destructive edits?

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Oliver,

Best practices for file-based media in FCP 7 is to make a copy of a camera’s entire media folder and then import so no biggie there.

Let’s face it; tape had/has become a really inexpensive way of saving masters and original recordings. Backing up media cards onto HDs will have to do for now. But HDs are not great for long-term archiving.

Follow up question:

Why is it that FCP X is not QT based but can work with an Apple ProRes 422 QT file?

And since it can, can’t I highlight a portion of a FCP 7 prores 422 timeline and export it as a self contained QT file (keep all current settings) and then import that into FCP X?

Even though I would like to import entire FCP 7 timelines, given that I can’t, being able to import portions of those timelines could come in handy even if the edits themselves are now fixed.

Your list is solid but FCP 8 would have been a key player and unlike FCP X truly comprehensive. I teach pre-production, production and postproduction. I do not teach advanced classes for postproduction. We’ll see how the free version of Resolve works out. I think you still need a control surface and a high-end graphics card. Not sure. Going to post on the DaVinci forum and ask what the minimum is to handle that program.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Oliver Peters]

[Craig Alan] ”
Why is it that FCP X is not QT based but can work with an Apple ProRes 422 QT file?”

You have to separate underlying media architectures from supported media formats. FCP 1-7 were based on working through QuickTime to deal with imported and captured content. When you import a still in FCP 7, for example, the appearance inside FCP is controlled by QT. FCP X uses AV Foundation. This doesn’t prevent it from still bringing in QT files as a media type.

[Craig Alan] ” FCP 7 prores 422 timeline and export it as a self contained QT file (keep all current settings) and then import that into FCP X”

Sure you can. But all you have is a flattened media file.

[Craig Alan] “Your list is solid but FCP 8 would have been a key player and unlike FCP X truly comprehensive”

Essentially PPro CS 5.5 is what a 64-bit FCP 8 would have looked like.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com