Media folders and record folder

Media files imported or recorded within Livegrade are stored in a designated “Media Folder”. Each project uses one media folder as the current “Record Folder.” When you import new media files or generate new recordings within Livegrade, 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” preferences. The default parent directory for project Media is “Livegrade Media” in ~/Movies.

New project window

Unique media folder references and media status#

Each Livegrade media folder contains a “LIVEGRADE-ASSET-FOLDER.json” file holding an UUID for unambiguous referencing of media assets in Livegrade projects.

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.

When you change a project’s media folder in the recording preferences, 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.

The offline media status of media folders (and volumes) is also indicated by a lower opacity of the rows in the table of the recording preferences.

Livegrade’s media storage system also allows sharing Pomfort look archives (.pfla), including media; see Sharing look archives with media.

Multiple media folders#

In Livegrade you can add multiple media folders to the same project. In the media folders table of your project’s recording preferences 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. When importing PFLAs with media you can add the corresponding media folder to your project’s recording preferences and use it immediately without copying the files to your record folder. Learn more about Sharing look archives with media.

Recording tab in Livegrade’s settings

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#

Livegrade provides various options to handle the media files of your recordings and stills:

Duplicate As Still: You can duplicate shots with movie recordings as new shots with still images (e.g., to save disk space or to create a duplicate with reference image for working in mobile environments with reduced equipment). The still image is created at the position of the shot’s thumbnail frame and is stored in the currently active record folder, even if the original movie recording is stored in a different media folder.
Delete … : When deleting shots, you can choose to delete the shot and the associated media file or to delete the shot and keep the media file (e.g., to avoid conflicts with files in a shared media folder).
Reveal Media In Finder: A “Reveal Media 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.