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Exporting files for VFX
OK, I am working on a project that was shot with a Cannon XL-H1 set to shoot HDV 24p.
Here’s where the “new world of HD” looses me. This camera shoots 1080i. We were shooting progressive. Is there a 3:2 pulldown applied before this is laid to the tape? (I think there is).
The manual was very confusing as to what happens to the signal when it is output for display or capture. If anyone is familiar with this camera, I’ll bother you with those questions.
Now (the reason this is on the Final Cut Forum), The footage was captured in Final Cut at the HDV 1080p 24 setting. It looks and plays fine. When I check the footage’s specs under “Item Properties>Format” it shows the aspect ratio as HD 1440×1080 and the Frame Size 1440×1080.
I am exporting footage for effects work in AE. What codecs/settings are best for getting out of the HDV codec but not over sizing the file? And more importantly, when I’m finished in AE, what should I save the file as so it plays on the timeline in FCP.
I’ve used the HDV 1080p 24 settings and had Final Cut drop frames and tell me I need to reduce bit rate or other stuff.
Help! Even telling me where to look (I’ve searched the manual but found little explaination)
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC -
4 Replies
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The Codec I’d suggest is ProRes. Here is a white paper on why it would be a good choice:
images.apple.com/finalcutstudio/resources/white_papers/L342568A_ProRes_WP.pdf
Not sure what the best step out of AE would be. Probably keep it as ProRes and deal with the render time on your HDV time line.
You can set all of your renders in an HDV time line to be ProRes renders – probably a good idea.
Final Cut Pro > User Prefs
Then Render Control Tab.
Then Codec Drop down.
The dropped frames, etc have to do with the processor struggling to keep up with the overhead of HDV. There is a lot going on under the hood to make HDV work as an editing format.
Don’t know enough about the H1 to comment specifically, but I think in general 24fps HDV cameras are recording to 60i with pulldown. Might be a good idea to do an end to end test before you get too deep.
Best,
Tom
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Yeah, I’ve been reading up on HDV and how the computer has to complete each frame as it plays (brilliant yet sucky!). I’d love to convert all of the footage to another format but I think I’m dealing with 6 to 8 hours of footage so size and conversion time are an issue!
I’ve found Pro Res and Apple Intermediate to work the best so it sounds like you’re dead on.
I’m an Avid guy and Avid does any conversions you need automatically during import… easy! So learning all the mechanics behind these formats is new to me. Thanks so much for the reply!
Chris
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC -
You can convert to ProRes or Apple Intermediate Codec as you capture. You just have to use the right capture settings in FCP.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 3.5 HD Editing Workshop” -
True! I sort of knew that 😉 (we demo’d a FCP system at my day job, I’ve forgotten a lot)
Unfortunately I inherited this project mid way through the edit. I had to copy the project and all the media (at HDV settings) to my own external drive and pick it up from there. But thanks again for the advice. Hearing from others helps me get a “feel” for FCP.
Chris
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC
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