Proper Path Mapping for Remote/Collaborative Workflows in DaVinci Resolve.
Proper Path Mapping for Remote/Collaborative Workflows in DaVinci Resolve.
Since a lot of folks are running into relinking/offline media problems while on a collaborative/remote job, here is some heads up.
Once you wrapped your head around the concept of a shared folder - in this example Episode 12, than it's quite easy.
A shared folder is a folder that contains the exactly same file structure, with all your clips, audio, SFX, VFX andwhatnot you need for your project. It needs to be exactly the same on both
Local Paths Work in Path Mapping.
Imagine a scenario where Editor A and Colorist B are collaborating on a project.
Editor A, using a Mac, is in Los Angeles while Colorist B, on a PC, is in Germany. Both are sharing media through a cloud service, but their local file paths to that shared cloud folder are different.For example:
Editor A's path on their Mac is /Users/editor/cloudfolder/Episode 12
Colorist B's path on their Windows PC is D:\Projects\Episodes\cloudfolder\Episode 12.
Without Path Mapping, this difference in file paths would require constant re-linking of files, making collaboration difficult.
That's exactly the problem most folks run into, when thy try this the first time (including me).
Local Paths come into play by allowing each user to specify their own local path to the shared folder Episode 12.
DaVinci Resolve then handles the translation of these paths, ensuring that the media links work seamlessly for both users.
In the example above, both Editor A and Colorist B would define "Episode 12" as the shared location.
Then:Editor A would set their Local Path as /Users/editor/cloudfolder/Episode 12
Colorist B would set their Local Path as D:\Projects\Episodes\cloudfolder\Episode 12
As long as all the media used in the project is within the shared "Episode 12" folder, DaVinci Resolve, using the defined Local Paths, will automatically translate the file paths, eliminating the need for re-linking media.
Setting Up Local Paths
Access the Path Mapping panel in the Project Settings.
In the Project Media Locations section, use the "Add" button to specify the shared folder. Use the "Browse" button next to the "Local Path" field to navigate and set the path to that shared folder on your specific system. By setting up Local Paths, DaVinci Resolve streamlines collaborative workflows, ensuring that users can work with shared media seamlessly, regardless of their physical location or operating system.