This action accepts master clips, subclips, and sequences.
Marvin Jr. can automatically number VFX shot ids for both episodic television and feature film workflows using properly formatted markers, and it even allows for continuous numbering with intercut scenes or sequences. Auto-numbering works by analyzing marker comments. A "non-empty" marker represents the beginning of a new scene or sequence, and an "empty" marker denotes sequentially numbered ids within the previously designated scene or sequence.
types of "non-empty" markers
- Scene Numbers - Scenes are always padded for 3 digits, so a marker comment of "28" to designate the beginning of scene 28 will become "028" in the shot id.
- Sequence Codes - VFX sequences are interpreted as literal text, so "DS" at the beginning of the "Doom Solutions" sequence will still be "DS" in the shot id.
- Scene Numbers + Sequence Codes - If you use both scenes and sequences, separate them in the marker with an underscore. For example, "28_DS" will assign "028" as the scene number and "DS" as the sequence code in the shot id based on the formatting provided in the parameters.
- Descriptions - As long as the delimiters are consistent and match your marker settings, VFX shot descriptions are preserved during the auto-numbering process. Technically, this marker is not empty, but Marvin recognizes that the "shot id" portion of the marker is empty and will not restart numbering unless it also includes a scene number or sequence code.
to prep markers in Avid
- Start by adding an EMPTY marker to every VFX shot that you want to number.
- Next, on the first marker of each new scene or sequence, add the appropriate scene number, sequence code, or combination of both. This instructs Marvin to restart numbering for the new scene or sequence.
- Leave the marker for all subsequent shots within the same scene or sequence EMPTY. Marvin will continue to increase the shot number until it encounters another non-empty marker.
- If a scene number or sequence code is ever repeated, Marvin interprets this as intercutting. Instead of starting over, it will resume numbering where it left off to ensure that all shot ids are unique.
to auto-number shots
- Drag and drop a clip/sequence containing markers
- Fill out the form (see options & markers below)
- Click number
options
episode | Number to represent the episode (only visible if episode is selected in shot id settings). |
start numbering at | Number for the first shot. Typically, this is either 10 or 100. |
increment by | Number by which each subsequent shot increases in the series. Typically this is 10. |
apply to track | Track(s) to update. |
apply to color | Color(s) to update. |
markers
change color to | Update the marker color values. |
change name to | Update the marker name values. |
Each matching marker will be updated with its calculated shot number as well as a prefix and/or suffix, if provided, using the shot id format specified in your settings.
results
If there were no errors, you have several options:
- number more - Clears the options but maintains the selected clip/sequence
- undo - Reverts the changes that were just made
- reset form - Clears the options as well as the selected clip/sequence
tips
- Repeated scenes or sequences continue numbering to allow for intercutting.
- If the sample shot id does not match your expectations, double-check your shot id settings.
- If you manually update the track or color of any markers after dropping the clip/sequence, click the refresh button below the drop zone to update the values in the dropdown menus.
- If you want to start over with a different clip/sequence, you can either drag and drop a different clip/sequence or click the X button below the drop zone to reset the form.
example 1
Parameters: Start at 10, increment by 10, with format: <scene>_<shot>
Results: Shots with markers prepped like this ...
... will be auto-numbered like this ...
example 2
Parameters: Show "doom", episode "101", shot "0100", start at 100, increment by 10, with format: <show>_<episode>_<scene>_<shot>
Results: Shots with markers prepped like this ...
... will be auto-numbered like this ...
example 3
Parameters: Start at 10, increment by 10, shot "0100", with format: <scene>_<sequence><shot>
Results: Shots with markers prepped like this ...
... will be auto-numbered like this ...