-
Can I edit mxf files in FPC?
Hello,
I recently discovered to get the best HD quality video it is highly discouraged to edit apple pro res files. But I can\\\’t figure out any other file format to import my P2 footage as. Are we really limited to edit pro res files? What i would like to do is edit the pro res files for good processing speed, but then reconnect the files to the raw native footage for the highest quality for export. Am I forced to buy a third party software to allow mxf files in final cut? Is there something I\’m missing?
Just the other day I imported some Sony footage (I believe from a compact flash card) and now they are all pro res files. How do I capture the raw native files of
anything? I\’m convinced I\’m lowering the quality by importing this way.Any advise would be much appreciated!
-
16 Replies
-
highly discouraged to edit apple pro res files
Who ever told you that is WRONG.
After you transfer your P2 files to the comp. Choose Log & Transfer in FC to bring in your clips. This will convert them to DVCPROHD if that is what you shot OR If you shot AVC intra you have the choice to bring it in as Pro-res or DVCPRO HD codecs.
Edit in Pro-rez and output current settings – this is broadcast quality.
You don’t revisit the raw P2 files.Now, there is a plug-in that will allow you to edit in the raw MXF files and skip the step of transcoding them to .mov’s
https://mxf4mac.com/quicktime-plug-ins
If your shooting to SD cards then they are probably compressed .h264 files and NEED to be transcoded to a format for editing like Pro-res .MOV files.
Have you looked into Adobe Premiere?
Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
I’m one of those that learned filming and editing through mentors and co-workers (not through schooling), so I know more about what I do creatively and less about the technical aspects like this.
The way I capture is log & transfer straight off the camera (P2 cards)… I guess I should be putting the files on the computer first for back up? Does the log & transfer import the clips in DVCPROHD when it says i’m importing apple pro res files?
Yes I actually have adobe premier and was heart broken when I found out it has abilities the FCP doesn’t have. I don’t really feel like learning the program from scratch, that would really slow down my work flow. But I’m assuming that day is coming I suppose.
I have looked into mfx4mac. Is that something you recommend me doing? Or am I doing good enough by just using the apple pro res files?
-
You should look here:
https://library.creativecow.net/ross_shane/tapeless-workflow_fcp-7/1
Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
Great video! However, I noticed my problem. I don’t have as many options in my log & transfer preferences. My only options are Apple Pro Res and Pro Res (HQ). The video shows multiple types of pro res including LT and Proxy, as well as options such as native and DVCPRO HD. Why are my options limited?
Also, do you know where I can find a good video to show the process of offline to online editing?
-
Do I need to upgrade to FCP 7?
-
Yes, if you want those options.
Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
Fcp7 also can do avc-intra natively which is a much faster process than transcoding everything to ProRes.
As far as MXF4mac Qt import. I use it daily and love it if you don’t want to rewrap to QT and use the native mxf
Files.Yes, you should absolutely back up the media off p2 cards.
-
Editing native is overrated. It isn’t VITAL. If you shoot DVCPRO HD P2, then all log and transfer does is wrap QT around the MXF files, and zero quality loss occurs. AVCIntra gets converted to ProRes. And ProRes is a VERY high end codec…virtually lossless. You would be hard pressed to tell the difference between AVCIntra native (Where FCP imports by just wrapping a QT wrapper like DVCPRO HD…but this is only available in FCP 7) and ProRes. ProRes is used for high end broadcast delivery.
So you can’t edit natively without a plugin. No biggie. If you need native, then you need to get the third party software. Personally I use Log and Transfer because the footage is shared between multiple editors.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Editing native is over rated…..hmm funny. I feel it’s underrated.
If FCP COULD edit mxf files natively, you’d still choose to transcode every single frame
before editing? If working on Avid and had the choice, you wouldn’t use AMA but choose to transcode to dnxhd first?It cuts down on time, it cuts down on disk space, it allows a fully featured metadata set that travels WITH the footage and not a project. I think people don’t see what MXF can do for workflow. It gets out of the way instead of staying in your way.
-
Cuts down on time? Cuts down on disk space. HOW?
I don’t work on the original camera masters. I back those up, and work on footage converted to QT from them. OR…I copy them to my media drive, and THEN work from them. So how do you consider working natively as a way to save space? They are still in two locations…
Cut down on time? The amount of time it takes to use Log and Transfer to wrap them into QT is the exact amount of time it takes to copy them from the backup to the media drive. So again, how is working natively saving time?
Unless you are working on the camera masters…which is something I really don’t recommend doing.
Do you copy first to your media drive, then back up later? OK…you can do the same with Log and Transfer. Bring into the edit system, then back up later.
METADATA. That’s the big advantage. But again, if you need all of that, then use P2 Flow to make a batch list and capture that into FCP. I’ve been doing that and it works great.
You just lose me on the “saving time and disk space” argument.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up