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Mac to Pc workflow
Hi!
We are struggling with annoying workflow issues at the moment, and I’m sure that things could be done easier with better knowledge.
The thing is, we do our basic editing on a Mac in FCP. After that we need to get the files on a pc for audio work and other stuff that we don’t have the programs for on the mac.
We have tried multiple different file types and exports, but we just don’t seem to get our mac exports to work on a pc. The pc just won’t show any picture. We have solved this issue by (yes, this is ridiculous) first printing to minidv tape from FCP and then capturing on a pc and after that moving the files to the audio editing pc. A terrible lot of work (and time) just to get a simple video clip transferred.
Please professionals here, tell me what would be the right way to handle all this?
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9 Replies
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The obvious thing to me is to split for some audio programs for the Mac. So much can be had for so little right now, it doesn’t make sense to me to even consider a cross platform workflow.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
It might be good to understand the programs that you use on the PC, what functionality that brings you, and what formats you edit with in FCP to really get what you are trying to do. Then we might be able to give you a decent workflow from the Mac to the PC or be able to recommend a better solution so you can just work on your Mac.
Cheers!
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use mpeg streamclip (free download).
I use it to convert HDV footage captured on pc to quicktime for FCP, but it will convert from and to a lot of different formats.
depending on what program you use on the PC it may be able to read AAF files (Nuendo for example) aaf files can be created from soundtrack pro.
Hope this helps
David Brandt
Brand T Studios
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I agree with the guys above.
However that’s for tomorrow, not today, right?
Post what formats you need to work with on the PC’s.. there’s a way man.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
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[Andy Bay] “The thing is, we do our basic editing on a Mac in FCP. After that we need to get the files on a pc for audio work and other stuff that we don’t have the programs for on the mac. “
If you have FCP then you also have Soundtrack Pro, and that can do a LOT with audio.
What are you trying to do with the audio?
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!
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I knew I would get suggestions to do it on Mac. This is not possible for several reasons. The most important one is that the audio mastering studio that I bring the files to uses PCs instead of Macs. Why? I don’t know. Maybe because PCs are much cheaper or something but anyway, the work they do is great. About soundtrack pro, I’m sorry to say that I have used several professional audio programs like Cubase and Sonar and soundtrack pro doesn’t fight even in the same league as those. Now you might ask what is it that can’t be done with soundtrack pro then? Well, the stuff being done to our tv-show is pretty complex and it includes stuff like composing background music, adding effects, removing noise and humms, complex EQ:ing, sidechaing compressor techniques, mastering and so on. The guys also use tons of hardware synths and controllers etc. Maybe complex work like this could be done with Soundtrack pro, but it would be a nightmare. It is simply better to do it with Cubase and Protools at the moment.
Back to the subject:
I’m still wondering if it really is this hard to work cross-platform? Obviously the Mac CAN write a format that a PC will understand, since it can output on MiniDV tapes that are readable on PCs also. Is there really no easy way to export a file that will work on a pc? Can’t I use the same settings that are being used when printing to tape only outputting on the hard disk instead of the tape? Can someone explain why this would not be possible?
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If your video isn’t showing up on the PC (is it just showing a white screen?) then your PC is missing the codec. A lot of codecs are not cross platform compatible. Why? Who knows.
If your audio guys are using ProTools you should be able to provide them an OMF from Final Cut, right? If so, go that route.
If your PC guys need video as well (is there compositing work being done? What program?), you need to tell us more information so we can help you out.
What video format/codecs are you editing with on the Mac (SD or HD footage, MiniDV, DVCProHD, Red, ProRes, etc)?
What programs on the PC are they using? Do your PC guys need audio only, or audio and video?
What have you tried so far (besides print to MiniDV)?
Michael.
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Hi!
I appreciate your help!
The audio crew is using mainly Cubase SX 3 on the PC. They are indeed doing compositing work and that is the main reason why they want the picture -they want to be able to see what they are doing the sounds on.
On the Mac we are editing DVCPRO50 format. The format that we deliver to the audio crew doesn’t matter though, as long as they have something to get the basic idea from. The video quality does not have any importance as long as you can tell what’s happening in it. I can’t remember which formats we already tried, but there has been many (quicktime was one for sure) and only the MiniDV captured from a PC worked.
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Ok, here you go. Export using Quicktime Conversion, for format choose AVI, click options, then settings and choose DV/DVCPRO NTSC (or PAL if that is your standard).
that will make an AVI file that a PC should have no trouble with.
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