Why I like Media Manager...

TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 11:02 AM
I know there have been more people scorn MM than not, but I have come to really appreciate it.

I do mostly event videos and I just finished a project that had about 2 hours of clips spanning 111 mts files. This is pretty typical for me.

Anyway, I find MM really useful for organizing clips for these projects before I begin putting them on the timeline. For these types of projects I create a project-specific library that is hardly ever used after the project is finished. I also have a "Resource" library where I keep things that are likely to be reused in future projects. The resource library is also organized by tags. I use this to pull in templates etc. for use in the project.

The only awkward part of this is I wish MM allowed me to open two (or more) libraries at the same time. I would like to have my project-specific library AND my resource library both open concurrently. It would also be useful if you could, from within MM, copy a clip from the project library to the resource library, but this would just be frosting on the cake.

I have submitted to SCS the suggestion to allow opening two libraries concurrently. Of course, if any of you have already figured a way to do this, I'd like to hear about it.

Jerry

Comments

Paul_Holmes wrote on 1/7/2010, 11:25 AM
I don't know about 2 libraries at once, but I tend to look at it like you. Every time I get a new computer or a new version of Vegas I tend to have problems accessing my old libraries (which are always in the same directory structure) so I just create new libraries. I guess the thing I like most is that I can simply click on a song or sound within Vegas and instantly preview it.

As far as categorizing, etc., I do that with directories since, as I said, I've never been able to "keep" my libraries from one computer or version to the next. (Something that may be completely my fault).

Paul
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 12:11 PM
Paul, if you are getting the "Cannot open Library" error, try copying the library within MM. I have had this problem several times and when I make a copy of the library (using Backup Library... in MM) I am always able to open it. This is a stupid bug that has been in MM from the beginning.

If, on the other hand it thinks your media is offline because it is in a different location, there is an even more arcane solution to this. Grazie posted the solution some time ago.

Jerry
farss wrote on 1/7/2010, 12:15 PM
"I do mostly event videos and I just finished a project that had about 2 hours of clips spanning 111 mts files'

I don't know what kind of events you're covering but I make a point of leaving the camera(s) in record when shooting events.

As for MM itself it'd be useful if it could be run on a backend server so that multiple machines could access the same database. At the moment its only function is to provide what should be provided by bins.

Bob.
Kit wrote on 1/7/2010, 12:23 PM
Hi, I don't get this. Don't you have to open a library in MM in order to make a back up of it? How can you copy a library using MM if you can't open it?

Thanks,

Kit,

Paul_Holmes wrote on 1/7/2010, 2:23 PM
As far as backing up the library, I think what you're saying is use the "Backup Media Library" menu item, go to the old library, then back it up without opening it. I'll have to try that next time.

Paul
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 3:47 PM
As far as backing up the library, I think what you're saying is use the "Backup Media Library" menu item, go to the old library, then back it up without opening it. I'll have to try that next time.

That is correct. Not very intuitive but every one I have had not open (maybe 5 or so) have worked after I use the backup function.

Jerry
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 4:04 PM
I don't know what kind of events you're covering but I make a point of leaving the camera(s) in record when shooting events

Bob, this event was typical of my assignments. It was a fundraiser with presentations on stage, a 5k run and walk, manned display booths, and interesting people walking around. I'm on sticks for the presentations, but then I'm mobile for all the rest. Lots of short clips for interviews and b-roll.

I have been 2nd shooter on an assignment where we were recording a stage performance and for that the camera stayed on.

As for MM itself it'd be useful if it could be run on a backend server so that multiple machines could access the same database. At the moment its only function is to provide what should be provided by bins.

Good point re backend server. I forget about that because I do all my editing on one PC.

Jerry
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 4:11 PM
I did just think of one wrinkle in my workflow. Not really a MM issue but... recently I have started making much more use of the trimmer. I like to drag a clip from MM to the trimmer, where I select the in and/or out points. Often, I would really like to be able to select the in point and then add the clip to the timeline as a take. Afaik, it isn't possible to add as a take from trimmer. Seems an oversight.

Jerry
rmack350 wrote on 1/7/2010, 4:34 PM
Well it does a bit more than just what a bin would do.

I've been capturing tapes from an ongoing contract job for the last 5-7 years. The shots are logged as we shoot and I go out of my way to import the logs and capture from them. Because of this all the clips have meaningful names taken from the logs.

I really don't do anything to the clips in MM. They're just listed in it even if they're offline. However, because it contains a list of all the clips and the clips have meaningful names, it's a few seconds worth of work to search for clips on a keyword and come up with a list of media.

This is with NO real effort on my part and maybe MM would be even more helpful if I was actually trying to use it effectively.

Or maybe it'd be worse :-)

I've probably got a couple of thousand clips registered in MM. On thing I wish it could tell me is what Veg files use the clips.

Rob
rmack350 wrote on 1/7/2010, 4:43 PM
There are LOTS of things that MM or a successor could do to make life easier. We've got a project going on here with 5 sets of hands on the wheel (none mine) and editing going on at several locations, so if MM ran on a server and could be connected to over a local network or the internet that'd be nice, but then the internet connection would probably be just asking for trouble.

This project is happening in FCP and media management is sounding like a problem for several reasons: FCP is too strict and some of the editors don't check to see where they're saving things. I'm not sure how an MM successor could help with this, maybe something more along the lines of SVN.

Rob
erikd wrote on 1/7/2010, 7:35 PM
I use MM for organizing music libraries and some video clips BUT... if Sony would only allow subclips in MM I would use it massively. Subclips, subclips, subclips. We need subclips in MM.

Erik
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 7:42 PM
I've probably got a couple of thousand clips registered in MM. On thing I wish it could tell me is what Veg files use the clips.

Agree. That is one of the requests I sent in to SCS. But I don't hold out much hope that MM will be enhanced further.

I think another enhancement that would be really nice (and that I've ranted about here before) is for MM to handle archival of projects. I would want to be able to find a clip in MM, see what vegs it is used in, and where the vegs are located. If the selected veg is archived, MM should be able to retrieve it.

Well, it's a good dream.

Jerry



TeetimeNC wrote on 1/7/2010, 7:45 PM
Subclips, subclips, subclips. We need subclips in MM.

Amen, amen, amen.

Jerry
ushere wrote on 1/7/2010, 7:47 PM
agree 150% with erikd, subclips!!!!

i tried mm ages ago, but i'm really not interested in having a 60min tape in the library when i really need 20 odd 10sec clips from it.
BittenByTheBug wrote on 1/7/2010, 8:32 PM
I just upgraded to Vegas Pro 9 two minutes ago. Media Manager is listed as optional install. I don't know if I will use it or not yet, but the question now is: should I even install it? Any harm installing it? -BBTB
rmack350 wrote on 1/7/2010, 9:18 PM
There was once a backup program that specifically dug into Media100 projects and then did backups to tape drives.

There's a lot of potential in something *like* MM but it might be better developed by a third party. The problem is that there's probably not much of a market.

Rob
ingvarai wrote on 1/7/2010, 10:52 PM
Where can I read about the media manager in Vegas? I haven't found any info on the SCS web site.
Ingvar
LoTN wrote on 1/7/2010, 11:25 PM
You can grab it here: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/updates/mediamanager

VASST offers an excerpt of their training DVD here: http://www.vasst.com/vegas-pro-+-dvd-architect/absolute-training-for-vegas+dvd-vol.-7.html


I use it very often. Yes it misses some features to be a very nice Vegas companion software. But on my side its major drawback is the memory leak in the thumbnail chooser. Wanna know how to crash Vegas with MM ? Just ask.
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/8/2010, 6:05 AM
Where can I read about the media manager in Vegas? I haven't found any info on the SCS web site.

Ingvar, chapter 3 of the Vegas 9 manual (pdf) covers MM.

Jerry
Kit wrote on 1/8/2010, 4:22 PM
Hello, would you walk me through the exact steps, please. I cannot see how to backup a library unless it is already open.

Thanks,

Kit

PS. In my experience when a library won't open you need to look at the individual security permissions for the file. Just yesterday I couldn't even copy a library file using a full admin account because it didn't have the right permissions attached to it.
TeetimeNC wrote on 1/8/2010, 8:18 PM
Kit, hmm... I appologize for my misinformation. What I actually do is right click on the media library file and select copy. Basically all this is doing is making Windows copy of the file. You can do this from the Open Library dialog in MM, or just use Explorer.

I have no idea why this has worked, and it might not for everyone. But so far for me, I've been able to save every "fail to open" library this way.

Jerry
Kit wrote on 1/9/2010, 2:12 AM
Hi, no problem - I often use Open Dialogues as an opportunity to do a little housekeeping - file renaming and deleting. I'll remember your tip next time I get a library that MM refuses to open.

Cheers,

Kit