-
HD XDCam to ProRes422 when importing?
Is it possible to transcode HD XDCam files to ProRes 422 on the fly while importing? I usually bring in footage from HD XDCam thru an Aja Kona3 board via HD SDI to DVCPro HD. I’m using Sony’s Import software within FCP and it works fine, but I’d like to work in either ProRes or DVCPro HD rather than in the native HD XDCam format. It’s those long conform times, you know…
Is this possible and if so, how? I’m getting used to FCP 6 this week, hence the flurry of questions lately.
Thanks,
Tom -
10 Replies
-
No, there is no direct transcode at this point without re-rendering or direct capturing. You can always work with XD cam natively and reset the render to Pro Rez under User Preferences, Render tab and set codec to Pro Rez
Good Luck
Michael Palmer -
We also had issues with XDCam Disc files that were recorded at 25Mbs. Conforming to Master back then sometimes took about an hour for each 30 minute episode with our old machines. Since we updated FCP to 6.0.3 and had the cameras switched to record 35Mbs our conform times are minimal. We use Sony’s XDCam Transfer to ingest the Disc Footage ( we’re looking at what the difference would be if we used FCP’s Log & Transfer instead. If you know anything about that let me know) and use the Kona 3 to digitize Archival DigiBeta, DVCam & DVCPro. Our easy setup is for an XDCam Timeline capturing DVCPro HD thru the Kona which keeps rendering at a minimum (except when you pile on the effects). As for rendering in ProRes? Our tech guy said the difference was minimal so we’ve left that alone so far.
good luck
Victor
-
[Tom Matthies] ” It’s those long conform times, you know… “
Tom
Why are you conforming mate? Are you mastering back to XDCAM HD? You can edit with the XDCAM HD natively in the the timeline and have your renders set to ProRes … then master out to whatever format is most suitable without conform. (Regardless of your edit codec, if you master to XDCAM HD then you’re looking at conform time.)
Cheers
Andy -
[Victor Perez] “We’re looking at what the difference would be if we used FCP’s Log & Transfer instead … Our easy setup is for an XDCam Timeline … As for rendering in ProRes? Our tech guy said the difference was minimal so we’ve left that alone so far. “
Victor
FCP Log and Transfer (L&T) interface does not currently work with Sony XDCAM HD devices. There is a Sony plugin (PDZK-LT1) that enables using it with XDCAM EX devices, but not XDCAM HD. AFAIK that plugin does not allow transcode to ProRes it is a straight essence transfer as per Sony’s XDCAM Transfer app.
Regarding the XDCAM HD timeline with ProRes rendering thing, you might want to talk with your tech guy again about that. ProRes rendering offers a significant speed increase over rendering to XDCAM HD, and potentially a significant quality increase too, especially with heavy effects and graphics work.
Hope thats useful
Andy -
The producer would like the finished timelines put back onto the original HD XDCam field disks for archiving. Guess it saves him $25. They are simple projects without a lot of effects but with color grading on just about every clip thus the conforming time.
Go figure.
Tom -
[Tom Matthies] “The producer would like the finished timelines put back onto the original HD XDCam field disks “
Got ya, but unless you are transferring back to disc via HDSDI then you’re going to be looking at a conform regardless of the intermediate edit format. If you want to avoid rendering/conforming to MPEG HD during the edit phase then you have the ProRes render option. I’m not trying to force a workflow you don’t want on you, but you do mention that you’re reasonably comfortable with XDCAM Transfer and just starting to play with FCP 6 this week, so its worth knowing what your options are.
Cheers
Andy -
This is where your options are limitless… You can import the data, no problem but you do have to conform back to disk OR you can export to disc as data, not via HD-SDI.
We like direct capture into DVCProHD or ProRes422. Either one looks great. For small projects, its best to stay XDCAM HD for us.
Something to think about… If you import your footage and find out that this is a real pain, you can take those clips and re-capture them into ANY codec you wish. Timecode is timecode.
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com -
[Andy Mees] “Regarding the XDCAM HD timeline with ProRes rendering thing, you might want to talk with your tech guy again about that. ProRes rendering offers a significant speed increase over rendering to XDCAM HD, and potentially a significant quality increase too, especially with heavy effects and graphics work. “
Thanks Andy, I’ll forward that to our tech.
And to Tom,
We also Master HD Versions back to XDCam (Split, Global, Archive) for future use. Our initial conform back to XDCam Disc is under 5 minutes when everything is rendered including Full. If thats not done, conform time jumps to about half an hour and then the transfer to Disc occurs which takes an additional 20 – 30 minutes. But you should still be able to work in Final Cut during the second phase of that process.We’re running that process on our 3.0 8 core machines. I’m pretty sure times would be much longer on our offline suite which has a 2.7 Quad.
Victor
-
[Andy Mees] “Regarding the XDCAM HD timeline with ProRes rendering thing, you might want to talk with your tech guy again about that. ProRes rendering offers a significant speed increase over rendering to XDCAM HD, and potentially a significant quality increase too, especially with heavy effects and graphics work. “
Thanks Andy, I’ll forward that to our tech.
And to Tom,
We also Master HD Versions back to XDCam (Split, Global, Archive) for future use. Our initial conform back to XDCam Disc is under 5 minutes when everything is rendered including Full. If thats not done, conform time jumps to about half an hour and then the transfer to Disc occurs which takes an additional 20 – 30 minutes. But you should still be able to work in Final Cut during the second phase of that process.We’re running that process on our 3.0 8 core machines. I’m pretty sure times would be much longer on our offline suite which has a 2.7 Quad.
Victor
-
I am still running FCP 5.1.4 on the main machine here at work, but I’m running 6.0.4 on my MacPro at home. (ironic isn’t it that my personal machine can run rings around the one I use on a daily basis here). In the past I’ve just been putting the finished videos back on disk via HDSDI out of the Kona 3, but when we finally upgrade the work machine, I’m looking into putting the finished video back to disk by just transferring the data from one machine to the other.
Although I use ProRes at home, I don’t have that option here at work. I usually capture from the HD XDCam via HDSDI as DVCPro through the Kona 3.
I’m just trying to develop a good workflow for when the upgrade finally happens. I’ve loaded FCS on my laptop and brought it down to work so I can load the XCCam files on it “for evaluation”. My workflow for HD works well that way I do it right now, but I’m looking at the options that the upgrade to FCP6 will offer. Of course by the time they actually get around to doing the upgrade here, FCP 7 will probably be available.
Thanks for the insights.
Tom
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up