Michael Guncheon

Q: Using Check Out / Check In to update poster frames

Aside from the added load to Final Cut Server is there any downside to using Check Out to update poster frames? (our load isn't too great)

 

In our workflow, most times the QTs that are uploaded are well represented by the automatic choice for the thumbnails/poster images. But there are times when it would be useful to tweak it a bit. While the asset could be deleted and re-uploaded, in our workflow, a lot of keywording and additional metadata has already been created.

 

If we use Check Out -> use QTPlayer 7 to set poster frame -> save -> Check In, it seems like it should do the trick.

 

1. It makes a local copy of the Primary Representation at the original format (no transcoding)

2. When it is checked in the original asset (Primary Representation) is replaced (we don't use versioning)

3. New Thumbnails, Poster Frames and Clip Proxies are generated (old ones are erased)

4. User needs to delete the local Primary Representation

 

Are there any wrong assumptions?

Posted on Apr 20, 2011 9:23 AM

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Q: Using Check Out / Check In to update poster frames

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Alejandro Grigera,

    Alejandro Grigera Alejandro Grigera May 3, 2011 9:41 AM in response to Michael Guncheon
    Level 1 (55 points)
    May 3, 2011 9:41 AM in response to Michael Guncheon

    1) You want to use/generate several different poster frames for a single asset within FCS?

    2) "use QTPlayer 7 to set poster frame" what do you mean by this?

    3) "New Thumbnails, Poster Frames and Clip Proxies are generated (old ones are erased)" yes but the frame that FCS uses to make the poster frame and thumbnail is always the same (ie 200) so unless you are changing the primary rep. you'll always get the same poster. Changing the primary representation to generate a new poster frame is not a very good idea and it takes a lot of time.

    Please respond to this post if you need any ideas on how to do this without check in/out.

     

    Best regards

  • by Michael Guncheon,

    Michael Guncheon Michael Guncheon May 3, 2011 10:13 AM in response to Alejandro Grigera
    Level 1 (35 points)
    May 3, 2011 10:13 AM in response to Alejandro Grigera

    1.) I just want to regenerate the poster frame. (just a single poster frame.

     

    The reason: users submit a finished spot and the representative poster frame might be black if they submit a spot with a slate.

     

    2.) But if they take the time to open up the clip in QT7, move the playhead to a representative frame and then "set poster frame" (in the view menu) then save the file and submit, then FCSrv uses the set poster frame instead of the 200th frame.

     

    So if a user forgets to set a useful poster frame there is a good chance that the thumbnails won't make sense. I was trying to figure out the best way to correct it. If I knew where the clip is on the device I can just do it (open in QT7...) on the server, but I was looking for a less risky way of doing it.

  • by Alejandro Grigera,Helpful

    Alejandro Grigera Alejandro Grigera May 3, 2011 11:51 AM in response to Michael Guncheon
    Level 1 (55 points)
    May 3, 2011 11:51 AM in response to Michael Guncheon

    Great I didn't know about QT7 option. Like you said if they have the time to open the clip in QT7 but the question is how big are the clips? Where are the clips located and the mac/pc running QT7?? Do you open the files from a machine connected to the same Xsan of the FCS or you have to transfer the files via Ethernet to the local machine? Unless you have an Xsan all that takes time and bandwidth.

    I have a much more complicated workflow that requires the users to select often more then one image from a clip and replace the thumbnail and poster frame in FCS, the problem is that they want to be able select the exact frame they want. Using scripts you can make this possible within FCS without moving any file.

     

    Best regards

  • by Michael Guncheon,

    Michael Guncheon Michael Guncheon May 3, 2011 2:28 PM in response to Alejandro Grigera
    Level 1 (35 points)
    May 3, 2011 2:28 PM in response to Alejandro Grigera

    We the big thing is to get people to do it in the first place (and most do). Files are 1 to 4 GB or more depending on length.

     

    All the machines have QT7 on them because of how broken QTX is.

     

    I have also played around with VNC into the server and doing it there. (I'm not talking hundreds of files to do this on.)

     

    Your script method sounds interesting.

  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB May 22, 2011 11:21 AM in response to Michael Guncheon
    Level 6 (10,016 points)
    Audio
    May 22, 2011 11:21 AM in response to Michael Guncheon

    QTX is broken?  No it isn't.  It's not QT 7 Pro, but it's also not broken.  It's a very different app.  Wait for Lion, as QTX operates on a whole new framework from QT 7.  Apple will kill of 7 when QTX goes Pro, and it'll be a totally different app.  At present, it's not broken in any way shape or form.

  • by serverup,

    serverup serverup May 22, 2011 7:16 PM in response to BenB
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2011 7:16 PM in response to BenB

    I disagree. Apple replaced QT player 7 with QT player X. They replaced QT7 with QTX.

     

    Do the following with QT player X:

     

    1.) Set a poster frame

    2.) Export the audio to an AIFF, Wave

    3.) Export to FLV, Image Sequence, AVI etc.

    4.) Cut

    5.) Paste

     

    I think the phrase "Wait for Lion" says it all.

  • by Chris Summers,Solvedanswer

    Chris Summers Chris Summers Jun 2, 2011 11:03 AM in response to Michael Guncheon
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Jun 2, 2011 11:03 AM in response to Michael Guncheon

    An even easier (but riskier) way is to view Primary Representaion (with QuickTime Pro 7) and set your new poster frame, and hit Save in QuickTime. BAM! You've just set a new poster frame on the original clip. If the thumbnails don't update, reprocess. Easy. No checking in - checking out required.

     

    WARNING. you will be editing the primary representation. any trims, edits deletions cannot be undone later as in the version feature of Check In / Check Out.

  • by Michael Guncheon,

    Michael Guncheon Michael Guncheon Jun 2, 2011 11:16 AM in response to Chris Summers
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jun 2, 2011 11:16 AM in response to Chris Summers

    Go idea (with very appropriate warnings). I just stumbled on that when I had to move some assets into a different metadata group/set.

     

    Thanks

  • by Chris Summers,

    Chris Summers Chris Summers Jun 2, 2011 11:22 AM in response to Michael Guncheon
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Jun 2, 2011 11:22 AM in response to Michael Guncheon

    Absolute pleasure Michael, thank you. (i found it in a bout of let's see what I can do to topple this system)

  • by nylonoxygen77,

    nylonoxygen77 nylonoxygen77 Jun 22, 2011 8:52 AM in response to Chris Summers
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Jun 22, 2011 8:52 AM in response to Chris Summers

    I will second (or third) the caution about editing the primary representation. I have had two potential problems with setting poster frames using QTP7. I can't find any rhyme or reason to it, other than I believe every time these have happened, the primary rep is located on an AFP device and the codec (I think) is ProRes 422. I've had situations where editors will batch export 8 movies from FCP to ProRes 422, and 2 of the movies exhibited problem 1 below, 2 exhibited problem 2, and the rest were fine.

     

    1) You open the PR, set the poster frame, and save the file. The file becomes corrupt, not able to be opened in QTPro, FCP, or any other application. Try recovering the file using a movie recovery tool, and you get some of the audio back, but no video.

    2) You open the PR, set the poster frame, and try to save, but QT won't let you save. It just gives you the system error tone, no explanation. It's as if the user doesn't have write permission on the file, even though he does.

     

    What always works, though, is to open the PR, set the poster frame (don't forget to press Rewind to Top it so it plays from the beginning next time it's opened). Then Save As... to a self-contained movie, naming the file something else. Once the save is done, replace the original with the poster framed version. Go back to FCSvr and "Regenerate All Proxies" on that asset.  Only the admin can do this.  This is a huge pain, but it's the only reliable way for us to do it. Just be careful when editing your Primary Reps.