Managing media folders

Livegrade allows managing your shoots in separate projects. Each project has its own clip library that stores all clips you record during your shoot with all clip-based or global metadata you applied. Furthermore, each project has an individual media management (with project-dependent media folders and record folder).

Project management#

Using the “Project chooser” in the middle of the main toolbar, you can

create a new project,
switch to an existing project,
or rename the current project

Project-dependent media management#

Media files captured within Livegrade are stored in a designated “Media Folder”. Each project uses one media folder as the current “Record Folder.” When you create stills, record clips or import media files, the corresponding media files are saved into the currently set record folder.

Media folders and the current record folder are project-depending settings. Consequently, it makes sense to use a separate media folder/record folder for each project.

You can set the record folder when creating a new project or change the record folder in the “Recording” settings. The default parent directory for project Media is “Livegrade Media” in ~/Movies.

Unique media folder references and media status#

Each media folder contains a JSON file holding a UUID for unambiguously referencing.

Note: Livegrade detects a media folder by reading the UUID stored in the JSON file of the folder. Make sure that the corresponding JSON file always remains in its media folder.

Relink media#

When you change a project’s media folder in the recording settings, Livegrade automatically detects the UUID of the new media folder and reconnects any matching media if the project holds media files that are associated with the UUID.

Removing a media folder that contains project media files results in an offline media status for the associated shots. When you add a matching media folder again, offline media files reconnect immediately, also if the directory was renamed or moved in Finder or it is a copy of the original directory on another drive.

Tip: When your hard drive is full, you can free up space by copying your media folder to a larger hard drive. After copying the folder, open Livegrade and go to the recording settings. Use the plus (+) button in the media folder table to add the copied folder from the new drive. Livegrade uses the media folder’s UUID to recognize it, so it will automatically detect that it’s the same folder in a new location. The original folder will be replaced by the new one, and recordings will now go to the larger hard drive.

Multiple media folders#

You can add multiple media folders to the same project. In the media folders table of your project’s recording settings you can add and remove media folders. One media folder can be made the current record folder. You can remove all media folders with the exception of the currently set record folder.

Note: When adding a media folder from another project to your project’s recording preferences and you delete shots and the associated media files within one of the projects, the files will be offline in both projects

Handling media files#

Delete shots: When deleting shots, you will also delete the associated media file.
Reveal In Finder: A “Reveal In Finder” item in the contextual menu of the shot library lets you quickly reveal the associated media file of a selected shot in its media folder in the Finder.