In principle, it is possible to auto-arrange multiple clips on a timeline according to their timecode, e.g. from a camera that was recording time-of-day timecode automatically.
For example, if so-arranged, a timeline might look something like this:
-
[clip1] [ clip2 ] [clip3] [ clip4 ] [clip5] [clip6]
I haven’t used FCP7 all that much, but I have a faint recollection that it did this somehow – though some other people say not. Regardless, Avid does it, and also Edius reportedly does it, and these could be used as preprocessors in advance of Premiere, just to align the clips in tracks and time.
But (as far as I can tell) Premiere can’t do this, there are currently no add-ons for it to accomplish this conceptually simple task. Not even PluralEyes 3, that can only sync based on audio, which is impractical in some situations e.g. large scale industrial area with different sounds in every corner… People do it manually, e.g. by typing timecode into timeline and adding markers then placing each clip at its associated marker…
Whaaaat!!!
The nearest one can get, apparently, is to “pre-process” in an NLE that can arrange-by-timecode, such as Avid or Edius, then export an AAF for import to Premiere. Edius also (reportedly) auto assigns each camera to its own track(s).
Edius price:
- In the UK, I see for example that DVC have a crossgrade offer for (just under) £240 or (just under) £450 for standard purchase.
- If it works as expected, then the crossgrade would be worthwhile (in terms of time saved) even if only ever used as a preprocessor…
- And it’s worth checking out for general usability/productivity.
- A demo can be downloaded from http://www.grassvalley.com/products/edius_pro_7.
Worth a try-out, when I get time, via Avid and via Edius, also to see whether Edius could be more generally useful.