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Importing from AG-HPX500p p2 to FCP
Hello all, I have recently taken a job with a production company, and I am the most computer savvy person on staff, which is not a good thing. In the past we have used FCP to import video from a DV player, and/or through a camera and the Log and Capture option. We have been contacted by an online firm wanting us to do some green screen footage for them. We shot a small 30 sec clip on the p2 and I was able to import it using Log and Capture, but my problem is I cannot get the bitrate to their desired level. They want at least 40 or 50 mbits/sec. Is there another way to import these files at a larger bitrate, or is it the settings of the camera? Or is it something I have not even thought about? I was able to connect the camera and open the p2 cards as portable storage devices, but the file formats are not supported by FCP, and there is no P2 selection in File>import either. ANY suggestions would be helpful as I believe I’m in over my head here.
Thanks in advance.
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4 Replies
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[Andy Carroll] ” I was able to import it using Log and Capture, but my problem is I cannot get the bitrate to their desired level. “
What is there “desired level?” The bitrate will be what was shot. The HPX-500 shoots DVCPRO HD, that is a 100mbps format. But, depending on the frame rate you shoot, and the frame size, that will fluctuate. 23.98 will be lower, as it has less frames. So what are they asking?
[Andy Carroll] “They want at least 40 or 50 mbits/sec. “
They got that, when they shot DVCPRO HD. They got 100mbits/sec. HIGHER than what they wanted. Again, the frame size and frame rate will make it APPEAR lower in the captured footage, but it is still a 100 mbits/sec format.
[Andy Carroll] “Is there another way to import these files at a larger bitrate, or is it the settings of the camera?”
FCP imports the EXACT settings that you shot. Zero quality loss, zero data rate loss. It takes the MXF files on the P2 card and wraps them in QT. That’s it. What you shot is what you get. Why are they being niggling about the bit rate? Don’t they understand video?
[Andy Carroll] “I was able to connect the camera and open the p2 cards as portable storage devices, but the file formats are not supported by FCP, and there is no P2 selection in File>import either.”
NO, there isn’t. Not in FCP 6.0 or higher. It is now called LOG AND TRANSFER as it deals with more formats than just P2. You got the footage into FCP, so you know this. You did it right.
[Andy Carroll] “ANY suggestions would be helpful as I believe I’m in over my head here. “
You might be. When dealing with people who think they know what they are talking about…throwing out numbers without knowing what they mean.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Shane, I have been reading through these forums and I was hoping someone with your expertise would try to help! Thank you for the comments, they have helped. I am now assuming that I am exporting the video wrongly. First question, is log and transfer better than the log and capture for my camera? Second question, they want the file format in .avi or .mov so as a mac user I am more comfortable using .mov. After exporting the video from FCP I have a .mov file that has a bitrate of like 10 mbit, so any suggestions for exporting would be lovely!
Once again thanks in advance!
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[Andy Carroll] “m now assuming that I am exporting the video wrongly. “
Why? Did you not use LOG AND TRANSFER? If so, you did it right. DVCPRO HD only comes in one way, as DVCPRO HD. If you used log and transfer, and you have the footage…you got it right.
[Andy Carroll] ” is log and transfer better than the log and capture for my camera? “
Well, it is the ONLY way really. Log and CAPTURE is for tape based systems. Log and TRANSFER is for tapeless. P2 is tapeless.
[Andy Carroll] “, they want the file format in .avi or .mov”
See?! They don’t know what the heck they are talking about. Both of those are just containers…containers that can be one of a few dozen codecs. AVI is PC based, .MOV is Quicktime…mac based. Since you are using FCP, you can give them the MOV. But know that DVCPRO HD is a codec that only comes with FCP. If they want to view it, they need FCP, or a decoder from Calibrated.
[Andy Carroll] ” After exporting the video from FCP I have a .mov file that has a bitrate of like 10 mbit, so any suggestions for exporting would be lovely! “
Well, what format did you shoot? 720p 23.98 has a bit rate of like 5.9 MB/s…that’s megaBYTES, not BITS. Notice that. I believe you have to multiply by a factor of 5 to get the megaBITS. So that would be 30mbits. 720p60 at 60fps is closer to 100mBits. But, again…You can’t add bits that aren’t there. If it was shot that way, that is what you have. If they ask for more megabits…they are clueless wonders who only look at numbers.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
BTW, 1 Byte = 8 bits. Andy may be responding to a request for a mpeg transport stream. Their top bit rate is usually 40 to 50Mbps. Compressor tops out at 40Mbps, but I believe Episode goes to 50Mbps.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
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