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Log and Transfer vs Pro Res compressor
Hi Guys,
Ive just started using me EX1r….
And im wondering to maintain the best quality in my workflow, would it be best to simply log and transfer my clips off the card directly into final cut pro? Or would it be best to transfer the clips to pro res in compressor, and then bring them into final cut pro?
Would appreciate any knowlege here…
Thanks guys
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13 Replies
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Personally, I drop the XDCAM EX files into a ProRes timeline then edit, render and export. You can get Compressor to convert the files before you start editing if you wish. Compressor is faster than doing the same thing in a timeline in FCP but then you have to convert all the files, instead of converting just what you need at the end of the edit.
Converting in Compressor gives you more control over the cross/down conversion process if you have to do things like de-interlace or go to a smaller frame size, but all things being equal, you won’t see much of a quality difference under normal circumstances. What flavour of ProRes you use will depend on what the end product is for and how much manipulation you have to do to the media.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
I don’t understand the need to take XDCAM EX footage to ProRes at any time. You can edit XDCAM EX natively in FCP, render and export to a .mov file with the same settings and then use Compressor or Squeeze to compress to the files your clients need. I used to export edited files to ProRes as “master” files, but the only difference I saw was MUCH bigger file sizes with no increase in quality.
David Wheeler
EX1R; EX3; FCP 7; 17″ MBP, MacPro Quad, Matrox MSO2,CS5
dave@marcombiz.com -
[David Wheeler] “I don’t understand the need to take XDCAM EX footage to ProRes at any time.”
Quality is only one segment of the equation. If you have a machine with slower processors but more storage ProRes is much easier to edit with because it’s an I-frame codec. If you have a fast machine but limited storage then by all means edit in an XDCAM sequence. It takes considerably more horsepower to edit multiple video tracks of Long GOP than ProRes.
That’s why I record to an outboard KiPro Mini in addition to the SxS Pro cards. Now I have the best of both scenarios: superior quality and ease of editing.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
I great workflow if you can bring the footage in originally as ProRes 422.
David Wheeler
EX1R; EX3; FCP 7; 17″ MBP, MacPro Quad, Matrox MSO2,CS5
dave@marcombiz.com -
And to bring the footage dircectly in as ProRes, does this just mean i can ‘log and transfer’ directly of a EX1R card?
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[Damo Jones] “does this just mean i can ‘log and transfer’ directly of a EX1R card?”
Yes, as long as you have the XDCAM Log and Transfer plugin for Final Cut Pro 7.0.3 installed. This will allow you to change the target format to one of the various flavours of ProRes as the clips are being imported.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Ok, thanks for your help. I just tried looking at what version of final cut pro i have, and it says it’s 7.0 and then i looked at the log and transfer icon and it had 1.2 on the end of it.
Are these alright do you think?
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Most likely that will be fine. Just give it a go and when you have a chance do a software update of FCP and go to v.7.0.3. Version 1.2 of Log and Transfer is the latest for that pice of software.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Good evening,
I realize this is an older thread, but just wanted to inquire about bringing media into FCP 7.
I have ACVHD files from a dual Sony A99 shoot that were run through Clipwrap 2, and then transcoded via Magic Bullet Grinder (Rationale behind use of MB Grinder was the dual output capacity for transcoding) to both conform frame rates to 23.976 (shot a bit at 60fps and plays back slow mo now perfectly) and create both standard Pro Rez 422 and 422 proxy files.
So, I now have four files sets: original media, clipwrapped media, proxy media, and high quality media.
So, everything is fine and conformed properly, but would like to confirm the next steps, because I’ve never edited with proxy media before.
1. Should everything get ingested through log and transfer, or is it okay to simply import my transcoded and tested proxy files directly into specific bins?
2. Is it sufficient to just import the proxy files into the project, ie will they point back to the higher quality standard 422 files automatically?
3. Easy set-up settings don’t matter, right, since I’m not pulling media from a machine?
4, What should my sequence settings for this sort of thing? All media coming into the projet is pre-conformed to Pro Rez 422 (or proxy) at 1920 x 1080/ 23.976fps.Is there a reason why, within sequence settings, FCP 7 doesn’t have full and correct file type, rez and fps settings avail?
Got to get this piece pulled together in the next two days, with effects, so just want to be careful to do it right the first time:)
Any thoughts appreciated and welcome.
Many thanks,
VANDY
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Hi,
Please view the tutorial listed below and if you still have questions about offline-online workflow I’m sure one of us will be able to help you.
https://library.creativecow.net/ross_shane/tapeless_online/1
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com
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