File Names
Can be same-as-source, or named for scene, take and camera ID, or any combination of those. TapeID will retain the source file name for the EDL regardless, so you can rest assured that your naming convention will not interrupt the re-linking of files in post when using the EDL.
Some examples of naming we commonly see are;
Scene_Take(camID): 34D_01(a)
Scene_TakeCamID: 34D_01a
Scene_clip-take: 34D_2-01
Source name: A001C001
You are not limited to these and changes can be made easily (moving forward) at any time without cost, though please note that retroactive changes require re-processing and may result in fees.
Scene & Take Column
Scene and take will be populated. It draws from the sound mixer and the slate and will error-correct based on context of a clip. In cases where there is no slate or audio it will attempt to use context, but will mark the shot ‘Unknown’ if it cannot find an appropriate scene. It uses Unknown so that these shots can easily be sorted and referenced during editing.
Comments Column
Notes found in the clip report from Constellation, together with notes from the audio mixer, are loaded into the comments column, things like;
‘Boom Mic @ ##:##:##;##’ or 'False Start' or 'Burnt Clip' and so on.
The notes are color coded (see clip report below)
Yellow: General note
Blue: Audio mixer note
Red: Alert note
What Constellation can detect
Currently Constellation is accurate in detecting the follow conditions, these are the most common ones, though this list may be subject to change, addition or removal:
Burnt Clip: very short clip without subject ( '_burnt' added to take)
False Start: Short or incomplete clip ( '_false' added to take)
MOS: No sound expected ( '_mos' added to take)
Tails: slate at the end of the clip
Series: Slate notes a series ( '_ser' added to the take)
No TC in camera: Camera has no timecode matching audio or ToD
Camera missed slate: Slate has closed before clip starts
Audio cuts before tails: Audio stops prematurely
Slate closes before audio: Audio starts after the slate
Low confidence sync: missign slate and unable to find a reliable sync point.
Slate says XXX, but clip is XXX: Slate is incorrect
Boom mic @ [Timecode]: Boom mic has entered framing window
No matching audio file: Slate closes but there is no audio file found.
Framing Chart: framing chart noted
Color Chart Detected: Color chart found in the frame
Lens obscured: Any debris or occlusion not in/ on the lens
Hair in gate: Any debris or occlusion in/ onthe lens
Frame Rate: when the frame rate is different. Note that no audio will be matched to off-speed clips.
B-Roll: An in-focus clip not of subject ('BRoll' added to scene)
Unknown: no slate, nothing to allow identification of clip ('Unknown' added to scene)
Constellation can report one or more of these conditions per clip, so you might find conditions stacked in the clip report and Comments column, here is a sample clip report (note the color coding of errors):
Custom Metadata Columns
Constellation is able add additional columns for you too.
By default Constellation adds these custom columns;
Constellation: The unit's ID name,
Title: Title of the show
Show Code: The short 3-5 digit unique code
Please reach out before start of principle photography, and every effort will be made to meet your requirements.
ALE TIP
Each day comes with a very useful ALE file that contains metadata not supported by the MXF file format.
Audio Channels
When you make notes into your mixer they are not just attached to the original sound file. Constellation will read them in, add them to the dailies, add them to the clip report and push them into the comments section on Avid or other editing software ensuring that everyone knows what you want them to know.
Make sure your notes are ready to be read by everyone or things can become… interesting.
Deliverable Package
After each shooting day has been processed you will receive a package made especially for Media Composer. It contains the MXF files, a PMR file, MDB, a BIN and an ALE file together with the original sound, should you need to reference it. This example shows one editors preference for naming (scene_takeCamID.mxf) - yours can be different. The content of the deliverable will arrive like this....
Please Note
At this time sub-clipping and multi-cam grouping are not possible in Avid Media Composer. We do plan to support these functions in future updates.