I would like to import and transcode my Canon XF-1oo  MXF files into a bin. The workflow I do now is to copy to hard drive/import from bin/select each mxf file. After shooting for hours this takes too long.

I would like to bring in the entire CF card into the bin all at once and I think I did this once but can no long figure out how. 

My computer does not handle AMA linking well and it's better to import in. 

What do you mean by "does not handle AMA linking well?"

If you're talking about playback, that's true of many systems - but still, you can AMA link, and then immediately consolidate (or transcode, if you want to transcode to a different codec).  Keep your AMA clips in a bin that you just close up and bury, and then edit with the consolidated or transcoded clips.

So the workflow instead of clicking on each mxf file and waiting from them to transcode would be to AMA link the folder into a bin and then select all ama files and consolidate. I should not have to do each on separately. 

that worked very well. Thanks

Exactly, you got it.  Just make sure you have the Canon XF AMA plugin installed.  Link to the folder ABOVE the "CONTENTS" folder (NOT the "CONTENTS" folder itself!), and your clips should just appear in a bin.  Then, you can consolidate.

Back to my original question about needing to import the entire folder.

I tried to AMA link and then consolidate the canon MXF files but my boss had windows 8 and Canon does not make a plug in for windows 8. So I had to import each one and he said, "is there not a way to import the entire folder"?  I did not have an answer. 

Ronald Czarnecki:

Back to my original question about needing to import the entire folder.

I tried to AMA link and then consolidate the canon MXF files but my boss had windows 8 and Canon does not make a plug in for windows 8.

It surely works here on my Windows 8.1 system

Agreed with mjolnarn - while I don't use Avid on Win8, I'd definitely try installing it if I were you.  Did you try it?

Actually, it DOES seem to support Win8 - I'm looking at the page for the XF105 (it's the same plugin no matter which camera).  If I select Win8 x64 from the dropdown, I see the plugin listed.  This should also work great if you're on Win8.1 x64.

Do you know whether it's a 64-bit version of the Win8 OS?  If not, you MIGHT have to use the 32-bit plugin version that's under Win7.  Not sure, I'm not as familiar with Windows options.

OR, what you do instead of using the AMA plugin - you take the consolidated files from your system, and then copy them onto the Win8 system.  No AMA needed, and you have the same media.  That process digs into working with the Avid MediaFiles folder a bit.

Sorry I said 8 but I meant 8.1 version 64 bit. There is no plug in for the 8.1 listed, I supposed we could use the 8 plugin and try that. 

I am not near the Win 8 computer he is in a different part of town, we are trying to do Avid Everywhere without buying. We shared drives and link timelines by exchanging bins. 

Ronald Czarnecki:

Back to my original question about needing to import the entire folder.

I tried to AMA link and then consolidate the canon MXF files but my boss had windows 8 and Canon does not make a plug in for windows 8. So I had to import each one and he said, "is there not a way to import the entire folder"?  I did not have an answer. 

So the problem you refer to is probably that each individual video file is in its own subfolder? So you can't select the multiple files to import right? So the way around that problem is to copy all the video files into a single directory and then you can import them all at the same time.

however - I urge you to reconsider AMA linking and transcoding. It's faster, easier and will join longer takes into a single master clip in Avid.

I agree with Mondo regarding AMA.

But if you insist on importing, you can use the search in the folder and subfolders MXF files in TotalCommander, display panel, and drag them into an open bin in MC - will be import the material.
(advantage - not to copy the material and structure of the card / folder is retained).

Or, you can export the Canon XF Utilities material combined into a single MXF and import it into MC.

Regards

V.

Ronald Czarnecki:

Sorry I said 8 but I meant 8.1 version 64 bit. There is no plug in for the 8.1 listed, I supposed we could use the 8 plugin and try that. 

You did notice that I wrote this ?

It surely works here on my Windows 8.1 system

Thanks no I did not catch that but I will ask him to try downloading the version for windows 8.

I did find a fast workflow by using the Canon XF utility/highlight all clips/edit-export mxf clips to a single bin. 

I was just thinking there should be a way of selecting the whole folder to import rather moving out the MXF files out of the structure (copying would take time). Seems like AMA and then consolidate is the Avid way. 

Ronald Czarnecki:

 Seems like AMA and then consolidate is the Avid way. 

I just bumped an old ama thread today , maybe it´s useful

You can just use Windows Explorer to achieve this.

Navigate to the CONTENTS folder of your C300 card and type 'MXF' into the search bar in the top right of the Windows Explorer window. All the MXFs within that CONTENTS folder will appear.

Just shift-select them all and drag into your Avid bin to import all at once.

I used to have to do this all the time with workflows that required importing rather than AMA.

Was not able to drag into a bin, tried holding different keys. 

I did like the above method of merging all the clips in Canon Ultility export MXF and importing into bins.