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Q: add to cache or export

the way I have been getting files out of FCS is by right clicking and choosing ADD TO CACHE. We usually deal with 6 minute video clips so in a minute, you get the dot and you are ready to drag the file to your desktop.

I have been told at work that this method messes things up and we need to export the other way by choosing export. Is one way better that another. Thanks for any insight.

MBP17, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 23, 2010 3:04 PM

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Q: add to cache or export

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  • by A. Richards,

    A. Richards A. Richards Nov 24, 2010 7:51 PM in response to FCPeditor
    Level 3 (625 points)
    Nov 24, 2010 7:51 PM in response to FCPeditor
    "Add to Cache" downloads the original media to FCSvr's local cache on your client for drag-and-drop use from the FCSvr client. "Export" lets you direct where the download goes on your local machine and gives you the option of renaming the output file and/or transcoding it to one of the available transcode settings.

    What are you doing with the files after downloading them?
  • by FCPeditor,

    FCPeditor FCPeditor Nov 25, 2010 3:15 AM in response to A. Richards
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 25, 2010 3:15 AM in response to A. Richards
    The way we work at my workplace is the audio editor gets the HD MXF video file from our Final Cut Server to his local Mac computer. I have been using the add to cache method from day 1. Thanks to the Calibrated plugin, we simply drag the .mxf file right from the desktop to the Nuendo timeline and viola, HD video right in your audio app. Simple. Our projects are usually 5 minutes long, 1.6 gig video files. When the audio is mixed, we export a final mix, then marry the .mxf and the mix in Final Cut, then upload this "air master" version back up to FCS.

    We were told by the proverbial guru geek at work that using add to cache messes things up...............it messes things up......................well what I just explained works for me as we dont need to rename or transcode.
  • by A. Richards,

    A. Richards A. Richards Nov 25, 2010 6:56 PM in response to FCPeditor
    Level 3 (625 points)
    Nov 25, 2010 6:56 PM in response to FCPeditor
    I'm not sure what it would be messing up. You are not round tripping the original media, only downloading it a particular way. If you were checking out the media, then I'd advise against it. But caching it doesn't affect what is on the server, it just copies the original media to your local client. Ask your guru what specifically he is worried about.
  • by John F. Whitehead,

    John F. Whitehead John F. Whitehead Nov 26, 2010 8:28 PM in response to A. Richards
    Level 2 (380 points)
    Nov 26, 2010 8:28 PM in response to A. Richards
    I don't know about it messing things up, but it may be creating an extra step.

    I.e., why copy it to your machine first if it really only needs to go from the server to the audio guy? It creates an extra download & upload on the network.

    I'd set up a subscription to automatically send the file straight from the server to his computer.

    The "best" (but not cheapest) solution would be to have the file on an edit-in-place device, like Xsan, so he could access it without having to copy anything anywhere.
  • by FCPeditor,

    FCPeditor FCPeditor Nov 27, 2010 4:15 AM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 27, 2010 4:15 AM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Mr Whitehead, you have got my attention. I love your idea but dont understand what it means.

    1) what is a subscription and how does it work?
    2) we have an Xsan, I thought Apple killed that recently but how would that work if we still have ours.

    thanks for these great enlightening ideas. I am all for less clicking and definitely less downloading and up loading.............we do that all day long everyday.
  • by John F. Whitehead,

    John F. Whitehead John F. Whitehead Nov 27, 2010 8:39 PM in response to FCPeditor
    Level 2 (380 points)
    Nov 27, 2010 8:39 PM in response to FCPeditor
    1) Generally, a subscription monitors changes to metadata, and triggers a response as a result. (I could attempt to explain it in greater detail, but instead I'll refer you to the dozens of pages on it in the help menu documentation, also online at <http://documentation.apple.com>, and in the Peachpit book.)

    2) Apple did not kill Xsan (though next year Apple will kill the Xserve, the server hardware that often is used to manage Xsan). If you're using Xsan it means anyone connected via FibreChannel does not have to copy files to their computer, they can view them directly on the FC device without downloading.
  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB Dec 1, 2010 8:21 AM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Level 6 (10,041 points)
    Audio
    Dec 1, 2010 8:21 AM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Another way to think about it, Add To Cache means FCSvr is expecting that file to be uploaded again into it's catalog. Export makes a copy the FCSvr does not track at all, and expects that if you do upload it, it will be a whole new asset it's never seen before.

    The Peachpit book "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Server 1.5" is a great reference, and a great help in learning to understand FCSvr in more detail. It's a pretty easy system to learn.
  • by carlosr2,

    carlosr2 carlosr2 Dec 5, 2010 9:56 AM in response to BenB
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2010 9:56 AM in response to BenB
    BenB wrote:
    The Peachpit book "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Server 1.5" is a great reference, and a great help in learning to understand FCSvr in more detail. It's a pretty easy system to learn.


    I was really surprised when received this book. I expected many more info, tips and techniques. It seems too similar to the original Apple Manual.
    In fact, this book contains 271 pages when the three Apple guides (FCSvr Administrator Guide, FCSvr Setup Guide and FCSvr User Manual) have a total of 375 pages.
    Cheers
  • by John F. Whitehead,

    John F. Whitehead John F. Whitehead Dec 5, 2010 12:35 PM in response to carlosr2
    Level 2 (380 points)
    Dec 5, 2010 12:35 PM in response to carlosr2
    That might be nice, but after all it is called "Training" and not "Advanced Administration" or anything like that...

    Like other Apple Pro Training Series books, it is designed to teach students the basics and prepare them for the exam.
  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB Dec 5, 2010 4:27 PM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Level 6 (10,041 points)
    Audio
    Dec 5, 2010 4:27 PM in response to John F. Whitehead
    Truth is, that book has everything you need to know to use and customize FCSvr in it. If you're looking for more, you're looking for a babysitter. After doing that book, you know everything there is to know about FCSvr, and are able to customize it to your hearts content, period. If you're looking for something more, the truth is, there is nothing more. That's how simple and easy FCSvr is, period. I simply does not get any more "advanced" than that book. Unless you really do need a babysitter. That is the simple fact of FCSvr life.

    Same as the original book? Not by a long shot! This one makes learning FCSvr much easier! The original book was a MESS! This one has formulas in it, shows you about everything you need to know to be able to move forward.

    You're both looking for babysitters, and such does not exist. It's a wonderful book, I teach it weekly all over the country, and my students and clients love it, learn it, and do amazing things with FCSvr after going through it. Fact.