 2007, 01:26 PM

Besides make Vegas take a long time to boot up, constantly crash, and cause conflicts? I searched and found some threads that mention it, but no threads dedicated to the Media Manager.

VASST has an entire DVD on the Media Manager. For reference, they have an entire DVD on Color Correction. If the MM gets an entire DVD, what does it do that is so complicated, useful?

I have never found a use for it, and always turn it off or close the MM window. What does it do that I can't do by just browsing with Explorer?

I suspect that there is some meta-data it stores like clip subject, location or something along those lines, but having edited with Vegas for 2 years now I never have used it, and when I did try, it just didn't make sense, where as almost everything else about Vegas is easier to just pick up and play with.

Thanks for the info.

Jason

Alex Thames · June 21st, 2007, 01:41 PM

On another related note, how do you even tell if Media Manager is running concurrently with Vegas 7.0e?

Dan Keaton · June 21st, 2007, 05:51 PM

Media Manager can be very useful for long form projects.

If you tell it, or let it create a catalog of your audio/video files, then you can have a very useful database of all of your clips.

Then, if you enhance the keywords for your clips, it becomes even more useful.

One great use is to keep track of the clips which are located in disk drives which are currently off-line.

I consider it a great tool for seaching for a specific clip, audio or video.

David Rice · June 22nd, 2007, 06:48 AM

Can the Media Manager be opened up and run as a stand alone program?

If it can, I can find many uses for it. If not, I would just as soon shut it off.

Dan Keaton · June 22nd, 2007, 06:59 AM

Dear David,

Sorry, I have never tried to open up Media Manager by itself. I think that it may be possible.

I found Media Manger very useful when I was editing a movie. We had over 60 hours of footage and it worked well by helping me quickly find the clips that I needed.

Also, do not underestimate its value for audio work. I have the Sony Sound Effects series and I use Media Manager to find the sounds that I need. The Sony Sound Effects series is fully integrated into the Media Manager, you do not have to "tag" anything.

Alex Thames · June 22nd, 2007, 07:18 PM

So, again...how do I tell if Media Manager is running when Vegas 7.0e is on?

Dan Keaton · June 22nd, 2007, 09:00 PM

Dear Alex,

With Vegas running, go to View|Media Manager. If it is not checked, check it.

Then go to the "Media Manage" tab at the bottom.

I like to extend the Media Manager Window to a separate monitor.

David Rice · June 22nd, 2007, 10:04 PM

If anyone knows how to open up Media Manager by itself. Please let me know.

Dan Keaton · June 23rd, 2007, 06:05 AM

David,

I have searched for a way to open up Media Manager by itself, but so far have not found a way.

However, if you start Vegas 6 or 7, then undock the Media Manager window, then minimize the other Vegas windows, it will appear that just Media Manager is running.

Last night I was working on this, but was interrupted to make homemade peach ice cream (I live in the heart of peach country!).

Jon McGuffin · June 23rd, 2007, 08:44 AM

This is a very intersting topic to me because, like Jason, I asked the very same questions. If a whole DVD training disk is dedicated to MM than I thought it must be a very inefficient tool. I have been happy with just being very dedicated to creating a good file directly structure on my hard drive and manually keeping all my "media" straight.

Frankly, I've found the more computer software tries to "do it for me" the less connected I am and when things go bad (hard drive crash, disk errors or whatever) the less I know what to do. My fear is that I'd get involved with media manager and then Vegas would somehow crash, I'd have to reinstall, everything would be lost, and then I wouldn't know where the heck all my stuff is because media manager was "doing it's thing..."

From the very begginning that MM has scared me to death... :)

Jon

David Rice · June 23rd, 2007, 12:50 PM

Yes, Vegas Media Manager is confusing.

I have over 3,000 video clips, and another 2,200 jpegs. I need a Media Manager. However, I too am afraid to use the Vegas Media Manager within the Vegas 7e Program.

Any Suggestions for a stand alone program?

If someone could show me how to run Media Manager outside of Vegas 7e,
I'll try it.

I can't afford to use a confusing program, waste time, or lose my files.

Dan Keaton · June 23rd, 2007, 05:05 PM

Dear David,

The Media Manager is just an index to your files.

If the Media Manager crashes, you do not lose any of your video or audio files. Also, it is easy to tell the media manager to re-index your files.

Consider it an easy way to "tag" you files with notes that are important to you and a way to quickly find clips to put on your timeline.

In 2005, I was editing a movie. The Media Manager was very useful.

Consider this, the Media Manager will remember your clips and their "tags", even if the hard drive is off-line.

The Media Manager is a very nice index, it allows you to search and preview your clips instantly.

I recommend that you give Media Manager a try. If you have Vegas 6.0 or 7.0, you already have it. To get the most out of it, I recommend reading the manual.

Jon McGuffin · June 24th, 2007, 12:14 AM

Fair enough, I'll give it a whirl.

June 21st, 2007, 01:26 PM	#1
Jason Robinson Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,997	What Does Vegas Media Manager Do? Besides make Vegas take a long time to boot up, constantly crash, and cause conflicts? I searched and found some threads that mention it, but no threads dedicated to the Media Manager. VASST has an entire DVD on the Media Manager. For reference, they have an entire DVD on Color Correction. If the MM gets an entire DVD, what does it do that is so complicated, useful? I have never found a use for it, and always turn it off or close the MM window. What does it do that I can't do by just browsing with Explorer? I suspect that there is some meta-data it stores like clip subject, location or something along those lines, but having edited with Vegas for 2 years now I never have used it, and when I did try, it just didn't make sense, where as almost everything else about Vegas is easier to just pick up and play with. Thanks for the info. Jason

June 21st, 2007, 05:51 PM	#3
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Media Manager can be very useful for long form projects. If you tell it, or let it create a catalog of your audio/video files, then you can have a very useful database of all of your clips. Then, if you enhance the keywords for your clips, it becomes even more useful. One great use is to keep track of the clips which are located in disk drives which are currently off-line. I consider it a great tool for seaching for a specific clip, audio or video. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 22nd, 2007, 06:48 AM	#4
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Media Manager Can the Media Manager be opened up and run as a stand alone program? If it can, I can find many uses for it. If not, I would just as soon shut it off.

June 22nd, 2007, 06:59 AM	#5
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear David, Sorry, I have never tried to open up Media Manager by itself. I think that it may be possible. I found Media Manger very useful when I was editing a movie. We had over 60 hours of footage and it worked well by helping me quickly find the clips that I needed. Also, do not underestimate its value for audio work. I have the Sony Sound Effects series and I use Media Manager to find the sounds that I need. The Sony Sound Effects series is fully integrated into the Media Manager, you do not have to "tag" anything. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 22nd, 2007, 09:00 PM	#7
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Alex, With Vegas running, go to View\|Media Manager. If it is not checked, check it. Then go to the "Media Manage" tab at the bottom. I like to extend the Media Manager Window to a separate monitor. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 21st, 2007, 01:41 PM	#2
Alex Thames Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 508	On another related note, how do you even tell if Media Manager is running concurrently with Vegas 7.0e?

June 22nd, 2007, 07:18 PM	#6
Alex Thames Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 508	So, again...how do I tell if Media Manager is running when Vegas 7.0e is on?

June 22nd, 2007, 10:04 PM	#8
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	If anyone knows how to open up Media Manager by itself. Please let me know.

June 23rd, 2007, 06:05 AM	#9
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	David, I have searched for a way to open up Media Manager by itself, but so far have not found a way. However, if you start Vegas 6 or 7, then undock the Media Manager window, then minimize the other Vegas windows, it will appear that just Media Manager is running. Last night I was working on this, but was interrupted to make homemade peach ice cream (I live in the heart of peach country!). __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 23rd, 2007, 08:44 AM	#10
Jon McGuffin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 634	This is a very intersting topic to me because, like Jason, I asked the very same questions. If a whole DVD training disk is dedicated to MM than I thought it must be a very inefficient tool. I have been happy with just being very dedicated to creating a good file directly structure on my hard drive and manually keeping all my "media" straight. Frankly, I've found the more computer software tries to "do it for me" the less connected I am and when things go bad (hard drive crash, disk errors or whatever) the less I know what to do. My fear is that I'd get involved with media manager and then Vegas would somehow crash, I'd have to reinstall, everything would be lost, and then I wouldn't know where the heck all my stuff is because media manager was "doing it's thing..." From the very begginning that MM has scared me to death... :) Jon

June 23rd, 2007, 12:50 PM	#11
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Yes, Vegas Media Manager is confusing. I have over 3,000 video clips, and another 2,200 jpegs. I need a Media Manager. However, I too am afraid to use the Vegas Media Manager within the Vegas 7e Program. Any Suggestions for a stand alone program? If someone could show me how to run Media Manager outside of Vegas 7e, I'll try it. I can't afford to use a confusing program, waste time, or lose my files.

June 23rd, 2007, 05:05 PM	#12
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear David, The Media Manager is just an index to your files. If the Media Manager crashes, you do not lose any of your video or audio files. Also, it is easy to tell the media manager to re-index your files. Consider it an easy way to "tag" you files with notes that are important to you and a way to quickly find clips to put on your timeline. In 2005, I was editing a movie. The Media Manager was very useful. Consider this, the Media Manager will remember your clips and their "tags", even if the hard drive is off-line. The Media Manager is a very nice index, it allows you to search and preview your clips instantly. I recommend that you give Media Manager a try. If you have Vegas 6.0 or 7.0, you already have it. To get the most out of it, I recommend reading the manual. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 24th, 2007, 12:14 AM	#13
Jon McGuffin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 634	Fair enough, I'll give it a whirl.