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Conforming .fcpxml timeline export from Descript
Descript transcribes uploaded proxy media and then allows editing of the audio and video, by simply editing the transcript just as I would in word processing.
Descript then exports an .fcpxml timeline with either low-res .mp4 media (or the higher-res proxy’s I originally uploaded. ) I can import it into FCP X and it creates an event with the name of my Descript project, containing a timeline with all the jump-cuts. Perfect.
But here’s my problem: How will I conform a final version using the 4K ProRes 422 original files? What is the best way to do this? ie. replace the .mp4 media with full-res .movs
Dragging and dropping media from browser to timeline and selecting Replace isn’t working for me.
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11 Replies
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[Chester Dent] “Dragging and dropping media from browser to timeline and selecting Replace isn’t working for me.”
For whatever reason FCPX cannot link mp4 to mov in a batch, but it can do it one by one. You must have the exact same audio channels on your proxy media, though, and it needs to match the number of channels and on your high res original files exactly. If your audio channels match, you can relink, but you have to select each clip in the list and manually link them one by one by finding each file.
You can also use Resolve to relink, which has a much more robust relinking system.
Neither method is prefect. FCPX will be more accurate, Resolve has the potential to make a mess of the audio as Resolve does not honor audio channel config and selection from FCPX and includes all audio channels instead of what is ‘active’ in the fcpx timeline. But it’s worth trying as it may work if the audio is simple enough.
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FCPX cannot link mp4 to mov in a batch, but it can do it one by one. You must have the exact same audio channels on your proxy media, though, and it needs to match the number of channels and on your high res original files exactly. If your audio channels match, you can relink, but you have to select each clip in the list and manually link them one by one by finding each file.
Thanks, Jeremy
No dice. I’m afraid. You did mean File/Relink… right?
Error message below indicated I need to relink the same media type (presumably .mp4). The audio is unchanged.
“Incompatible file.
The original file and new file have no shared media range.
Relinked files must have the same media type and similar audio channels as the original files, and must be long enough to cover all the clips that reference the files.”
I’m going to try editing the XML to point at the 422 original files.
Are there any recommendations for doing this? -
Do they mp4s have timecode?
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Apparently the .mp4s do have TC, though i’m not 100% sure how to check that.
Interestingly they won’t open in QT player, only in FCP. -
I’d have to say no, they do not have TC.
.MP4s just show duration from start of clip in FCPX viewer
>MOVs show h:mm:ss:ff timecode -
Then that would be the issue. No program is going to be able to relink these very easily without matching tc.
Do the mp4s have tc burn-in so you can match by hand?
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They do not have burnt in tc. I will get back to Descript and see what else can be exported.
changing XML refs to hi-res versions may work.
I’ll look at that thanks for your help anyway!
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[Chester Dent] “changing XML refs to hi-res versions may work. “
But not if there’s no matching tc it won’t, or at least it shouldn’t.
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Hey Chester, did you ever solve for this? I’m also trying to figure out the right workflow between fcp x and Descript.
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Adam, I did not. Last time I checked the xml is all based on duration from start of clip not T/c.
I’m just about to embark on another small project with Descript 3.9. I’ll let you know if I get any further with conforming. Please stay in touch.
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