Synchronized clips show diagonal lines error

For those coming to this thread with the same issue, I wrote this FAQ: FAQ: What do I do when I see diagonal lines on clip(s) after moving media?

Please give me feedback on that page, if you have any.

Kevin

JoeP,

Sorry for this anomaly.

Synchronized clips show 'broken master clip' diagonal lines error when Premiere project folder is transferred from Macbook Pro to external hard drive, then opened on that hard drive (or new computer)

It sounds like the clips are not carrying essential metadata from one machine to the next. My experience is that this can and should work very simply for standalone clips that are imported via File > Import or by dragging into the Project panel, or a bin inside the Project Panel. Is that how you originally imported your media?

If the clip came from a series of separate folders of metadata along with it captured by the camera during the shoot, then that metadata definitely needs to be ingested along with the file. The only way you should handle clips of that nature is to import them via Media Browser and not File > Import or by dragging into a bin. It is the only way to ensure that the metadata is attached to the clip.

If the metadata is not taken in (let's say you just cherry picked the clips from one of the folders copied from the camera), then Premiere Pro may have some trouble discerning clips from one another if they are moved from one system or hard drive to the next—especially if they have have the same name, and have similar timecode values. Does this sound familiar or were the clips standalone QuickTime or MXF wrapped clips?

Without a doubt, embedded camera metadata is required for proper clip handling for certain kinds of media, especially when moving this data across multiple computer systems. If clips do not have their required metadata in the new system, you see problems like this.

With that said, what is the original format you shot with? Does the original CF card on your camera have metadata folders associated with the clips? Did you copy the entire contents of the CF card, and then import via Media Browser to ensure metadata was transferred (a standard File > Import process will not transfer metadata, even if you copied it over from your camera).

Let us know what you recall from the import process and the camera's format so that we can tell what happened during that time. As far as "fixing" the issue, I don't think there is a better way other than following Warren's steps on the post you linked to. You might have to manually relink certain amount of these clips to make sure that your cut is intact and with the right media.

We have been seeing this issue more frequently as of late because of the proliferation of camcorders that shoot highly compressed formats, like AVCHD or XAVC, has increased - while knowledge of how to handle the media coming from these cameras is not common knowledge and non-intuitive.

If you think that this workflow could be improved, or you feel there is a bug in this process, please give the team feedback here. For any questions or further comments, please feel free to leave them here and someone from the community or our staff will answer you: Premiere Pro: Hot (4382 ideas) – Adobe video & audio apps

Kind Regards,

Kevin

As a guess, you have some cache or cache database file for the project not included in the move. Somewhere it's storing some information  that isn't being transferred.

Neil