Hi there,

I received the second batch mxf compressed files from the the post prodyction house. For the first batch, months ago, I created an Mxf folder and inside that the folders, 1,2,3,etc.. Nw I created ab addition folder, 16, and draged the files from the folders named DT.,,,,, which wwere give to me. The problem is that the two database files ending with .pmr and .mdb are not getting created. Alos I have noticed at the first bach was also the file  .aaf, which this time is not in the folders I received. Am I missing out a step in the whole process?

Thanks,

Anita

 

 

@anita96:

1. Quit Media Composer and delete the PMR and MDB.

2. On the root of your media drive, create the folder structure with these exact names:

/<Name of Media Drive>/Avid MediaFiles/MXF/<N>

Where <N> is whatever number.

3. Put all your MXF's in that new folder.

4. Relaunch MC. PMR and MDB should be generating now.

 

I hope you're not doing this to manage your media. Use MDVx instead:

http://djfio.ru/mdv

Simple and awesome.

If Isaquit0's suggestion does not work quit MC. Open your existing Avid MediaFiles\MXF\ folder and rename the 1 folder to an unused number (like 100). 
Open MC and create and save a simple title.
Close MC and open the Avid MediaFiles\MXF folder.  
Does it now have a new "1" folder? And does this new "1" folder have media files along with a PMR and  MDB file in it?
If so delete the PMR and MDB files and move your MXF media into the 1 folder.

When you restart MC you should see MC rebuilding the two database files.  If not there is another issue. (Possibly read and write permissions)

Sorry, don't understand what files to delete. They are not there, that's the problem. I have already read through all the advice on the support site. Everywhere say to delete the pmr and mdb files. the problem here is that they are not being created. Also on AvidMediaFiles/MXF Folder/1 are already other files, and they have their pmr and mdb already. Why should i delete them? As I have moved recently from FCP, I am aware that Avid is a different game. I have simply filmed additional material, have it got transcoded by the PP house, a .aaf file is missing which used to be in every folder, and I don't know if that might be the problem. Now I have just continue the list of the mxf folder, by adding a new, Nr16, and there will be a folder for each shooting day, as I have startet organising it that way, the same as the PP house did. Sorry, but I don't dare now deleting files. Besides, I have synched all the previous files with 3 sound layers each, so that's a lot of work to be redone, if something goes wrong. 

Is there not any other way to do that? Thanks, Anita

You need not fear to delete msm/pmr files. Also, you won't lose work as long as you have the transcoded files available somewhere -- MC will find thm. Are you on shared storage perhaps? If so, you need to go about the naming differently.

Also, I would recommend you rename your day folders to 101, 102, etc. Since MC will be filling up the 1 folder with renders and imports and such. Personally I use 101, 102 103 etc. for picture and 201, 202, 203 etc. for sound. Easier to keep those separated when you need to turn over to sound editorial.

@anita96: I know it's confusing, and this is going to be annoying, but stay with me.

Backgrounder: Media Composer creates the numbered folders under /Avid MediaFiles/MXF/ for you. It does it for every 5000 files. You don't have to make a new folder. Let Media Composer manage it for you.

1. Are the folders on your drive organized and named exactly like this?

<Name of Media Drive>
|
|-->Avid MediaFiles
      |
      |-->MXF
             |
             |--><N> (where <N> is a number)

If it's not exactly like this, MC won't make the PMR and MDB. If it's not generating the PMR and MDB:

2. Check your folder permissions. Make sure all users and groups are set to Read/Write.

anita96:

a .aaf file is missing which used to be in every folder, and I don't know if that might be the problem

Has nothing to do with the price of milk. AAF's shouldn't be in that folder. Don't delete, but don't put in  "../Avid MediaFiles/MXF/<N>". Media Composer might prompt you to quarantine it.

anita96:

Besides, I have synched all the previous files with 3 sound layers each, so that's a lot of work to be redone, if something goes wrong. 

 

Where is it synced? In sequences in Media Composer?

Sorry. Sounds like you're in a jam and under the gun. If you need help, we could do a remote session through Messages. Next step is hiring a local Avid consultant.

Job ter Burg:

Also, I would recommend you rename your day folders to 101, 102, etc. Since MC will be filling up the 1 folder with renders and imports and such. Personally I use 101, 102 103 etc. for picture and 201, 202, 203 etc. for sound.

Not trying to start something, but I don't see the advantage of manual folder management when you can sift out media by project, bin, and / or media kind with MDVx (or it's predecessor, MDV). Let MC do what it does, and stay out of the way. My opinion only.

anita96:

Everywhere say to delete the pmr and mdb files.

These files are database files which continually update.
Avid checks any "Number" folders content to verify all valid media files in the folder are correctly entered in that folders database.  
If not Avid will update the databases.
If these 2 database files are not present (after you have deleted them) Avid will rebuild them. (This has been a safe method of fixing media issues for more than 2 decades)

If Avid does not generate these 2 database files there is an issue. This could be with:
Drive and or Drive and Folder permissions.  (All folders used by Avid must be Read and Write)
An invalid folder path or name with invalid characters..
The MXF media files you received this time MAY not be valid Avid MXF media files.  Were these created differently this time? (This could explain why there is no .aaf file with it. 

anita96:

AvidMediaFiles/MXF Folder/1 are already other files, and they have their pmr and mdb already. Why should i delete them?

As said above Avid will check and rebuild these files if do not accurately show all files currently in this folder. (after you have dragged new files into this folder for instance).  
Deleting them forces Avid to rebuild them. This process is non destructive and does not affect any work you have done in your Avid Project.  (FWIW in 2 decades of regularly deleting these databases I have NEVER had an issue.) 

Isaquit0:

I don't see the advantage of manual folder management

I agree with Job on the benefits available via manual folder management.  MDV has been a great tool to help with this since day one.  

AndrewAction:

Isaquit0:

I don't see the advantage of manual folder management

I agree with Job on the benefits available via manual folder management.  MDV has been a great tool to help with this since day one.  

Same here.  I like to set up my own organization and use MDV (and now MDVx) to implement this.

But that is all 201 course.  The OP is in 101.

Jef

Hi Isaquit0,

Many for responding again. The folders are organised als followed.

<Name of Media Drive>

    ---<Folder with the project Name>

          ---<Avid MediaFiles>

              ---<MXF>

                  ----<N> just a specific number in there. 

 

I kept the project folder as a kind of frame. When I open up Avid, it prompts the question, what project to open. Do you think, I should move the Meida Files folder out of the project Folder and have it just on the drive?

I can try that if it helps, but would like to reconfirm first.

 

The synching is partly on sequences. Other parts are synched via AutoSynch. The problem with AustoSynch as you might knoe, is that it cuts off the audio track before and after the video track, so that ther is no chance extending the audio afterwards. 

as I am working on a documentary, there isa continuous audio running with claps in between every time the camera switches off. So I synched manually some scenes. There are sequences with a audio track contuning and the video tracks synched to the audio, with the gaps in between. 

Many many thanks,

Anita

PS: sorry for late response, am based in Europe. I can check about a, Avid consultant in Vienna. But had a look before and they seem to not appear in any database, even the AV-company selling me Avid MC doesn't know of any.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply. No, I am not on shared drives. Renaming now the folders might create a problem, I am afraid. 

Thanks,

Anita

anita96:

Do you think, I should move the Meida Files folder out of the project Folder and have it just on the drive?

the Avid MediaFiles folder MUST BE at the root level of the drive for Avid to see it and write the database files to it.. So yes Move it out of the Project Folder.

anita96:

Renaming now the folders might create a problem, I am afraid. 

If the numbered folders have the two database files in them then renaming them will have no effect on your project.   It actually has a positive effect as Avid can no longer write to any none number only named folder inside the MXF folder. This effectively locks the folder with accurate database file. (Until you subsequently rename them to a number only name.)  Anything you do to those names can be undone or changed at anytime with no adverse effect on your media or Avid ability to read it. (The original bullet proof media management system)

anita96:

Renaming now the folders might create a problem, I am afraid. 

Maybe you have done some manual steps like creating folders of your own instead of letting Avid take care of this.

So, this is what I would recommend , will not hirt or damage anything.

With Avid closed down, put an X in front of your Avid Media files folder, this will cause Avid not to see any folders and, from Avids point of view all media will of course be offline now, removing the X will bring them online.

But, anyhow , with that X added , open up Avid and import a still , no matter what still, now close down Avid.

When you now look in media drive you will notice that a new Avid media files folder just has been created, without any X , and that a new number 1 folder has been created.

Rename that new number 1 folder to a new number, only digits, nothing else , and move the old number 1 folder from the X:ed out folder to this just created location, open up Avid and check that all this media now is online.

When you have done this, close down Avid and continue with moving all the other folders , remember that folders only should have digits as name otherwise no database files are created.

And, finally, a correction , having aaf files inside an Avid media folder will not damage or hirt anything , they will definitively not be quarantined either, importing those aaf files into Avid will just bring the media that they belong to online.

Renaming the folders will not affect anything. Just stick to numbers (if you need MC to be able to rebuild the databases).