2020.6

Recapturing and Decomposing
180
Understanding Recapturing
There are three main situations in which you might want to recapture:
• The original media files are unavailable.
For example, you might transfer a sequence to a system that does not have access to the original
media files, or you might accidentally delete media files.
• The original media files have errors.
For example, you might forget to check audio levels or set the wrong resolution when you first
capture the media.
• You need to work in a different format from that of the original media files.
For example, a common workflow involves offline editing using low-resolution clips followed
by online editing using high-resolution clips.
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Recapturing requires your original source footage. Do not delete the media files if the source
footage is no longer available, unless you are sure you do not need the material.
For information on loading the media database to relink clips, see “Loading the Media Database” on
page 352.
Recapturing Master Clips and Subclips
The procedure for recapturing master clips and subclips is identical to the process for batch capturing
logged clips. See “Batch Capturing from Logged Clips” on page 176.
Although the procedure is the same, the result is slightly different, as follows:
• Master clips link to entire media files and serve as sources for subclips and sequences. When you
recapture a master clip, changes in compression settings and levels affect all subclips and
sequences created from the master clip.
• Subclips are smaller sections of master clips. When you recapture a subclip, Media Composer
creates a new master clip that links to new media files and reflects the shortened length of
material. Therefore, recapturing subclips streamlines the capturing process.
Also, recapturing breaks the link from the subclip to the original master clip. But if you edit the
subclip into a sequence, the sequence reflects any changes in the newly captured subclip.
Recapturing Sequences
When you recapture a sequence, you create new master clips and associated media files based on the
length of each clip edited into the sequence. Recapturing breaks any links to the original source clips,
and only the sequence and its new master clips are linked to the newly captured media files.
You can recapture a sequence in two ways:
• Decompose to create new master clips, and then batch capture the clips.
• Recapture without using decompose, which creates new master clips and batch captures new
media files in a single operation.
Although recapturing without using decompose might save a small amount of time, decompose
offers much more control and flexibility. You should only recapture sequences without using
decompose if you are sure you do not need any of the additional control decompose provides. For
more information, see “Understanding Decompose and Expert Decompose” on page 181.