Footage from different folders with the same name

[thsc.at]

I have the following problem:

i have a rather large project that takes footage from different folders/subfolders, which sometimes havbe the same name

Clips from FOLDER_A/SUBFOLDER_1

Clips from FOLDER_B/SUBFOLDER_2

everathing is fine BUT

as soon as i move the files to a different HDD for example (or in this case onto the new NAS)

i have to tell premiere the new folders for the now missing files

the problem:

as soon as i tell premiere the FOLDER_A/SUBFOLER_1

it automatically "finds" all the other files that were in FOLDER_B/SUBFOLDER_1 and replaces them with the files form FOLDER_A/SUBFOLDER_1

this is ATROCIOUS!

i'm talking about something like 500-1000 clips

and i also can't find a way to replace multiple files or anything like it

is there any chance for help?

or do i have to spend a whole day replacing hundreds of clips one by one?

thanks in advance

thomas

[Richard van den Boogaard]

It's probably not so much the folder structure that is the source of your problem, but what's in them.

I assume you have multiple files with identical names - e.g. 00001.mp4 (or whatever).

I have learned the hard way that it is necessary do some housekeeping before starting your edit. Storing the files in appropriate folder structures is indeed a good start, but it's only part of the process. You need to make your files unique, so that PPro can only associate it in a single way.

If the files coming out of the camera are called 00001.mts etc., I use a renaming tool (such as Total Commander, Adobe Bridge or Adobe Prelude) to rename the source file using the following syntax:

- YYMMDD_CAM_FILENAME.EXT

000001.mts then becomes 20190925_C100_000001.mts. If PPro ever needs to relink the footage, it will only find a match on that unique name.

This may not help you in your current project, but please, please adopt this workflow for your future work!

[thsc.at]

thanks. that is of course a way to go. and i my implement it in the future.

[thsc.at]

but as said, it doesn't help my current project.

[Richard van den Boogaard]

I am truly sorry that it does not. I know this from prior experience...

[Averdahl]

Do you have the clips from FOLDER_A/SUBFOLDER_1 and FOLDER_B/SUBFOLDER_2 in the same Bin in Premiere Pro?

I always use dedicated Bins in Premiere Pro for each imported folder, such as Bin 1 for FOLDER_A/SUBFOLDER_1 and Bin 2 for FOLDER_B/SUBFOLDER_2. So if i let´s say open a project with AVCHD files i always open the project and select Offline All and then link up one Bin at a time by right clicking on Bin 1 and choose Link Media and then locate the footage, right clicking the next bin etc, etc. By doing this it is possible to force Premiere Pro to link the correct footage when using media that share the very same file name.

Having dedicated Bins for each folder will minimize the risk for linking the wrong footage to the correct Bin and vice versa.

Renaming AVCHD footage or any footage from any memory card based camera can be a disaster as well if you have longer clips, such as 30 min takes. Renaming those clips will confuse Premiere Pro since it will not span spanned clips. 30 min takes are just an example, some cameras start to span clips after 3-4 minutes.

[SAFEHARBOR11]

How are you importing the clips from the SD cards to start with? That could be the root of the issue. Very important to copy ENTIRE contents of each SD card to a unique folder on your hard drive. Then in Premiere, only import using Media Browser and not File > Import. In the future, I think this will be very beneficial to your workflow

[thsc.at]

hmm.. i use unique Folders for all the cards (it that's what you mean with bins)

[thsc.at]

but using Offline All and then relinking them sounds interesting - i will have to check that! thanks

[Averdahl]

thsc_at, with Bin i do not mean folders on the hard drive. Bin is "folders" inside Premiere Pro and has nothing to do with folders on the hard drive. See more here: https://helpx.adobe.com/se/premiere-pro/using/organizing-assets-project-panel.html

[thsc.at]

yea sure - that's what i meant - i also have the folder structure within premiere for each shootingday/card