How to Rename Footage using Mac Automator
Rename Camera Footage Automatically on Mac (Quick Action Tutorial)
Tired of confusing clip names like DJI_1234.mov or P1116.MOV?
In this short tutorial, I’ll show you how to automatically rename your footage using a Quick Action in macOS Automator. This helps you keep your media organized by including key info like:
🎥 Camera name
📍 Location
📅 Shoot date
🎞️ Clip type (Interview / B-roll / Drone)
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Install a ready-made Quick Action (Automator workflow)
✅ Edit the naming pattern to match your project (e.g., ZI25_HRE_ITV_241027)
✅ Run the action with a simple right-click
✅ Adjust or fix formatting issues (like double dashes)
✅ Save your Automator workflow for reuse
Perfect for editors working in Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve who want consistent file naming before import.
📂 Example naming system:
ZI25_HRE_ITV_241027_BGH6.MOV
= Zimbabwe 2025 · Harare · Interview · 27 Oct · GH6 camera
💡 Works on any Mac with Automator and Finder Quick Actions enabled.
#macOS #Automator #VideoEditing #FinalCutPro #Filmmaking #Workflow #quickaction
🧩 Step-by-Step Summary
1. Understand the problem:
Camera files like P1116.MOV or DJI_1234.MP4 don’t show where or when footage was shot.
2. Install the Quick Action:
Double-click the provided .workflow file.
Click Install when prompted by macOS Automator.
3. Run the Quick Action:
Right-click any folder with footage.
Choose Quick Actions → Footage Rename [your version name].
The files are renamed automatically.
4. Customize the pattern:
Open Automator → “Open Recent → Footage Rename”.
Edit the “Replace Text” and “Add Text” actions:
ZI25 → Project or country code
HRE → Location (e.g. Harare, Binga)
ITV or BROLL → Clip type
Date → Adjust to actual shoot day
5. Save and re-run:
Press ⌘S to save.
Right-click the folder again → Run your renamed Quick Action.
6. Optional tweaks:
Fix double hyphens using Finder’s “Rename → Replace Text”.
Create variants (e.g., Drone, Interview, Broll) by saving multiple Automator workflows.
7. Result:
Clean, consistent filenames ready for import into your editor, sorted by shoot location, camera, and date.
#documentaryediting, #editingtutorial, #filmmaking