Renaming my own SFX

[deardaddy]

So I bought a Zoom H2 a while back, I'm taking it everywhere, I'm recording all kinds of things with it. I already used several recordings I made on different mixing projects.

I'm struggling on the best way to name those recordings I made.

For the moment, I use that kind of "naming code" :
kind of sound_what it is_specific info on the sound (if any)
Here's an example :
crowd_kids_playing_indoor-soccer_match

Can you please share your way to name SFX files ?

Thanks for your time


Pascal

[emf1138]

Don't think there really is a standard. It's whatever makes it easiest for you to find the sound. Just put enough in the filename so that it's easily remembered for the category you placed it in. For example, if I record a body fall on a wood floor, my file would probably be: Body_Fall_Wood01 or possibly Bodyfall_Wood01 (since I know that in my current library, I have it both ways ). Your naming will evolve as your library grows. You'll find better ways to name things all the time. If you're using Soundminer or even Digi Workspace, you can use the metadata in .WAV files to make the file Comments even more descriptive.

[deardaddy]

Thanks for the reply.
You're right, I'm not looking for standards as there is no standard but any idea or comments like yours are welcome.

Take care.

Pascal

[hki]

I always put the letter(s) of the device I recorded the sound with. Birds_EX_01-SD, Birds_EX_01-H2 etc.. I am able to search for MY RECORDED sounds easier

[deardaddy]

Never thought about that but that might be helpfull.

Thanks.

[georgia]

I start with large sets and go more detailed into sub-sets...

Amb_Street_NYC_Midtown_traffic_heavy_

Ambience, Street (vs, highway, road, etc) , New York City, Mid town, mostly focused on traffic, vs people, vs, tires... , heavy traffic... then any specific notes...


cheers
geo

[subwoof]

Just make sure that enough of the detail of the sound description is not buried in the length of the name. For instance, if you have a sci-fi sound of a rocket ship door closing, don't put too much of the generalized category at the beginning of the filename, or when you look for it in the region bin in Pro Tools you might only see the first 8 or 10 letters. So if your sound is named: "Sci-Fi_Interiors_Mechanical_Spaceship_Doors_Opening_Qu ickly and noisy", you would only see:"Sci-Fi_Interiors_Me..." in the region bin and not know if it is a door or an engine. Just my 2 cents!

Mike

[hki]

Originally Posted by subwoof

"SciFi_Interiors_Mechanical_Spaceship_Doors_Opening _Quickly and noisy"

Or it could be SciFi_Interiors_Mechanical_Spaceship_Doors_Opening _Quickly and something green_squirts_out

[deardaddy]

Thank you all for the answers, your opinion is really a big help for me.


Pascal

[lode]

+1 What everybody else has said.

I always add interior/exterior. And try to use the same words for what you recorded as the ones most used in your library. (ie you might want to add the word river or stream if you recorded a brook) Just to make sure you find it if you do text searches.