With properly formatted markers to designate a change in scene number, Marvin can automatically number every shot in each scene. Specifically, auto-numbering works by recognizing “non-empty” shot ids as the beginning of a new scene and “empty” shot ids as sequential shots within the same scene.
to prep markers in Avid
- Start by adding an EMPTY/BLANK marker to every shot in the sequence.
- Then set the first marker of each scene to the scene number or sequence code (e.g., 28 or DS). This will instruct Marvin to restart numbering each time it comes across a new “scene.”
- Repeat for all shots to be numbered, leaving the other markers in that same scene/sequence blank. Marvin interprets each empty marker as a sequential shot within the same “scene.”
parameters
| add a prefix | Text to add before scene and shot number (optional). |
| start numbering at | Number for the first shot in each scene. Typically, this is 10. |
| increment by | Number by which each subsequent shot increases in the series. Typically this is also 10. |
| number of digits | Number of padding digits used to construct the shot number. Typically, this is either 3 or 4. |
| add a suffix | Text to add after the scene and shot number (optional). |
| shot id format | Defines how the prefix, scene, shot number, and suffix will be combined to create the full shot id (reference the shortcodes below). |
shortcodes
Shortcodes are predefined text that instructs Marvin where to substitute the appropriate data.
| name | shortcode |
| prefix | <prefix> |
| scene | <scene> |
| number | <number> |
| suffix | <suffix> |
to auto-number shots
- Click the actions button
- Click auto-number
- Fill out the form (see parameters above)
- Click number
Every marker in the found set will be updated with its calculated shot number as well as a prefix and/or suffix, if provided, using the shot id format specified.
tips
- Descriptions in markers are preserved during the auto-numbering process as long as delimiters are consistent and match your import settings.
- Below the format field are buttons for quickly inserting shortcodes, but you can also type them in the field.
- If you are not using a prefix or suffix, you do not have to remove their shortcodes from the format field as they will simply be ignored.
- Before re-importing the updated markers into Avid, first delete the original markers from the sequence.
example 1
Parameters: Start at 10, increment by 10, require 3 digits, and format: <scene>_<number>
Results: Shots with markers prepped like this ...
... will be auto-numbered like this ...
example 2
Parameters: Start at 10, increment by 5, require 4 digits, and format: <prefix><scene>_<number>
Results: Shots with markers prepped like this ...
... will be auto-numbered like this ...
