Can't add trailing backslash to %s_original_path%

[davep]

Hey all - first time posting here, glad to have come across this fantastic tool!

I'm working on using FFAStrans to create proxies for Avid that can then be relinked back to the master footage for an online edit.

To be able to relink, I'd like to have the original file path in the proxy metadata - FFAStrans does this, but doesn't include a trailing backslash. For Avid Media Composer to use Relink, it needs the file paths to match - but Avid linked files have a trailing backslash, so it doesn't relink.

The problem I'm having is in getting FFAStrans to add a backslash at the end of the %s_original_path% variable. I've tried adding a backslash to Tape name field in the DNxHD encoder, and I've also tried it in the Populate variables module, but whenever I do this, no files end up in my destination folder. It converts them - I can watch the status monitor, but then it never makes the MXF files and never moves them to my folder...

Does that make any sense? ...Does anyone have an idea of what I might be missing/something not working quite right? I've attached a screenshot to show the difference in Avid's Source Path vs FFAStrans' generated Tape field ...

tape-vs-source-path.png (3.26 KiB) Viewed 11603 times

Or if anyone has an easier way to relink to camera masters, I'm all ears! Thanks,
Dave

[momocampo]

Hello,
No problem for help but I think we need to know what is your workflow: Can you export us your FFastrans workflow please?
Other way ;
1/ in Avid, link your master footages in a bin A
2/ copy your final sequence in the bin A
3/ select all (footages + sequence)
4/ Right click "relink"
5/ Select "selected items in all open bins"
You have a new sequence linked with your original footage.

Cheers.

Benjamin

[davep]

Thanks for the speedy response - I've attached my workflow, very simple.

test1.xml

(7.87 KiB) Downloaded 460 times

Your method was originally what I was going to use, but I'm trying to make it foolproof in that, if a user has two clips with the same name (eg MOV0001) which came from a different camera's memory card, then it knows which one to link to. Of course, it's a bad idea to not have unique filenames throughout a project, but I'm planning to use this workflow for other clients that might not be so careful.

Which relinking settings were you using for that workflow might I ask?

[momocampo]

Hi,
Ok, what I saw it's a simple workflow which deliver 1080p25 (DnxHD36) atom mxf (your proxies I think). But if you create atom mxf, you MUST deliver in avidmediafiles folder so I don't understand your first screenshot...
If you create atom files for proxies and you want to relink "linked" original footages, you must use the method I gave you in previous post. Or import your original footages and use relink menu in avid media composer.
Or I don't understand at all tour ask lol

Cheers.

Benjamin

[davep]

Hi Benjamin,

Yeh it's a pretty simple workflow - and yes I'm putting the atom MXFs into the MediaFiles folder and that works fine (that's the second item in my screenshot in the post above - the Tape field is generated from FFAStrans). The issue is, when I drag in the original footage into a bin, the Source Path of the master linked footage doesn't match the Source Path generated by FFAStrans, so if I try to link by those fields in the relink window, it doesn't work...hmmm

[momocampo]

Hey,
Ok so it's I said, you want to relink a "link" file so you have to relink with the first method I gave you. I think you can't relink with "classic" method because you don't "aim" a classic avid mediafiles folder.
You can see here : http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_U ... media-file
Let's try and you will succeed to relink on your original footages link files.
Cheers.

B.

[davep]

Thanks - yes that method in the article works - I was just hoping to avoid having to rename any files in the process to speed things up, but that seems to be the best method. Still, my original query stands, regarding FFAStrans not handling backslashes properly I think? Thanks for your help!

[admin]

Hi davep, thank you for using FFAStrans and welcome to the forum!

Adding a backslash should work and so I'm going to investigate the issue. Thanks for reporting

-steinar

[admin]

Ok, I seem to have found the issue. This is not FFAStrans fault but the BMX wrapper that deals poorly with this particular scenario. However, it seems that adding a double backslash might solve it: "%s_original_path%\\". Please try that and report back.

-steinar

[davep]

Amazing - yes that worked! Thanks

Although, it seems it doesn't even take the clip name into account when you use Source Path and Tape Name to relink - it just chose any video from that folder. But, the FFAStrans / BMX part of if worked perfectly

Strangely, when I have Avid set to use "Source file name" in the AIS Metadata tab when Linking the master clips, it doesn't populate the Labroll field with anything.....I'll get onto Avid and see what happens...!