Query and Sort by video clip/AVI/phots file name?

[symp4devil]

I have finished capturing the video footage (1200 GB) and am in the process of scanning photos. The goal is to put together DVDs for family and friends. Do you know of a utility that will allow you to go out and get the files based on the name of the file?

For example, if I name each video or photo file something like Victor, School, Block Party, Marie, Music….is there a way that I could search by name and load those into VS without having to do it manually?

Any suggestions on how to efficiently handle large quantities of files will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[LGO]

I just finished a 48 Hour Film competition. With two cameras running, we had 143 film clips to choose from for the editing. The clips were sorted into separate folders with the folder name describing the tape (i.e. - Camera1-Tape2).

After reviewing each clip - using Windows Exlporer and Windows Media Player - the scene name and which "take" number were added to the first part of each clip's file name (i.e. - Sc1-T2). Of course, all of that was done outside of Video Studio and took a bit of time to do for I also "culled" the clips we would not use. However, it made editing incredibly easier and faster.

I made a different project for each scene, and a final project that incorporated all the scene projects. When I started Scene 1, I was able to insert into the time line all the "Sc1" clips from all the folders in less than a minute by simply using the title bar FILE, INSERT MEDIA FILE INTO TIMELINE.

I didn't use the VS "library" capabilities, partly because our team had several people working on the project (each using different editing programs) simultaneously and we all had to share the same source material. When you have 48 hours to write, produce, shoot, and edit a 4 to 7 minute film you sometimes have to go unconventional!

The other part of the reason is that I've never been happy with the way VS makes the library work and find my technique easier and less cluttered.

To each their own . . .

[Ken Berry]

1200 GB of video for one project??? What on earth did you capture from and using what format???

[symp4devil]

1.2 TB.....I transfered all my 8 and Hi8 analog footage into the DV format. It is for multiple projects. Some footage for friends, some for family, and a few for a graduation project. I'm going to go through and tagging all the scenes so I only have to go through them once as I do each project.
So any help in doing this the best way up front greatly appreciated (to avoid wasting time or re-doing the process). And that is why I'm asking if there is a way to say, "gimme every video clip with the name 'soccer' in it", and VS or some other program would go out to the several folders and files and pull in every clip with soccer in the title.

Another question....when I attach my Canon HV10 via firewire and go to capture footage recorded on HDV the only capture option given to me for format is MPEG. Shouldn't I be able to capture in DV? (I'm using VS 11.5+)

Thanks

[Ken Berry]

I have a HV20, and to get the download to DV format standard definition (and LFF), I have to make a change in the camera's Menu... So you need to look at your camera Manual for that. I imagine there would be no significant difference between out cameras in that regard.

I can certainly see advantages in that if you are intending to include footage from your HV10 in the project(s) since downloading in HDV format will give you UFF video. And of course you can't mix UFF and LFF video in the same project.

I am afraid I cannot help on your main question since I don't think there is any capacity in VS to do that. Heck, one of our main complaints about VS for years has been its crazy and rather primitive file naming system. There may be a third party program that can do it, but I don't know which one. Hopefully others may have more constructive information!

[symp4devil]

Are there a different types of firewire cables? Is there one made specifically for DV or are all firewire cables capable of transferring digital video?
When I have the firewire cable plugged into the Canon camcorder the output options for Playback and DV Output become grayed out. When I unplug the firewire cable from the camcorder the two options mentioned become active....leading me to believe the cable will not allow DV transfer.

Thanks

[Ken Berry]

Firewire was developed as a transport medium for video, so yes, all firewire cables are capable of transferring video. You can even set VS to capture SD mpeg-2 from a mini DV camera, though we don't normally recommend it. And more recently, of course, the HDV camera came along using mini DV cassettes, and it was decided that the same capture means -- firewire -- would be used to minimise disruption to users who already had firewire cards and cables.

There are of course different size plugs (4 pin and 6 pin) but that makes no difference to the transfer of video as long as there are firewire jacks of the right size at either end! Some people say that there are different quality cables -- for instance that the shield cables might be better than simple plastic coated ones. I have a wide variety of them, from 1 metre to 10 metres in length, 4 pin to 4 pin 4 to 6 and 6 to 6. And I have never had any trouble with any of them -- though maybe I am just lucky!

Have you tried adjusting your camera's Menu to DV OUT? What does the camera manual say about that? If you have change the camera output format, is that when the DV/Playback options are greyed out? If so, then I am not sure what to suggest apart from varying your connection schedule (first connect the camera via firewire to the computer, then open VS, then switch the camera to PLAY; or vice versa -- connect the camera and switch it to PLAY and then open VS. Or even connect your camera, switch it on, then reboot, then open VS...

But if you haven't set your camera for DV download, that option would be greyed out and you would only get the HDV/mpeg-2 option.

Then again, it could be you are unlucky and have a defective cable...

[Black Lab]

As Ken stated there is no way for VS to "search" for files with particular names in them. But to make your life a little easier you should use the Library Manager to make separate libraries for your projects. One for family, one for graduation, etc. Then import the thumbnails into the approriate libraries.