Clip Storage

[GeorgeMadison]

What's the best way to keep clips organized to find them easily when editing? I used to just use Imovie and when I uploaded clips some would automatically go in imovie and the rest would be in Photos so that was pretty easy.

Now I'm learning how to use DaVinci Resolve. Should I just make a folder on my computer where I store them? That seems like it would be the best way with Resolve. Also when you like plug in a camera or gopro does it automatically go somewhere on your computer? I used to have them just go to photos so I honestly have not really used actual files on my computer that much.

Also what about google drive? it seems like that is the best way to share clips if other people have them or you filmed them etc. Could I just use that? Or would it be a pain to transfer from there into resolve?

 

[eheath]

Its all personal preference really, I used to keep folders of raw footage organized by day.

Basically any cloud hard drive is good for sharing clips, just use whatever is easiest for you. I wouldn't recommend storing all of your files online, always have a copy on a fast internal drive for editing and on an external drive for backup.

 

[JAlps]

If you want to keep things organized I would definitely just recommend making a folder and sub folders within it to organize footage. Personally I use a path similar to Videos/Skiing/Ski season 2020/2021/individual project/footage or broll.

If you are concerned about losing your footage, or want to be able to easily transport it to a friends house etc. I would recommend getting an external drive. if you can afford an SSD that's the most secure bet, HDD's are good and will give you more space for the money but are essentially ticking time bombs with whatever is on them since they will eventually fail.

When you plug in your camera the footage does not automatically go onto your computer unless you have something like that set up. If you are just using Davinci you will have to copy the files over from the SD card manually into the file directory. I personally use Premiere, but I'm sure Davinci has some way to set it up to where it organizes your footage (files) by project.

As far as transferring files goes, I would steer clear from google drive; if I'm not mistaken I believe that they use some form of compression (I know 100% google photos does). Most people I know that don't have a personal cloud use Wetransfer since it's free and lossless.

 

[GeorgeMadison]

If you want to keep things organized I would definitely just recommend making a folder and sub folders within it to organize footage. Personally I use a path similar to Videos/Skiing/Ski season 2020/2021/individual project/footage or broll.

If you are concerned about losing your footage, or want to be able to easily transport it to a friends house etc. I would recommend getting an external drive. if you can afford an SSD that's the most secure bet, HDD's are good and will give you more space for the money but are essentially ticking time bombs with whatever is on them since they will eventually fail.

When you plug in your camera the footage does not automatically go onto your computer unless you have something like that set up. If you are just using Davinci you will have to copy the files over from the SD card manually into the file directory. I personally use Premiere, but I'm sure Davinci has some way to set it up to where it organizes your footage (files) by project.

As far as transferring files goes, I would steer clear from google drive; if I'm not mistaken I believe that they use some form of compression (I know 100% google photos does). Most people I know that don't have a personal cloud use Wetransfer since it's free and lossless.

Thanks for all the info. A personal cloud is just something like icloud or no? I have that. So what would be the best way to transfer files to other people not physically? wetransfer could do that?

 

[JAlps]

Thanks for all the info. A personal cloud is just something like icloud or no? I have that. So what would be the best way to transfer files to other people not physically? wetransfer could do that?

Yep, Wetransfer does that. The free version lets you transfer up to 2gb at a time which should be good depending on what kind of bitrates you shoot at.

 

[B_K]

As far as transferring files goes, I would steer clear from google drive; if I'm not mistaken I believe that they use some form of compression (I know 100% google photos does). Most people I know that don't have a personal cloud use Wetransfer since it's free and lossless.

I actually use google drive and dont have any issues with compression.I use it as my main photo backup and its been working well for me thus far. Havent used google photos or any apps or anything though so cant speak for those.

 

[GeorgeMadison]

I actually use google drive and dont have any issues with compression.I use it as my main photo backup and its been working well for me thus far. Havent used google photos or any apps or anything though so cant speak for those.

Ok. Yeah I have used that to send clips in the past and it seemed fine although I have never received clips through that.

 

[skiP.E.I.]

I used to name every clip right when I imported them, but now I make folders for street and resort clips, and subfolders for each person I filmed.

Question for you OP (and whoever else): I've tried optimizing my clips for smooth playback in the Resolve timeline based on tutorials with no luck. Timeline playback is still mad choppy for me. Any suggestions?

 

[GeorgeMadison]

I used to name every clip right when I imported them, but now I make folders for street and resort clips, and subfolders for each person I filmed.

Question for you OP (and whoever else): I've tried optimizing my clips for smooth playback in the Resolve timeline based on tutorials with no luck. Timeline playback is still mad choppy for me. Any suggestions?

It is a little choppy for me as well. If I have transitions or right after I add clips it is choppy but eventually it tends to smooth out. I can't even edit on my laptop anymore tho, just a desktop. I just use my laptop for school so it doesn't have much storage at all but resolve worked for a little while on it but now it legit will not load at all. It is very annoying when it is choppy tho. I assume you have tried changing the playback resolution to 1/4 and all that stuff?

 

[SmartWater]

I used to name every clip right when I imported them, but now I make folders for street and resort clips, and subfolders for each person I filmed.

Question for you OP (and whoever else): I've tried optimizing my clips for smooth playback in the Resolve timeline based on tutorials with no luck. Timeline playback is still mad choppy for me. Any suggestions?

what's your computer setup? Resolve is GPU heavy so it really helps to have a good one, especially with 4k or 10 bit footage

 

[skiP.E.I.]

what's your computer setup? Resolve is GPU heavy so it really helps to have a good one, especially with 4k or 10 bit footage

My laptop has NVIDIA GTX 1050 gpu and 16 GB RAM so probably a minimal setup for running it

 

[JAlps]

My laptop has NVIDIA GTX 1050 gpu and 16 GB RAM so probably a minimal setup for running it

That should be enough to handle the task! I can only really speak for premiere but rendering your timeline every now and again, especially after adding in processor heavy things like transitions can be a big help. Also check out using proxy files for your footage, or downscale the quality of playback on the timeline.

The options are kind of specific to what software you are using, but just make sure to check the basic things sometimes. I've definitely had some stalled out background task eating up my cpu (I'm looking at you chrome) way too many times.

 

[skiP.E.I.]

That should be enough to handle the task! I can only really speak for premiere but rendering your timeline every now and again, especially after adding in processor heavy things like transitions can be a big help. Also check out using proxy files for your footage, or downscale the quality of playback on the timeline.

The options are kind of specific to what software you are using, but just make sure to check the basic things sometimes. I've definitely had some stalled out background task eating up my cpu (I'm looking at you chrome) way too many times.

Yeah I think the main issue is my CPU is i5- not ideal. I can only run Resolve if it's the ONLY thing operating and playback is still choppy. I might try doubling my RAM and see if that helps. I run the timeline clips at lowest quality possible already. Premiere works ok on my rig the way it is but Resolve requires higher minimum specs.

 

[eheath]

Yeah I think the main issue is my CPU is i5- not ideal. I can only run Resolve if it's the ONLY thing operating and playback is still choppy. I might try doubling my RAM and see if that helps. I run the timeline clips at lowest quality possible already. Premiere works ok on my rig the way it is but Resolve requires higher minimum specs.

Your issue isn't necessarily your computer, what are you using to shoot and what format are you using?

Example, my gh5 has many different formats, the 4k 60fps mp4 is very easy to ingest/edit but if you bump it up to 10 bit and 300mbps MOV, that won't playback in realtime on a nice computer. Another random example is gopro footage, gopro uses complex codecs to keep the files as small as they can and these can be harder on your computer too.

 

[skiP.E.I.]

Your issue isn't necessarily your computer, what are you using to shoot and what format are you using?

Example, my gh5 has many different formats, the 4k 60fps mp4 is very easy to ingest/edit but if you bump it up to 10 bit and 300mbps MOV, that won't playback in realtime on a nice computer. Another random example is gopro footage, gopro uses complex codecs to keep the files as small as they can and these can be harder on your computer too.

I'm shooting with a Nikon D800, 1920x1080, 24 fps. I know the files are probably pretty big, but I've tried clips from my D7000 too and it treats them pretty much the same.

 

[eheath]

I'm shooting with a Nikon D800, 1920x1080, 24 fps. I know the files are probably pretty big, but I've tried clips from my D7000 too and it treats them pretty much the same.

Hmm might just be the codec, not sure, those clips shouldn't be an issue for your setup. You could try converting everything to prores or high bit rate h264.