Automatic File Versions 

As Synchromesh supports multiple versions of a piece of media, we use a filename system to distinguish between versions. The most general case for this is when one deck, say a DDR, needs a high quality version and another, say a Turbine, needs a lower quality version.

We distinguish between different media files by adding extra 'extensions' before the actual file extension, for instance, if you imported a file named 'Opening Video.mov' and it was encoded in ProRes (currently not a natively supported codec) then Synchromesh running on a Mac will automatically create:

• Opening Video.HQ.mov - generally an uncompressed version of the file for use on DDRs
• Opening Video.LQ.mov - an H.264 or similar down-conversion for use on Turbines

These files will then be transferred to the correct units based on the inserted extension, and the correct piece of media will be chosen to load. Note that if decks can play the original media format and speed, they will use that.

What files each deck chooses to upload and play is based on the current filter. You can see and optionally set the filter in the System menu, using the 'Filter' option. You can access this setting for other decks from the Decks menu, then the System menu for the deck you choose. There are some preset choices, but you can type directly in the field as well.

You will always see the base name with no extensions viewed in the user interface, and on the whole you don't need to know the actual filenames.

Replacing Files

Synchromesh does not replace files directly, overwrite them, or erase files in any way without you taking action. If you import a file that matches filename with an existing file, we will add a version name to the file, such as:

• Opening Video v01.mov, or Opening Video v01.HQ.mov

When you imported the file, it made a clip (that's how you import files - by making a clip). You can use the new clip to play the newer file, or go to the older clip and change the media for it (if you adjusted the clip, for instance).

If you do change the clip or clips that link to the old file version, the next time you do a System > Clean-up Media, the unused file will be moved to the trash. 

If you know the the file you're importing has the same name as one already on the system, you may want to change the name yourself, to avoid any confusion between versions. If you want to remove the old file first (we don't recommend this, but if, for instance, the file was so big you needed the drive space it would be good to do), then go to the clip or clips that use that file and pick another file (or delete the clips), then go to System and Clean-up Media, then System > Empty Trash. Now import your new file version, and if needed, pick it as the media for your clips.

Picking a File Name, File Name Length

Please avoid using any periods/dots/full stops (.) in your file names except the one splitting the name from the file extension. For everyone's benefit, we do recommend you use a standard file extension.

File name length isn't a significant limitation for us, but as a matter of practicality, names longer than 25 characters will be harder to see in our UI when converted to a clip name, and will be less readable and obvious in the clip list.

Advanced Uses

The filter is applied twice in each deck - once to choose what files to sync (in addition to the Destination > Track setting for the clip), and to choose what files to load when a clip is loaded. 

You can always provide multiple versions of a file, with the filter extension pre-applied. To do this easily, put all the sub-files into a folder named with the common part of the name and then 'Import' that folder. Synchromesh will make a clip with the folder name, and then use the pre-made sub-files.

You can set your own filters if you need to, for instance, to provide pre-cropped files to specific decks. An example might be a system where three decks are making the 'Left', 'Center' and 'Right' of a screen. If you have pre-cropped versions of the file, for instance to avoid scaling, you could make three files with a .CR, .CL, and .CC suffix added before the file extension. Add that to the filter on the deck separated by a comma, so the new filter might say- CL, HQ, LQ.