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MXF files from P2 into quicktime/ Final Cut Pro… Image degradation?
I’ve got a few questions… and would like to know if this workflow looks right.
I would like to know if there is any image degradation when importing media aquired on P2 (DVCPRO flavors) into the quicktime files that FCP uses??
Also, I have read conflicting things regarding the SPEED in which this conversion takes place within Final Cut. Apparently it’s fairly time consuming (especially if you’re dealing with a lot of footage)… Final Cut does NOT support MXF natively correct?Last thing. Is there any reason to save the original MXF files SEPERATELY BEFORE converting importing/converting to Final Cut Pro/Quicktime?
If so i’d like to hear some suggestions…. does this sound right:1. Offload P2/MXF media from P2 Loader onto external fire wire drive.
2. Then clone that media to a SEPERATE external hard drive.
3. Erase P2 Store
4. Now I have media on two drives. One for editing and one for backup. The backup drive should stay in MXF form correct?? Or does that matter?
3. Make DVD copy of all media. (Archive)
5. Import media from harddrive one. Now that media is no longer MXF, it’s now quicktime.
6. Edit -
10 Replies
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[Michael Pierre] “I would like to know if there is any image degradation when importing media aquired on P2 (DVCPRO flavors) into the quicktime files that FCP uses??”
None whatsoever.
[Michael Pierre] “Also, I have read conflicting things regarding the SPEED in which this conversion takes place within Final Cut. Apparently it’s fairly time consuming (especially if you’re dealing with a lot of footage)…”
A 4GB card imports in about 4 min. Not that long at all.
[Michael Pierre] “Final Cut does NOT support MXF natively correct?”
Correct. Only Edius Broadcast…and I think maybe Avid Express Pro HD. But converting is fine, and takes really no time at all.
[Michael Pierre] ” Is there any reason to save the original MXF files SEPERATELY BEFORE converting importing/converting to Final Cut Pro/Quicktime?”
ABSOLUTELY! Those are, in essence, your source tapes. Would you, if you shot on tape, capture the footage than throw the tapes in the garbage? NO! What if a drive failed? What if a file got corrupt? You need those as backups. THEY ARE GOLD! Put them on a drive and stick it in storage. Treat them like source tapes.
Your list is not what I’d do. This is what we did:
1) Load footage from P2 cards to P2 store.
2) Transferred the footage from the P2 Store to external firewire drives. Entire CONTENTS folder and LASTCLIP.TXT into individual folders on the firewire drive, to keep things separate.
3) Erase P2 Store
4) imported the footage from that external to another external, using FCP to convert them to quicktime movies.
5) But the drive with the original CONTENTS folder and MXF files on a shelf. That is our master.
6) Edited with the converted footage.I am not sure about the archiving to DVD. That is a fragile format…prone to scratching. Maybe as a secondary redundant backup. If you had 4GB cards, it would be as easy as 1 DVD per card.
I have chronicled my experiences with the HVX and P2 workflow on my blog at http://www.LFHD.net. And I have a tutorial on importing the footage at http://www.proapptips.com/shane
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Shane,
Thank you for that very detailed explanation. I’m wondering what happens to the “metadata” that’s stored in the MXF files once it’s converted to quicktime/finalcut?
Can it be utilized in anyway? -
Shane has the perfect workflow. The big question is what to archive the assets on. Almost two years ago Sony sent me one of the first BLU-RAY SCSI drives to test with the Panasonic DVCPRO-HD codec. 24p Varicam native files played out in real time. I archived a 58 minute DVCPRO HD 24p show on one 25 gig drive. They say it will last 50 years. (Of course the drives to play them won’t be around in 50 years.)
I’d like to know what the users out there think of using Hard Drives vs BLU-RAY as archive solutions. Right now BLU-RAY can cost a dollar a gig plus the player/burner where Hard Drives can be found under 50 cents a gig.
Dennis Lisonbee
ps Be sure to follow Shane’s instructions to the “T” If you archive the MXF file without everything else, the file is useless.
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[Dennis Lisonbee] “I’d like to know what the users out there think of using Hard Drives vs BLU-RAY as archive solutions. Right now BLU-RAY can cost a dollar a gig plus the player/burner where Hard Drives can be found under 50 cents a gig.”
Dennis,
Don’t sweat storing on hard drives. Even the cheapest have MTBF (mean time between failures) of 100,000 hours. There’s something to be said for actually running them every so often to keep the bearings lubricated, kind of like a car in storage, but they are pretty hardy mechanical devices, and by the time they’d become problematic you’ll probably be ready to copy them to another medium anyway.
DRW
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[Michael Pierre] “I’m wondering what happens to the “metadata” that’s stored in the MXF files once it’s converted to quicktime/finalcut?”
Unfortunately most of the metadata does not transfer….yet. This is why I say keep those original MXF files. Future releases of FCP or QT might import more of the data.
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Hello – I’m currently in the beginning stages of editing an indie feature shot with the HVX in DVCPRO HD – Our injest center on the set of the film is creating 2 copies of all our MXF files and giving a third copy drive to me for shuttling back and forth between my bay. My question is, if I convert the files in FCP to QT files, then erase my copy of MXF files (the third dub of them) and for some reason, my QT media files become corrupt, is the only link to the original MXF files my naming conventions used when I convert in FCP? IE: we’re following Shane’s exact workflow and I have bins in FCP with each shooting date and then sub bins with the exact name of the P2 card files (P2_00A13 etc.).
So it would be safe to erase the MXF files with two other backups of only the MXF files in place?
If they choose to do an “online” to some higher resolution, will reconnection to the MXF files be necessary or is DVCPRO HD used as a final output format (even though it’s called an “offline” format?
Shane, you’re online postings of P2 workflow have been invaluable to this project, thanks!
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Shane,
I am trying to adopt your work flow as much as possible. When you are transferring your cards to your P2 store, and then to your external drive, what is the purpose of this step? Say besides dumping in the field, isn’t it one less step to use the P2 Store as a card transfer device to your hard drive?
Besides that question, is it possible to load for example 2 or 3 cards into a P2 Store and have my computer read it as a single CONTENTS and lastclip.txt folder? Unfortunately, my shooter is using a bunch of 4gb cards and the amount of P2 backup folders in my archive is getting ridiculous. I would like to keep a single CONTENTS folder per project, not per card. What can I do?
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[blueflamez] “When you are transferring your cards to your P2 store, and then to your external drive, what is the purpose of this step?”
Because we use the P2 Store on a daily basis when shooting. Transferring the footage to external drives at night frees it up for use the next day. Those externals are then the source tapes. We are so paranoid that we back up the footage from the P2 Store to TWO drives.
[blueflamez] “Say besides dumping in the field, isn’t it one less step to use the P2 Store as a card transfer device to your hard drive?”
When we get back to the office, we then transfer the footage on the field drives to G-Raids. Again two sets. I have one, my producer has one. Then we erase the field drives for use again. I then import the footage from the G-Raids to my media drives, and keep the originals on the G-Raids. When production wraps, I archive the P2 footage on bare SATA drives I store on the shelf.
[blueflamez] “is it possible to load for example 2 or 3 cards into a P2 Store and have my computer read it as a single CONTENTS and lastclip.txt folder?”
Nope. Each one will be a separate CONTENTS folder. Think of them as very small tapes.
[blueflamez] “the amount of P2 backup folders in my archive is getting ridiculous. I would like to keep a single CONTENTS folder per project, not per card. What can I do?”
Nothing. Don’t mess with the way the files are organized. You have to get used to this until your shooter gets 8GB or 16GB cards. If you mess with stuff, then things will REALLY get messed up.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Shane,
Do you have any experience with that Panasonic card reader ( AJ-PCD20 ) that holds five P2’s? On B&H’s website they are claiming that you can import all five cards as one when this $1900 device is used.
Any thoughts?
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Sorry, I haven’t used that device.
Ask on the Panasonic P2 forum. Panasonic people are there. They’ll know.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net
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