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Workflow for two computers in sync?

Robert Worthingham
I am new to C1P 8 and am trying to get my head around how to handle my workflow between my laptop (MacBook Pro) on location and my desktop (Mac Pro) in the office.

Ideally, I would like to have the Catalogues on both machines synchronized but both using referenced original files located on a Data drive attached to the desktop.

While shooting the field, I import files off of the cards and onto two different portable drives for data redundancy before reformatting the cards.

I then import the files into C1P as referenced files into a session to edit, evaluate, add keywords and rate.

I can then import the session into the desktop Catalogue, but how do I keep the desktop and laptop catalogues in sync (as I would like to do a lot of additional work later on from both machines)?

Am I just barking up the wrong tree or is it even possible to do what i want?

I would really appreciate any suggestions you may have to offer.

Thanks in advance...

Bob W
-1

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Ken Bates
    I have the same setup (MacBook Pro and Mac Pro), although I have the referenced images on a hard disk that is connected only to the Mac Pro. What you need to do is to keep the two catalogs in sync, since all the metadata and edits are contained there. I use ChronoSync to do this, and all that is needed is to remember to do a sync whenever you "switch" computers.

    For example, last week I was camping up in the mountains and had the MacBook with me. I did some edits and culling on the MacBook (offline files), and when I got home I used ChronoSync to sync the catalog to the Mac Pro and could continue from there.

    I've also used the MBP in the field, importing the images directly into the catalog (managed). When you get home, do a sync (takes a while with the embedded images), then in Capture One on the Mac Pro, drag and drop the images from the catalog onto a newly created folder in your hierarchy.

    Lots of ways of handling this, but the key is that you need to keep the catalogs in sync, either using ChronoSync or just copying the catalog. The catalog file is a Macintosh package, which ChronoSync can handle by only copying modified items within the catalog, not the entire thing, which can save a lot of time.

    This help?

    - Ken
    0
  • Robert Worthingham
    Thanks Ken. That was most helpful. I will read up on ChronoSync to figure out how to make it work.
    Are you using ChronoAgent as well? Which machine has Agent and which has Sync?

    Cheers,
    Bob W
    0
  • Ken Bates
    I don't use ChronoAgent, although I did try it at one point. It didn't seem to make much difference in the time taken for synchronization, and I've had no issues at all with protection problems. I use ChronoSync to keep the folders on the MP and MBP in sync, and it works vey well. If you work with the same files on both systems it's a very nice way to make sure things don't get out of sync.

    - Ken
    0
  • Permanently deleted user
    Hi Ken: I have read with interest your post on Chronosync. Have tried but not getting it right. Would much appreciate your workflow/tips on how to setup correctly Chronosync/ Files on both computers for sync. Do's and Don't's..I know is asking a lot but...Many Thanks Carlos
    0
  • LSdigi.com
    Here is my personal / preferred workflow:

    I have a main RAID based at home connected to a Mac Pro. Each shoot is done in sessions rather than catalogs (I find it much quicker, more reliable and easier to manage). Shoot folders are managed in a date format YYMMDD_initials_ShootName, so e.g.

    160105_LS_Test

    When I'm shooting outdoors (or a mix of indoor studio / outdoor location), I shoot into an external Lacie SSD thunderbolt drive. This makes it a literally 10-second swap from outdoor macbook pro to indoor studio / home Mac Pro.

    As I shoot outdoors into an external SSD, I chronosync to Macbook Pro's two internal drives as backup. When I'm indoors, I shoot into a RAID5 SSD box, and chronosync to e.g. client/photographer's drive, so at the end of the day nobody needs to wait more than 5 minutes after we are done shooting.

    Hope that helps

    Laimonas
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  • Ken Bates
    What specific problems are you having with CS? It's pretty easy to set up and get running, and there isn't all that much to it from a setup standpoint.

    As an example of what I do, my main system is a Mac Pro, and I'm also using a MacBook Pro. My C1 catalog is in the Pictures folder, and all images are referenced on a separate disk.

    To set up CS, I first make sure that the MP can access the MBP. Launch CS and create a new synchronizer. In the left target, click "Choose" and navigate to the Pictures folder on the MP. Do the same for the right target, only this time choose the Pictures folder on the MBP. Note that you have to mount the MBP first in order to see it (you can do this in the Finder). Set the operation (I use "Synchronize Bidirectional), and any options you want (I use 'Delete Immediately' and 'Synchronize deletions'). Do a Trial Sync first to make sure that what is going to happen is what you intend, then do the Synchronize. Make sure to save the synchronizer document so that next time you can just double-click it to start things off.

    If you're still having problems, feel free to PM me: macbates at me dot com, and we can go over things in more detail.

    - Ken
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