Replace instances of a source file in timeline with a new source media using the same timecodes

[MHoecker]

I'm wondering if there's a way to correctly replace seceral clips of footage in the timeline using the same timecodes in the replacement media as the current media in the timeline.

Here's my scenario: I have an intro animation.  I have chopped little sections of this animation up and sped those sections up so that that key points in the animation hit the beat of the music correctly.  Probably 20 little sections total between normally timed, and sped up sections, and now the animation lines up with the music.  Great!

I have the exact same animation file, except it's in Spanish and I need to replace all the English animation clips with the Spanish ones, but keep all the timing adjustments.  Right clicking the animation and selecting "Replace with" bin or source clip doesn't work as it just replaces each section with the clip starting over at the beginning and "match frame" would be what I expect to work, but it usually gives me an error about not enough media, or uses the wrong part.

Of course, in this scenario I could just "replace footage" and use the spanish animation, however my English project now also has the Spanish version as I've replaced the footage in the entire project.

So, now what I have to do is copy the English animation sequence, create a new project, paste that sequence.  Replace footage in the new project, and then copy and paste it back to my original project.

So, I'm wondering if there is a shorter way to do this that I'm not thinking of.  It would also be nice, if the footage isn't the exact same length, to be able to set a start frame in the source panel and have it continue to replace using the timecodes, offset by your start point in the source panel, if that makes sense.

Something like, "replace from source, match timecodes."

Or maybe I'm using the "match frame" option incorrectly, and this is what it does when set correctly?  Thanks!

[John V Knowles · Accepted solution]

Duplicate your project, and save the new version as "_Spanish" to differentiate it. In that project, right click on the English animation file and "make offline." Then right click again and select "Link Media." In the next window, make sure "Display exact name matches" is OFF. Navigate to the Spanish animation and select it. That should replace very instance of the English version with the Spanish version while retaining all of the animation/retiming work you did – provided the timecode in both versions is an exact match.

JVK

[MHoecker]

That's what I ended up having to do.  I wish there was a way to do it more simply, I would use this a fair bit, but hey, it works!

[Joolsey1973]

I stumbled on this issue and have by fluke found a short cut. If you Alt-Shift drag on to clip that works. The exact timings work. 

[Davomat]

THANK YOU!!! this is amazing!

[benjaminben]

Should be the accepted answer, thank you for this

[JeanneJeanne]

OMG i've been looking everywhere for months for this thank you!!! You just saved me from a biug headache

[bryana89581678]

yes, this is the answer for me! why couldnt this be in the menu selection??

[pacoans]

God bless you

[Nina389403951rae]

thank you!!!

[MitchJCW]

Not sure if it helps but you can try nesting your English animation clip and then work on your speed up and so on the nested clip. So if you want to change your animation to Spanish, just duplicate the nested English animation and change it's content to Spanish. That way you should be able to Alt-Drag the Spanish nested clip to replace the English nested while retaining its speed up and so on. Hope it's clear. 

[MitchJCW]

Update ; 

Just found out the actual shortcut keys to replace media while preserving its in and out point. Shift + Alt and drag the clip to media. However, it will be quite a pain in your instance because you will have to replace each chop-out section one at a time.