On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:28:36 -0800, Ichthyostega
Terje,
I'll respond by telling you how I solve these questions usually ---
As the manual states, the "session file" is really only comprised of text.
As long as you don't render and re-include the rendered (new) media files,
all your editing is "virtual".
The only real practical problem is to cope with the path to the source
media files, because saved literally within the session.
If the project is not too large, the solution to save the session (XML)
file alongside with the source media works just fine. But if the project
is larger and maybe even includes media from various external disks,
or is comprised of several session files using the same source material,
things are more complicated.
In the latter case, I use the "symbolic links" feature linux provides.
I allways acces my project via a very short assembly of symbolic links,
and thus am able to move and reorganize the real storage freely.
..........example
Now, maybe this seems overly complicated or even daunting at first sight,
it well pays of, /if the project is larger and more complicated/
If, on the other side, you have just 5 media files and one session, it is
best to put all in one folder.
Hermann,
Thank you for sharing this practical tip in details. As I haven't really
started to practice with Cinelerra yet, I had not thought of symlink
either. As I also have available a fast 3GHz Xeon 64 workstation (Dell
Precision 490) on my office, symlinks may be useful if I try to run the
final rendering and heavier effect operation on it. This can be made
possible using symlinks and by mounting my IEEE1394 portable hard disk
(source media) recorder or later also an external BD-burner/player.
Symlinks, yes, I used a similar metod for installation of the Medusa
Classic CAD system in the nineties on Solaris. Especially when
installing a new version and just temporary move the old version until
the new version worked, symlinks were useful, beside using them as
(Windows like) /shortcuts to longer paths as you also have shown for
Cinelerra. The only drawback I thought of was for a I/O intensive CAD
system, there maybe was a little decreased performance to pay for the
extended flexibility(?)
The "Media directory" in the Resources window is only a directory with
pointers.
It contains an entry for each media file you loaded, together with the
technical
data of this media file (frame rate, file type). The Rest of the
session just
references this media entry.
On my File menu, there are already listed a handful of my earlier opened
video source files. But initially I see nothing listed in the Media map
in the Resources window.
Where are these listed "video file pointers" possibly located and how to
reset the list when starting a new project?
If you are curious, I really recommend you the following: create a
*very simple*
session with just 1 video track and a single media file. drag the
media file to
the video track (to create a clip). Save it. Close Cinelerra and open the
Session.XML
Loaded one of my listed video files (dv02.dv). Then it arised
automatically on the time line and in the Media map in the Resources
window. Created a working directory (mkdir /home/terje/cin) and tried
File>Save as /home/terje/cin/cintest1_dv02
However, I couldn't find this file afterwards, just another "related"
file cin.xml in my home directory /home/terje. Shouldn't the first file
be created and why the latter?
I also tried just File>Save without any change.
Is the above mentioned "Session.XML" a fictive file name or the real
file name?
file with a text editor and look how it works (hint: search for the
path of the
media file). There is really no magic involved here.
In the top part of the session file, you will find the "Media directory"
represented
as
<FOLDER>Media</FOLDER>
<ASSETS>
<ASSET SRC="/proj/data/t1.mov">
...
...
cin.xml contained the real file path to where dv02.dv is located.
I started Cinelerra again. At first there was nothing on the timeline or
in the Media map. Tried File>Load Backup and the dv02 file arised on the
timeline and in the Media map.
and at the bottom, you will find the representation of the timeline.
> Is it neccessary to first drag all media clips into the Resources window
> to make them available for editing?
No, it's not necessary to drag anything. You need to have loaded all media
you plan to use once into the Media folder. Make sure you have the setting
"create new resources only" when opening the media files.
This just creates new media entries.
You can then open them by double click and review them in the viewer.
I'd advise to create some pre-selection there (by using the in- and
out-points)
and saving them as clips. (press button "i") These pre-cut clips will
show up
in the Clips folder. You can load them and refine them, and finally drag
the clips you want to the timeline...
hope this helps...
Hermann Vosseler
Yes, as seen above it helps a lot ;)
--------------
Terje J. Hanssen
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