I've been running into this issue for years and wondered if there's a workaround or at least an explanation.
Let's say I have a QuickTime file that I want to AMA link and transcode. However, the filename isn't very helpful so I rename it at desktop level first and then I go into MC to AMA link it.
Most of the time this works fine. But sometimes MC gives me the "MEDIA OFFLINE" screen and I can only get it to see the file after rebooting or after many attempts.
Other times it weirdly somehow remembers the old filename before I renamed it!
I'm using MC 2018.12. Any ideas?
IF MC has handled that file at all it will try and stick with the original file name. Turning off managed AMA may help here.
Broadcast & Post Production Consultant / Trainer Avid Certified Instructor VET (Retired Early 2022)
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Thanks, Pat. That sounds like a bug to me.
Do you mean Linked Media Management in the Link settings?
I just checked and this was already disabled.
Pat Horridge:Turning off managed AMA may help here.
I wanna try it... how is that done, Pat?
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Pat Horridge:IF MC has handled that file at all it will try and stick with the original file name.
This may also happen if you have it set so that any drive you plug in will be scanned automatically.
You'll find these settings in Link/Volume Mounting
Bruno M: Pat Horridge:IF MC has handled that file at all it will try and stick with the original file name. This may also happen if you have it set so that any drive you plug in will be scanned automatically. You'll find these settings in Link/Volume Mounting
Thanks. That's the "Enable Linked Media Management" setting in the Link Settings, isn't it? I've got that one turned off already.
If I simply rename an AMA-linked clip to the correct filename, does that cause any problems later on with the conform?
Pulck:That's the "Enable Linked Media Management" setting in the Link Settings, isn't it? I've got that one turned off already.
Yes, I believe that's the one.
You'll probably want to turn the 'auto linking to volumes' off as well
Pulck:If I simply rename an AMA-linked clip to the correct filename, does that cause any problems later on with the conform?
This can be a more complicated issue, depending how you relink back to original rushes (if you're working in a proxy workflow). If your rushes have metadata that has roll/reel names or Source file ID, the actual filename may not matter.
Bruno M: You'll probably want to turn the 'auto linking to volumes' off as well
Yeah, that's already off too.
Bruno M: Pulck:If I simply rename an AMA-linked clip to the correct filename, does that cause any problems later on with the conform? This can be a more complicated issue, depending how you relink back to original rushes (if you're working in a proxy workflow). If your rushes have metadata that has roll/reel names or Source file ID, the actual filename may not matter.
With my current remote workflow, I'm not ingesting the camera rushes. That's done by a post house and the proxies are sent to me.
The stuff I'm AMA linking and transcoding is archive clips, generally MOVs or MP4s. So I thought renaming the Avid clips to mirror the correct filename might actually help in the conform...?
Pulck:With my current remote workflow, I'm not ingesting the camera rushes. That's done by a post house and the proxies are sent to me.
I'm surprised if the post house hasn't discussed the workflow and conform with you.
There's many things that can potentially upset a successful conform, and renaming clips could be one of them. If you do a search of relinking problems on these forums, you'll see what I mean.
Generally, I've found that if you link all your rushes and transcode (to a proxy format) in MC, the resultant AAF is able to relink to camera originals in something like Resolve.
Where proxies are created outside Avid, or files are renamed, there's the potential for trouble. I've always recommended to my students (who often use multiple bits of software in their projects) that they do a test round-trip to make sure there's a trouble-free experience with the whole proxy-edit-conform-grade workflow.
Bruno M: Pulck:With my current remote workflow, I'm not ingesting the camera rushes. That's done by a post house and the proxies are sent to me. I'm surprised if the post house hasn't discussed the workflow and conform with you. There's many things that can potentially upset a successful conform, and renaming clips could be one of them. If you do a search of relinking problems on these forums, you'll see what I mean. Generally, I've found that if you link all your rushes and transcode (to a proxy format) in MC, the resultant AAF is able to relink to camera originals in something like Resolve. Where proxies are created outside Avid, or files are renamed, there's the potential for trouble. I've always recommended to my students (who often use multiple bits of software in their projects) that they do a test round-trip to make sure there's a trouble-free experience with the whole proxy-edit-conform-grade workflow.
Well the project has changed since I first started it months ago. There's a lot more archive in it than I expected so I didn't forewarn the post house. But point taken. The pandemic has made me into my own edit assistant.
I'm guessing more than 90% of clips work absolutely fine and I haven't renamed anything in Avid, so hopefully I haven't caused too many issues further down the line.
Remember the avid clip names are user definable. They initially are formed from the fileneames (unless the metadata from the camera has already set the clip name)
Once ingested Avid doesn't care about clip names. The source path and source file columns hold that actual source file name and the original source path. These are whats used for the conform.
So renaming a clip in Avid is a normal editing process. Renaming source files is a big no no.
If a clip has to be renamed then it must be done before that file is used in any way in the post process.
So an archive clip may have an illigal character in it. So it could be renamed before being ingested.
A source file thats already be transcoded and that media used should never be renamed.
Pat Horridge: Remember the avid clip names are user definable. They initially are formed from the fileneames (unless the metadata from the camera has already set the clip name) Once ingested Avid doesn't care about clip names. The source path and source file columns hold that actual source file name and the original source path. These are whats used for the conform. So renaming a clip in Avid is a normal editing process. Renaming source files is a big no no. If a clip has to be renamed then it must be done before that file is used in any way in the post process. So an archive clip may have an illigal character in it. So it could be renamed before being ingested. A source file thats already be transcoded and that media used should never be renamed.
Thanks. I never rename the desktop/source files after I've imported. I know that's a big no-no.
Going back to my original post, the issue is that Avid sometimes imports AMA-linked clips with an old filename. How or why it does this I have no idea. I consider that a bug. But if it's not a problem, I'm happy.
Pulck: Going back to my original post, the issue is that Avid sometimes imports AMA-linked clips with an old filename. How or why it does this I have no idea. I consider that a bug. But if it's not a problem, I'm happy.
I've seen this, too - somehow MC figures out the original filename from its managed media database for AMA linked media. If you disable AMA managed media it won't do this. I've never understood when to use (or when to disabled) AMA managed media (it's enbled by default).
Steve
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Thats correct AMA linking a clip results in Avid checking its AMA managed databases to see if its seen that cliop before (and somehow it works that out using data other than the file name) If it has it links it but retains the original source file name and a previous path. So if you AMA link a file and then delete the master clip in Avid, then move the source file and AMA link you will see the original source path listed.
If you have Avid set to auto mount drives in Link/Volume Mounting then just pluging a drive in is enough for Avid to "see" that file and remember it.
AMA management has very few advantages (it does let you see AMA linked files in the media tool) and plenty of gotchas. SO I ensure I have it off as well as turning off the volume mounting automatically.
You can even locate the AMA managed folders at C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\AMA Management
and delete them to clear out Avid memory of AMA linked media (this shouldn't effect AMA links already in projects)
Pat Horridge: Thats correct AMA linking a clip results in Avid checking its AMA managed databases to see if its seen that cliop before (and somehow it works that out using data other than the file name) If it has it links it but retains the original source file name and a previous path. So if you AMA link a file and then delete the master clip in Avid, then move the source file and AMA link you will see the original source path listed. If you have Avid set to auto mount drives in Link/Volume Mounting then just pluging a drive in is enough for Avid to "see" that file and remember it. AMA management has very few advantages (it does let you see AMA linked files in the media tool) and plenty of gotchas. SO I ensure I have it off as well as turning off the volume mounting automatically. You can even locate the AMA managed folders at C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\AMA Management and delete them to clear out Avid memory of AMA linked media (this shouldn't effect AMA links already in projects)
Thank you, Pat. That's very clear.
Just one thing. In my experience, even if I change a filename BEFORE any attempt to AMA link it, Avid will AMA link it with its old filename. It's as if it scans the directory in the background and decides what the filenames are going to be before you attempt to AMA link. Getting it to accept the new filename is sometimes impossible.
I appear (through accident rather than choice) to have always had Automatic Volume Linking and Linked Media Management switched off, so I don't understand how this can have occurred.
Anyway, I least I understand it better now.
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