Renders from After Effects to Final Cut Pro

[latenitefilms]

See below:

Hello Chris Hocking,

First of all, I would like to say, thank you for your FCPX Hacks Tool. It is simply amazing.

I would like to request a feature for FCP Hacks where there is a way to automate rendered files from After Effects to Final Cut Pro X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUTjzYq2b1w

Assume I am running both After Effects and FCPX at the same time. At the moment I have two options to bring in After Effects Rendered Movie files into FCPX.

Hard Way (Leave files in place)

1. Render a mov file in AE to a Folder
2. User drag the file into FCPX library as link (not copy to library)
3. User added that movie into timeline.
4. User needs to update the animation in AE
5. User simply can’t render and overwrite the existing file.
6. AE will prompt an error “Rendering error while writing to file……Unable to delete existing file..”
7. The workaround is to create a TEMP folder and render the file into the temp folder.
8. Move and overwrite the original file using Finder
9. Now FCPX will refresh the file.

Semi-Hard Way (Copy to library)

1. Render a mov file in AE to a Folder
2. User drag the file into FCPX library (copy to library)
3. User added that movie into timeline.
4. User needs to update the animation in AE
5. User can render and overwrite the existing file.
6. Now user needs to add the file to library again. (Creates duplicates)
7. User needs replaces the clip back in the timeline.

I am aware some users prefer “Leave files in place” method and some users prefer “Copy to library” method. I would like to know is there a way to automate the process.

For - “Leave files in place” method Will it be possible to disable FCPX in the background? Meaning, in the FCP Hacks Menu, there will be an option called “Disable Final Cut Pro”. That way, When AE is rendering a file that is in use by FCPX, it will not prompt the error and it will continue to render successfully. Once rendered, users can “Enable Final Cut Pro” and switch back to FCPX. The file will be refreshed.

For - “Copy to library” method Will it be possible delete/replace the file in library when user drags a file with the same file name. There will be an option in FCPX Hacks “Enable Auto Deletion of file with same file name”. When enabled, user successfully renders the file and drag and drops into FCPX library. There will be prompt and FCPX will automatically delete and swaps with the new file with all the keywords and metadata still intact. Users don’t have to drag the file again to the timeline to replace the clip.

I am not sure if these will be possible to implement. But I believe it will not only benefit mr but i believe it will also benefit thousands of users around the world. Hope to see these features in the next update.

Thank you very much. Nash

[latenitefilms]

For completeness... my original reply to Nash:

I’ll have a proper think about the best way to solve this problem.

I’m HOPING to eventually build the ability to copy and paste between AE and FCPX (via the normal Copy/Paste commands), which would be really cool.

There might also be a way to get around the "Unable to delete existing file” error in AE. I’ll chat to some people at Adobe.

Another idea would be you could have a “After Effects Watch Folder” in which you render all your files to that location, then FCPX Hacks automatically inserts it into your project - replacing existing media if you want. I just need to think about the best way to do this.

His reply:

Hello Chris,

Thank you for your email.

I am really happy that you are looking into this matter.

Copy/Paste will also be really cool. Does that mean, when I copy a file from finder and say, selected the clip that I want to replace in FCPX, and paste over it, it will be replaced and copied to FCPX library.

But I also think “After Effects Watch Folder” is also need on top of that. If a user have 100 over AE comps needs to be updated, it will be a tedious process to Copy/Paste clips one by one. I think you should also have an option called " Updated from After Effects Watch Folder". When user clicks it, FCP Hacks will updated, replace all the files with the name from the folder to FCPX library. It will be really cool. There should also be a option call "Purge After Effects Watch Folder". Once copied to FCPX library, users can click it to purge the folder.

Really looking forward to your next version with such features.

It will also be great if you can speak to the people at adobe to solve "Unable to delete existing file" problem. But the problem is I am not a fan of using "always the latest version of AE".

Thank You.

[latenitefilms]

Reply from Nash:

Hello Chris,

I just saw your Facebook ground post on watch folder for FCPX. It looks great. https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/583

Since the feature as some overlap with https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/90

You may have to combine them?

On your demo video I saw an option on the CP's preference to add watch folder. It is great. I don't know if you can bring to the next level.

Will it be possible to have watch folders for individual libraries? Instead of storing that setting on CP's preference file, are you able to "smuggle" a text or XML file into the individual library's bundle folder? That way, when the library move, the settings moves with it.

To expand further on this idea. https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/90

This feature should be renamed to "Media Monitoring" or something. When enabled. This is how it will work. And It should only work in "Copy to library mode". The Text/XML file that resides within the Library bundle will track all the media that is imported. If a media is deleted from the library, the entry will be deleted from the Text/XML.

This is where the magic will happen, if a media with the same file name is drag/imported into library, it will prompt, "Do you want to swap the new media with the existing media from library?" If yes, CP will swap out the media with the one in the library. All the clip's effects, properties and transformation will remain, except it is the new updated media.

Could this be possible? If this is possible it will open all possibilities.

Thank you.

[randomeizer]

Once a clip is removed from the library, it is only telly deleted if there are no remaining references to it. If there are no remaining references, there is nothing to replace.

What exactly are you trying to achieve with this suggestion? I'm guessing that it's primarily about replacing one clip with new version of the same clip (eg, it has had VFX done, etc?) On Mon, 8 May 2017 at 3:10 am, Chris Hocking notifications@github.com wrote:

Reply from Nash:

Hello Chris,

I just saw your Facebook ground post on watch folder for FCPX. It looks great.

583 https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/583

Since the feature as some overlap with

90 https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/90

You may have to combine them?

On your demo video I saw an option on the CP's preference to add watch folder. It is great. I don't know if you can bring to the next level.

Will it be possible to have watch folders for individual libraries? Instead of storing that setting on CP's preference file, are you able to "smuggle" a text or XML file into the individual library's bundle folder? That way, when the library move, the settings moves with it.

To expand further on this idea.

90 https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/90

This feature should be renamed to "Media Monitoring" or something. When enabled. This is how it will work. And It should only work in "Copy to library mode". The Text/XML file that resides within the Library bundle will track all the media that is imported. If a media is deleted from the library, the entry will be deleted from the Text/XML.

This is where the magic will happen, if a media with the same file name is drag/imported into library, it will prompt, "Do you want to swap the new media with the existing media from library?" If yes, CP will swap out the media with the one in the library. All the clip's effects, properties and transformation will remain, except it is the new updated media.

Could this be possible? If this is possible it will open all possibilities.

Thank you.

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[latenitefilms]

I think the main issue Nash is having is that if you render a clip from After Effects, then import it into FCPX, if you need to update the clip (i.e. you made a mistake in the original edit), After Effects won't let you re-render using the same filename, as it's "already in use" by Final Cut Pro.

Basically what he wants is a way for After Effects to "replace" an existing render in Final Cut Pro - or better yet... do this, but with some kind of versioning.

[latenitefilms]

Nash says:

I just saw your comment. I would like to expand further. On this comment so it is more clear. :)

The issue that I am having is "I love Copy to Library Feature and so does my team and organisation." It is not just for After Effects but any application. It could be even Nuke, Fusion or even a movie clip exported from Keynote or Powerpoint. Say, I have enabled "Copy to Library Storage Location". Every single file that I import goes into the library bundle. Which is brilliant! Say I have Clip 01.mov and I imported into my library and I have used in my timeline. I have applied some effects on the clip and applied some scale and transformation. Now say I have some changes in Clip 01.mov and I have rendered/exported from "Application B (Not just After Effects)". Since I have enable "Copy to Library Storage Location", there is no link between the Clip 01.mov and FCPX. You could say why not enable, "Leave file in Place". We love the idea of "1 bundle file" and it is easy to pass around team and it is much more organise. When I import the newly updated Clip 01.mov into my library, FCPX just imports it and without updating /swapping or asking do you want to update/swap or create new entry. Now I have 2 Clip 01.mov in my Library.

If CommandPost is able to "smuggle" a text/XML file into the individual library's bundle folder to track all the media (Image, Video, Audio..) that is imported. It will be great. It will track, Original Clip name, FCPX's Location and so on. if Clip 01.mov is drag/imported into library, it will prompt, "Do you want to swap the new media with the existing media from library?" If yes, CP will swap out the media with the one in the library. All the clip's effects, properties and transformation will remain, except it is the new updated media.

Now, I have the luxury of updating the media plus I also have the luxury of "Copy to Library Storage Location". A single self contained library bundle file, I have pass it to the next person and so one.

I hope it clears up some confusion about this request. I strongly believe, this feature will be the greatest highlight of CP. :)

Thank You Chris.

[randomeizer]

Rather than having it automatically relaxing clips with the same name, would it not be better to be able to replace any clip with another clip? Personally I would have version numbers on my clip variations to keep track of them. But having a command that can swap out uses of one version for another would be useful.

All of that said, yes, we can add files to libraries, once we know where those libraries are. Figuring out where a particular clip is being used will require us to access the library database directly, I believe. We're not quite up to that yet, although it's on the todo list. On Mon, 8 May 2017 at 10:48 am, Chris Hocking notifications@github.com wrote:

Nash says:

I just saw your comment. I would like to expand further. On this comment so it is more clear. :)

The issue that I am having is "I love Copy to Library Feature and so does my team and organisation." It is not just for After Effects but any application. It could be even Nuke, Fusion or even a movie clip exported from Keynote or Powerpoint. Say, I have enabled "Copy to Library Storage Location". Every single file that I import goes into the library bundle. Which is brilliant! Say I have Clip 01.mov and I imported into my library and I have used in my timeline. I have applied some effects on the clip and applied some scale and transformation. Now say I have some changes in Clip 01.mov and I have rendered/exported from "Application B (Not just After Effects)". Since I have enable "Copy to Library Storage Location", there is no link between the Clip 01.mov and FCPX. You could say why not enable, "Leave file in Place". We love the idea of "1 bundle file" and it is easy to pass around team and it is much more organise. When I import the newly updated Clip 01.mov into my library, FCPX just imports it and without updating /swapping or asking do you want to update/swap or create new entry. Now I have 2 Clip 01.mov in my Library.

If CommandPost is able to "smuggle" a text/XML file into the individual library's bundle folder to track all the media (Image, Video, Audio..) that is imported. It will be great. It will track, Original Clip name, FCPX's Location and so on. if Clip 01.mov is drag/imported into library, it will prompt, "Do you want to swap the new media with the existing media from library?"

If yes, CP will swap out the media with the one in the library. All the clip's effects, properties and transformation will remain, except it is the new updated media.

Now, I have the luxury of updating the media plus I also have the luxury of "Copy to Library Storage Location". A single self contained library bundle file, I have pass it to the next person and so one.

I hope it clears up some confusion about this request. I strongly believe, this feature will be the greatest highlight of CP. :)

Thank You Chris.

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[latenitefilms]

Another option is that we could just use XML for this, and add any new After Effects versions as auditions - always using the highest version number as the "active" audition in the timeline.

[randomeizer]

Auditions only appear in a timeline, right?

On Mon, May 8, 2017 at 3:41 PM Chris Hocking notifications@github.com wrote:

Another option is that we could just use XML for this, and add any new After Effects versions as auditions - always using the highest version number as the "active" audition in the timeline.

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[latenitefilms]

No - auditions also appear in the browser, if that's what you mean?

[randomeizer]

You can't create or modify them in the browser though. If you do a 'Shift-F' they will appear there, but you can't do much with them. Or have I missed something?

On Mon, May 8, 2017 at 3:53 PM Chris Hocking notifications@github.com wrote:

No - auditions also appear in the browser, if that's what you mean?

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[latenitefilms]

Looks like you can? Admittedly, I've never actually used Auditions before in an actual edit.

[randomeizer]

Hmm, interesting... Not sure how useful it is, but anyway...

On Mon, May 8, 2017 at 4:06 PM Chris Hocking notifications@github.com wrote:

Looks like you can? Admittedly, I've never actually used Auditions before in an actual edit.

[image: screen shot 2017-05-08 at 4 06 05 pm] https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/22286696/25792170/4f4939cc-3408-11e7-8eb1-aab6646672a2.png

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[latenitefilms]

Well, I can definitely see the benefit of all After Effects renders for a specific shot magically appearing in an Audition. The trick will be making this seamless for the user.

One CRAZY idea I had was we could launch a "hidden" instance of Final Cut Pro in the background to create XML files for us on-the-fly without the user knowing.

[latenitefilms]

Nash says:

Hello Chris,

I would like to expand and elebroate on this feature request. https://github.com/CommandPost/CommandPost/issues/90 I have been doing some testing. I don't think creating auditions will work. Here is why.

Here is the setup. I have a FCPX library and I have set "Copy to library storage location". For this purpose this example, I only have 1 event. In that event, I have 3 projects (Sequences). Say I have rendered a clip (Clip 01) from AE with a duration of 10 sec. I have inserted Clip 01 in all of my 3 projects. So in all my projects, Clip 01 resides in them. In each project, I have done different things to the clip.

In Project 01, I have slowed down the clip. Placed some FX. In Project 02, there are some freeze frame of the clip. In Project 03, I have cut and and chopped the clip.

So now, I need to updated the Clip 01. So, I go back into AE make some changes (Slightly longer duration and updated animation) and render it out as Clip 01_New. Now, I would like to swap out Clip 01 with Clip 01_New. So, which ever projects that originally had "Clip 01" should now reference to "Clip 01_New". In my case, 3 projects. Can Command Post do this? When user select the "Clip 01" and "Clip 01_New", and after pressing a shortcut or a command in CP's menu, I would like the swap out the media.

Please don't be confused with replace feature in FCPX. The requires the user to manually replace the clip from browser to timeline. But they would screw up the work that I have done in my projects. Say, I have 20 projects, and in each project, I have "Clip 01". And Imagine in each project I have manipulated in the clip in various ways. The Replace feature nor Audition will not work.

I saw a free tool - https://telemarq.com/products/fcpxchange/ https://vimeo.com/84474203

It does something similar but it requires exporting xml and a lot of steps... I really hope you implemented this Swap feature.

I really hope you can prioritise this feature request.

Thank you.

[latenitefilms]

Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJ1XmPUR9Y