Update metadata and sync media with FCP/X

The purpose with this activity is to automatically add metadata and sync audio with video and script notes when using FCP/X as an NLE. 

Before you start with this activity, all media should be on an external editing disk and script notes should be imported to the computer. All media must have correct time code, otherwise will the automatic process not work.

The programs used are FCP/X, Shot Notes X and Sync-n-link.

It's very important to follow the order of the instructions, otherwise metadata will not be added to the right place and and the editor have to add metadata manually instead of automatically.   

import VIDEO clips

Each production should have at least one unique library. The library should reside in FCPX folder for the project.

Import each copied card to FCP/X as a new event. The media folders for camera files are stored under each camera name.

Use the same name for the event as the folder with media on disk. The leave in place box should be checked when importing the media. Check generate proxies, but do not generate optimised media yet.

Repeat for each folder with video clips.   

Add metadata to video clips

Add  common metadata to all clips in the event as:

  • Reel: (e.g. HD-00297)
  • Camera name: (Cam A, Cam B etc)
  • Location: (Solna, Sweden)

Repeat for each folder with video clips. 

ADD SCRIPT notes

Create an event for date, shot day and  location ,  e.g. 2017-04-02 - Day 5 - Solna

Move all video clips to this event that have been shot this day

Export an XML-file for this event. 

Start Shot notes X and combine the  XML-file from FCP/X with XML-file from iMovieSlate and generate a new XML-file

Import newly generated XML-file back to FCP/X and update existing metadata 

Import audio clips

Import each copied card to FCP/X as a new event.  The media folders for audio files recorded on set are stored in the audio folder.

Use the same name for the event as the folder with media on disk. The leave in place box should be checked when importing the media. Check generate proxies, but not generate optimised media yet.

Check use iXML when importing.

add metadata to audio clips

Add common metadata to all clips in the event as:

  • Reel: (e.g. HD-00297)
  • Camera name:
  • Location: (Solna, Sweden) 

Update metadata for audio roles so they follow the naming convention for the production.

Sync audio with video

Move all audio clips to the event for this day. All audio and video files should now reside in this folder.

Export an XML-file for this event. 

Start sync-n-link and sync video and audio clips using time code.

Update FCP/X with new clips for the synced media.

Move back non synced video and audio clips back to their original folders.