Consolidate multiple sequences with trimming?

[spurfilm]

Even though I get a feeling everyone has problems with the consolidation feature, I am planning to give it a go. I have v5.5. It's a big job and I only have Canopus HQ files in the project, about 1.5 TB of them spread over several drives.

First I would appreciate any useful general advice before I start.

Second I have several long sequences (50mins each) in the project which I want EDIUS to consolidate against (with trimming). These sequences have been edited from the same media. In other words, as it does the trimming, I want EDIUS to save ALL the media for ALL the open sequences. If I open them all on the timeline, will it do as I imagine? Trim the data around all the sequences?

Finally, what happens to other media (such as renders and exports) that are in bins? Will it delete these if they are not in the sequences?

Thanks in advance.

[Red Union Films]

Hi Rick.

Depending on the types of consolidate, it will work mostly just like any other NLE , Avid included. Just plan your sessions ground up for the types of consolidation you are going to do.

When you say renders, are you talking about temp exports of complex parts that you've re-imported into the bin for quick editing. Or are you talking about the temp files that Edius generates in the background, and are you talking about your physical media bins or the Edius EZP bins?

You may need to plan a bit more than usual. If you take into account what your consolidates are for, to save space, to move to other systems, to split a feature into reel deliveries, to separate sequences and bins etc. You should be OK. I have used Edius on two feature films, and the consolidate function done what I needed to do after a bit of planning and a little head ache.

Cheers.

Dave.

[spurfilm]

When you say renders, are you talking about temp exports of complex parts that you've re-imported into the bin for quick editing. Or are you talking about the temp files that Edius generates in the background, and are you talking about your physical media bins or the Edius EZP bins?

Hi thanks for the quick reply. For renders, I mean....

1. physical media - for example, every time I make an export (often as Canopus HQ), a picon link to the exported media goes in the open bin. Will it delete these physical media items, if it finds them?

2. complex parts I have exported and reimported (which are then used in a timeline).

My real concern is about using multiple sequences in a project. Are you saying it WILL acknowledge they are all open simultaneously, and trim the disk media to accommodate them all within the one consolidation process?

Thanks again, Rick

[Red Union Films]

Hi Rick.

Depending on if you tell Edius to only export clips used in the timeline or the media in the project, it will either consolidate your exports or not.

Again, depending on settings you can do a lot of project things with multi sequences or not. We would usually consolidate sequences as reels to their own slimmer project. Then have the option to combine sequences and shared media or not.

To find your limitations or not, this is what I would do. Make a new folder with a lot of copied clips. Then start a new test project/EZP. Try some simple random edits in various sequences etc. Then try the various consolidate options on these test, destroyable copied files. I know this sounds obvious, but some of the settings may not do exactly what you would expect. Depending on media, you may not be able trim files with handles, and there can be some strange things happen with media names in the Edius EZP/bins. Strange as in the media is in the timeline but not in any bin? Like I say, it can be a little odd, but if you get to know what the settings do, you can plan appropriately.

I would strongly recommend that you don't do your tests on an active project.

Cheers.

Dave.

[spurfilm]

Dave, that's really good advice. Many thanks for your time.
Best wishes,
Rick

[Red Union Films]

Rick.

I did a test report for someone at GV UK last year about using the consolidate function on feature film projects, with loads of media/sequences/bins. I can't guarantee that I can find it, but if I do I will PM you. If you start banging your head against the wall, PM me with specific issues and I may be to help or at least confirm things. Like I said before, I have a lot of experience with it, and also the AAF head ache for audio. Being the head of post on two feature films edited on Edius, has given me a lot of insight into it.

Anyway, am off out to kill a few brain cells :)

Cheers.

Dave.

[spurfilm]

Dave, yes, if you can find the report it I would like to read it, please.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Cheers,
Rick

[CentralEurope]

Red Union Films wrote:
Depending on the types of consolidate, it will work mostly just like any other NLE , Avid included.

I did a test report for someone at GV UK last year about using the consolidate function on feature film projects

Dear Dave
I can complete agree => for Edius_5.51
works perfect like other (adult) NLE like consolidate with MC on Avid
or "trimm project" with the Projectmanager in Adobe PPro-CSx

I can absolutely NOT agree for Edius_6

In all versions from Edius_6 (including 6.02) the function "Consolidate" is imho broken and unusable

you can only consolidate to a new project folder
all consolidated end up file in the (new) project-folder
all consolidated file change the original-name to "Edius inside" characters (like 0D6EBC4F-5C51-4382-9311-4A1EA8FEF479.avi)

All consolidated files in the consolidated project refer to the FALSE (old) file adress (location)
so you can not relink a (lost or corrupt) ) consolidated file
so you can not use the "Explorer function" in a consolidated project
so you can not open (send) the file per kontex to a other applikation in a consolidated project
and more more glitches => in cause to: all consolidated file refer to the FALSE (old) file location

If you try a second "consolidate" on a project, who have you, or other assistants, make a first consolidate in the past
YOU WILL END UP WITH A KILLED PROJECT => ALL FILES ARE OFFLINE
and please remember => you can not relink ........ you can not relink .......

I can only hope GV will
a) fix this in 6.03
b) or deactivate (greyed out) this unusable function, it is imho a Ballad of Mack with the open Knife

I have spending a lot of hours with the "new interpretation" from the holy word consolidate in Edius_6
my personally conclusion behind this hours => broken / unusabel / should greyed out when it is not time to fix it

please, excuse my "fractal" english ... it is not my native language,
friendly greetings from Central€urope

[spurfilm]

OK, I hear what you are saying CentralEurope about v6. However, with Dave's advice I have just consolidated a v5.5 project consisting of 6 x 50-minute edits (sequences) linked to about 2,000 avi files which occupy 1.6TB spread over several drives. The job is purely canopus HQ, plus some additional wav audio music and jpg graphics.

After copying all my valuable EDIUS exports (used for DVDs etc) to safe, renamed folders, I did a Backup and Cleanup (with trimming) of the project to another drive - also for safety. I need not have worried. Consolidate worked exactly as described in the manual, and as I expected. It took 90mins to reduce everything to just 180GB. The avi files have been trimmed correctly and the project sequences are all intact and function perfectly, with up to 6 audio tracks and dozens of titles. There was one strange result. Any avi media (unused in the sequences), located on drives other than the one where the project EZP was located, were not deleted. But that took a few keystrokes to sort out, so no big deal.

Many thanks, Dave. You gave me the encouragement I needed to go ahead. But I am increasingly concerned about upgrading to v6 - for yet another reason.

[Marc44]

I have spending a lot of hours with the "new interpretation" from the holy word consolidate in Edius_6
my personally conclusion behind this hours => broken / unusabel / should greyed out when it is not time to fix it

Yes, it's broken in V 6.05 so
What a pity !
I have many works to consolidate from 1st July (the day I go to V6) et nothing to do especially with the mts footages (in the same folder).
I try also to export to a new folder and no result (no copy)
Is there a tip in V6 to consolidate ?
I use it often in V5 and it was very helpful !

I hope for V6.06 ... (or do I dream ?)

Marc

[Eric]

Yes, it's broken in V 6.05 so
What a pity !
I have many works to consolidate from 1st July (the day I go to V6) et nothing to do especially with the mts footages (in the same folder).
I try also to export to a new folder and no result (no copy)
Is there a tip in V6 to consolidate ?
I use it often in V5 and it was very helpful !

I hope for V6.06 ... (or do I dream ?)

Marc

Consolidate is/was a "problem child" from the beginning.
Eric