How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? at DVinfo.net

Dan Brockett · August 30th, 2015, 08:34 AM

Do you have a favorite tool you use to log all of your archival video? Our challenge is that we have a ton of P2 (MXF) and a good amount of Prores and some AVCHD video built up over quite a few Terabytes of drives over the past decade or so. Trying to locate a particular shot or clip is so incredibly time consuming. CatDV looks good but $650.00 seems a bit steep for what we need (Pro version with the .MXF option), we don't need page after page of metadata, just a simple tool that shows a thumbnail or sample clip, the name of the drive, scene breakdown. For those of you who have been at this business for many years, what do you use to keep track of and to locate a particular asset?

Mike Watson · August 30th, 2015, 09:18 AM

Meticulous organizing by /client/year/event/camera, so AmEx/2014/Money2020/Day1/BigShow/Wide.

This takes care of about 90% of what I need.

For the other 10%, and... we don't do this for most things, but Adobe Bridge will make contact sheets - so if it's something that the folder structure doesn't make it obvious what it will be, or if it's something we need to refer to - we make a contact sheet of that folder both as a PDF and print it in color. You can then page through and look for the shot you want.

Google Photos will now let me search using various metadata. So when my wife says "remember that shot you took of our daughter in the pool at the Marriott in San Francisco?", I can literally type "Jane pool san francisco marriott" into google photos and it will spit the photo back at me. I am waiting for this to go pro so I can use it in business. ;-)

Ron Evans · August 30th, 2015, 09:44 AM

Not for the Mac I know but this is the latest version of EDIUS 8 with a browser that look like it will do the sort of thing you want.

Ron Evans

Gary Huff · August 30th, 2015, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

For those of you who have been at this business for many years, what do you use to keep track of and to locate a particular asset?

I would think you could just setup an Excel spreadsheet for something that simple.

Dan Brockett · August 30th, 2015, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Funny you mention Adobe Bridge contact sheets, we used that for a project I am editing for an NGO. Have a good amount of footage that we didn't shoot that we were given, we did exactly what you say. But that's not a really a good method for being able to search by keyword or location though? Also, we have occasional need to share this with clients so a logging program of some type would probably work better.

Nate Haustein · August 30th, 2015, 09:44 PM

This intrigued me: KeyFlow Pro the $299 Media Asset Manager with Final Cut Pro X integration

Craig Seeman · September 1st, 2015, 09:44 PM

Nate, I found this very interesting review of KeyFlow Pro. Looks to be the first review.
KeyFlow Pro, a personal Media Asset Management system with limited workgroup capabilities - IT ENQUIRER

Craig Seeman · September 1st, 2015, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

Do you have a favorite tool you use to log all of your archival video? Our challenge is that we have a ton of P2 (MXF) and a good amount of Prores and some AVCHD video built up over quite a few Terabytes of drives over the past decade or so. Trying to locate a particular shot or clip is so incredibly time consuming. CatDV looks good but $650.00 seems a bit steep for what we need (Pro version with the .MXF option), we don't need page after page of metadata, just a simple tool that shows a thumbnail or sample clip, the name of the drive, scene breakdown. For those of you who have been at this business for many years, what do you use to keep track of and to locate a particular asset?

Dan, facing the same issue. For me I have XDCAM EX, AVCHD, XAVC-L. Also since I started using FCPX in its early days, my camera masters are in FCPX Camera Archives.

My reaction to CatDV with MXF pricing is also the same as yours. I think the problem is Sony XDCAM EX or MXF support requires a third party plugin such as from Calibrated Software.
Note this from Calibrated regarding CatDV
Calibrated Product Info for CatDV
and pricing
Calibrated Software Individual Products
So it looks like CatDV is bundling.
I wonder if one could buy it separately for CatDV Standard ($99).

My own hunch is, baring a relationship with Sony, KeyFlow Pro would be faced with the same add on price when the time comes. Makes me appreciate cameras that record to ProRes.

Dan Brockett · September 2nd, 2015, 07:09 AM

Thanks Nate and Craig. I will check these out. I have to get a handle on my footage library. I have had several projects lately where I have wasted many hours just locating assets, it would be nice to have a program that could search by keyword and to be able to view proxy clips with the drives off line.

Craig Seeman · September 2nd, 2015, 07:31 PM

Using CatDV 11.07 Standard (not Pro).
XDCAM EX, XAVC-L (MXF) files can't play (probably needs CatDV Pro with Calibrated plugin).
AVCHD (from Sony and Canon cameras) do play but are not joined when they should be.
FCPX Camera Archives are imported and do play if the codecs are compatible.

Using KeyFlow Pro 1.0.1
XDCAM EX, XAVC-L (MXF) files can't play.
AVCHD (from Sony and Canon cameras) aren't properly imported unless you pull out the .mts files but then they aren't joined when imported.
FCPX Camera Archives aren't properly imported.
I've contacted them about these issues.

August 30th, 2015, 08:34 AM	#1
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Do you have a favorite tool you use to log all of your archival video? Our challenge is that we have a ton of P2 (MXF) and a good amount of Prores and some AVCHD video built up over quite a few Terabytes of drives over the past decade or so. Trying to locate a particular shot or clip is so incredibly time consuming. CatDV looks good but $650.00 seems a bit steep for what we need (Pro version with the .MXF option), we don't need page after page of metadata, just a simple tool that shows a thumbnail or sample clip, the name of the drive, scene breakdown. For those of you who have been at this business for many years, what do you use to keep track of and to locate a particular asset?

August 30th, 2015, 09:18 AM	#2
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Meticulous organizing by /client/year/event/camera, so AmEx/2014/Money2020/Day1/BigShow/Wide. This takes care of about 90% of what I need. For the other 10%, and... we don't do this for most things, but Adobe Bridge will make contact sheets - so if it's something that the folder structure doesn't make it obvious what it will be, or if it's something we need to refer to - we make a contact sheet of that folder both as a PDF and print it in color. You can then page through and look for the shot you want. Google Photos will now let me search using various metadata. So when my wife says "remember that shot you took of our daughter in the pool at the Marriott in San Francisco?", I can literally type "Jane pool san francisco marriott" into google photos and it will spit the photo back at me. I am waiting for this to go pro so I can use it in business. ;-)

August 30th, 2015, 09:44 AM	#3
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Not for the Mac I know but this is the latest version of EDIUS 8 with a browser that look like it will do the sort of thing you want. Introducing EDIUS 8 - part 3 - GV Browser - YouTube Ron Evans

August 30th, 2015, 12:14 PM	#5
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Thanks for the replies guys. Funny you mention Adobe Bridge contact sheets, we used that for a project I am editing for an NGO. Have a good amount of footage that we didn't shoot that we were given, we did exactly what you say. But that's not a really a good method for being able to search by keyword or location though? Also, we have occasional need to share this with clients so a logging program of some type would probably work better.

August 30th, 2015, 09:44 PM	#6
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? This intrigued me: KeyFlow Pro the $299 Media Asset Manager with Final Cut Pro X integration __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

September 1st, 2015, 09:44 PM	#7
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Nate, I found this very interesting review of KeyFlow Pro. Looks to be the first review. KeyFlow Pro, a personal Media Asset Management system with limited workgroup capabilities - IT ENQUIRER

September 2nd, 2015, 07:09 AM	#9
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Thanks Nate and Craig. I will check these out. I have to get a handle on my footage library. I have had several projects lately where I have wasted many hours just locating assets, it would be nice to have a program that could search by keyword and to be able to view proxy clips with the drives off line.

September 2nd, 2015, 07:31 PM	#10
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: How do you keep track of TBs of footage in multiple formats? Using CatDV 11.07 Standard (not Pro). XDCAM EX, XAVC-L (MXF) files can't play (probably needs CatDV Pro with Calibrated plugin). AVCHD (from Sony and Canon cameras) do play but are not joined when they should be. FCPX Camera Archives are imported and do play if the codecs are compatible. Using KeyFlow Pro 1.0.1 XDCAM EX, XAVC-L (MXF) files can't play. AVCHD (from Sony and Canon cameras) aren't properly imported unless you pull out the .mts files but then they aren't joined when imported. FCPX Camera Archives aren't properly imported. I've contacted them about these issues.