.sfk and non-destructive work

arash-khodabandeh wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:12 AM

Hi,

2 questions for the experienced users

Can I safely add a media to a project directly from its original location or should I duplicate the media I want to use in a project in a dedicated folder? I ask this in case VMS may alter the original media file.

Associated to this, what are the .sfk files that are added next to each media used in a project? As I see VMS adding files to the original media location folder, I wonder if it may also at some point touch the media itself.

Many thanks for any information.

Comments

vkmast wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:32 AM

The old SCS KB: "Non-destructive editing allows your original captured media to remain unedited, while the media is manipulated on the Audio or Video timeline."

Or Steve Mann's Vegas tips ( now only on web.archive.org): "When you drag a clip in the Project Media to the Vegas Timeline, you are creating an EVENT. The Event is a pointer to the media clip. You can do anything you want to the event and the clip in the Project Media is untouched. This is the basis of non-destructive editing – you cannot edit, damage or modify the original media clip."

From online Help (F1) on .sfk files: "Peak Data File:The file created by Movie Studio Platinum when a file is opened for the first time. This file stores the information regarding the graphic display of the waveform so that opening a file is almost instantaneous in direct edit mode. This file is stored in the directory that the file resides in and has a .sfk extension. If this file is not in the same directory as the file, or is deleted, it will be recalculated the next time you open the file in direct mode."

 

arash-khodabandeh wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:34 AM

Thank you @vkmast !

Musicvid wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:45 AM

1. Vegas cannot alter your source files, it can only create new files. All that is decoded into memory is a COPY of your source. Interestingly, saved revisions of your source (same filename, 2nd editor) show up automatically as new takes if the source event is open on the timeline.

It is possible, but only if you've had too much beer, to blindly delete a file from inside Project Media, but most of us learn pretty quickly.

When you save your project, there's a button to save a copy of project media in a folder along with the project files.

The.sfk are little image files showing the audio wave form. You can delete them, but will take a while to rebuild next time you open your project.

Musicvid wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:53 AM

@vkmast

jeez, I am getting slow at this!

arash-khodabandeh wrote on 1/20/2018, 10:59 AM

Thanks @Musicvid !

vkmast wrote on 1/20/2018, 11:19 AM

@Musicvid still prompt as ever 👍😎