Keeping Folder Structure on Import Question...

[Girocast]

Hi. Sorry if I missed the answer to this, but I just can't figure this one out.

After I shoot a one hour video of my friends band onstage, I do understand that since my Canon Vixia G10 creates separate .MTS files, I need to use the Media Browser and import the entire folder structure into my Premier Pro CC 2017 project so that there are no little dropouts between the .MTS files when trying to assemble a sequence on the timeline. Fine. I found out the hard way that by just copying the .MTS files over to the Project Panel individually from a video that's one hour long, that there were little "blips" in my video at the points where the next .MTS file would start. Fine.

Here's where I'm confused, and where I'm "hogging" disk space by not knowing how to handle that folder structure.

Sometimes when I'm on my way to shoot the one hour show, I don't have time to empty my camera from the last shoot, and since I'm shooting on the same internal memory (or sometimes if I'm shooting on the same SD card), the new hour of video footage is now in the same folder structure as the last hour of video footage.

I know you'll all probably say just to copy the footage off the camera, but I can't go into all the reasons that it's sometimes not possible, plus the fact that even though the first hour of video footage is on my computer’s hard drive, and backed up, it's still not edited, so I don't want to delete it from the camera until I finish working on it in the computer. So, the camera is sort of like my 3rd backup copy.

OK, so now I've got a folder structure that has several .MTS files combined for an hours’ worth of video on one date, which I can clearly see in the folder structure, and several other .MTS files combined for a separate hour worth of video on another date that I can also see in Windows explorer.

Now to the editing. Let's say that I want to edit just the one date with the 1 hour show. BEFORE I use Media Browser to import that 1 hour show, can I just remove the other MTS files from the other 1 hour video (I guess by cutting and pasting those .MTS files to another temp location) and then import the folder structure via Media Browser into my Premier Pro project. Will this ensure that the .MTS files will assemble correctly in a sequence on the timeline? Even though I took out all of those other .MTS files from the other one hour video that was shot on the other date?

Of course, then I want to edit the other hour of video at another time, so can I do the exact same thing as above, but this time EXCLUDE the other video from the folder structure before I bring it in (again, I guess by cutting and pasting those .MTS files to another temp location.)

I'm wasting dozens and dozens of gigabytes of storage space by having all these dupe .MTS files from different shoots mixed into folders and I would like to get rid of them ONLY if it won't screw up the way those .MTS files assemble themselves on the timeline for a one hour video.

Thank you and I hope I was clear.

[shooternz]

Simple

Shoot Cards are cheap.  Buy a few and cycle them. 

Data management  and organisation is key to digital editing and post.

[Girocast]

Thanks, but as I said above, I can't go into all the reasons this is not feasible.

Also, I didn't want to complicate my question any further than it already sounded, so I left out the fact that I shoot with four (4) cameras simultaneously, so there are four folder structures that may be littered with other files from other shoots, so knowing the answer to my question would be helpful in sorting out this mess and keeping the dozens of terabytes of storage to a minimum by not having useless duplicate MTS files.

Sure, I can buy dozens of cards, but I'm still in the dark about how the folder structures work and how Media Browser handles them in my particular situation.

Thanks again anyway.

[shooternz]

Your problem is your digital workflow.

1 camera or 6 cameras...all need a workflow and back up routines are part of that.

When you get to the edit suite you need a managed workflow as well.

You dont have any digital management at all. Your particular situation is of your own making and there is no need for this file duplication mess.

The Media Browser is not the answer.

1. Get some cards - lots of cards.  All the same, top quality cards. (Dont scrimp unless you want reshoots.).

Tag the cards ( I use a label maker.)  I also have Card Holders for Blank Cards and Rushes Cards.

Not relevant but pertinent - I dual record to Cards and ATOMOS Samurai simultaneously. Thats my INSURANCE plus other benefits.

2. Each camera get assigned a card ( or cards) for a days shoot.  Each camera is assigned a unique Timecode by the HOUR.  eg Camera 1 is 01 to 04, Camera 2 is always 05 to 08, Camera 3  is 09 to 12 etc...

Each shoot day - down load cards to Folders on the Hard drive and the back up drive.  You need a folder naming Protocol ( eg Shootname/Date/Card) same  across both.

File the Cards away for a period or recycle if you have confirmed your data and back ups are verified.

Naming Protocol follows through to Rushes Bin naming  in Premiere on Import.

You are shooting AVCHD .mts.  The above is even more important for you.  The AVCHD  .mts protocol creates DUPLICATE File names on every card!  Be warned!!!!!

[Girocast]

Thanks, my digital workflow has been working fine for the last 18 years since I switched over from 3/4" tape, and it has rewarded me with a very comfortable income, but I appreciate your passionate advice.

My main question above, that I'm struggling to explain as detailed as I could and hoping for an answer to, is this:

I have MTS Files shot on one date, and MTS files shot on another date, all mixed in together in the same Folder Structure.

If I remove the MTS files shot on one date, but leave the other MTS files shot on another date, and then import that folder structure via Media Browser into my Premier Pro project, will the remaining MTS files remaining in the Folder Structure assemble correctly in a sequence on the timeline without any gaps/hiccups? 

[shooternz · Accepted solution]

I have MTS Files shot on one date, and MTS files shot on another date, all mixed in together in the same Folder Structure.

If I remove the MTS files shot on one date, but leave the other MTS files shot on another date, and then import that folder structure via Media Browser into my Premier Pro project, will the remaining MTS files remaining in the Folder Structure assemble correctly in a sequence on the timeline without any gaps/hiccups?

If you have Back Ups - try it ..or simply move them out temporarily and see what happens. I  am absolutely sure it will be fine.

Personally...I have found that any .mts file can be used entirely stand alone outside of the AVCHD Folder Structure.  Only thing I would be careful of is ..if the files are spanned.  I never shoot spanned files so cant advise on that.

..assemble correctly in a sequence on the timeline without any gaps/hiccups?

Why would it not? (unless they are spanned files maybe)

[Girocast]

Thank you. Yes, I've got plenty of on/off site multiple backups and will be experimenting with that this weekend.

They "are" spanned files and that's why I was curious. Yes, I've seen non-spanned MTS files work fine by importing individually without importing the entire Folder Structure.

[Meg The Dog]

It sounds like you are making this much more difficult than it is.

Girocast  wrote

I know you'll all probably say just to copy the footage off the camera, but I can't go into all the reasons that it's sometimes not possible, plus the fact that even though the first hour of video footage is on my computer’s hard drive, and backed up, it's still not edited, so I don't want to delete it from the camera until I finish working on it in the computer. So, the camera is sort of like my 3rd backup copy.

You must move your recordings from the camera media to a hard drive at some point prior to editing. Attempting to edit with the source files still on the camera media is a recipe for disaster.

It's just your choice of how to do so that will help organize the media.

Here is one scenario:

Let's say your project is "My Friend's Band" and you are going to shoot 3 concert dates, A, B, and C. You do shoot A, then return and using Prelude, ingest, log and copy all the clip's media to a hard drive directory (for example) Volume/My_Friends_Band_Media/Shoot A and then have Prelude send the logged clips info to your Premiere Pro project My Friend's Band. In the Project Panel, you can move all those clip into a bin labeled Shoot A. You can start your edit.

Now you go out to shoot event B. Since you still have all the shots from event A on your camera media,  when you return, you use Prelude to locate all the clips shot at event B and ingest, log and copy all those clips media to a hard drive (for example) Volume/My_Friends_Band_Media/Shoot B and, like before, then have Prelude Send the logged clip info into your Premiere Pro project My Friend's Band.  In the Project Panel, you can move all those clip into a bin labeled Shoot B. You can continue your edit.

Lastly, you go out to shoot event C and use the same method: You still have all the shots from event A and B on your camera media, so when you return, you use Prelude to locate all the clips shot at event C and ingest, log and copy all those clips media to a hard drive destination (for example) Volume/My_Friends_Band_Media/Shoot C and, like before, then have Prelude Send the logged clip info to your Premiere Pro project My Friend's Band.  In the Project Panel, you can move all those clip into a bin labeled Shoot C. You can now finish your edit.

You still have all the original camera files on the camera media, you have your files copied (correctly) onto a hard drive into three separate directory paths (correctly) and you have all your media appearing in your Premiere Project (correctly).

The only step I've left out is that you frequently  want to back up your media and project files on your computer to guard against hard drive failure.

MtD

[Girocast]

Thanks, yes, I always move my footage to my RAID before I edit.

[excited_Genie16B8]

There's only one right way to do this.  You'll need to find a way to make it happen.

1. Start all new projects with newly formatted cards.

[Girocast]

I have MTS Files shot on one date, and MTS files shot on another date, all mixed in together in the same Folder Structure.

If I remove the MTS files shot on one date, but leave the other MTS files shot on another date, and then import that folder structure via Media Browser into my Premier Pro project, will the remaining MTS files remaining in the Folder Structure assemble correctly in a sequence on the timeline without any gaps/hiccups?

[excited_Genie16B8]

1. Start all new projects with a newly formatted card.

2. Copy the full card over to the hard drive when you're done shooting.  Do not delete, move or rename anything in the PRIVATE folder.

Find a way, dude.

[Girocast]

Yes, I understand, for future shoots. But again, I've got tons of Folder Structures that are due for editing, and since they are all as described above, I'm trying to answer the question.

I guess no one really knows the answer to the basic Folder Structure question, so I'll do what I figured I'd have to do, spend a few hours experimenting to see for myself what happens.

Thanks anyway.