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First FCP project -HD & a few Qs
Hello all,
I’m a long time Discreet edit*or, finally transitioning to FCP. Now my first project is an HD concert (7 cameras, 14 hours total ingest)! It was shot using a mix of HDX-900s and Varicams, set to 720P and 23.98 fps.
I’m using a MacPro running the latest Tiger patch, with 2 dual-core processors and 4G ram. I/O is thru the AJA IO HD.
The first release of the project will be in SD and a later Christmas release of the HD version. The 24 track audio mix is being done at another facility on a Pro Tools rig.
My first question is about the codec to use for capture. Everything I’ve heard and read leads me to believe the Apple ProResHD (HQ) codec is the way to go, especially with the AJA box. Is there any reason I’d want to consider the DVCPROHD codec?
Since the project’s only usages will be home video (and maybe promotional plays on the cable and satellite music channels) I would probably do the pulldown at capture. Is there any reason I’d want to edit at 24fps and do the pulldown(s) at the project output?
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8 Replies
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[Chef Ken] “Since the project’s only usages will be home video (and maybe promotional plays on the cable and satellite music channels) I would probably do the pulldown at capture. Is there any reason I’d want to edit at 24fps and do the pulldown(s) at the project output?”
Chef,
Glad to see you took my advice… and, it sounds like a cool project.
Why not stay progressive and wind-up with a true progressive DVD at essentially 2X the resolution of interlaced?
Good luck,
DavidDavid Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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[Chef Ken] ” Everything I’ve heard and read leads me to believe the Apple ProResHD (HQ) codec is the way to go, especially with the AJA box. Is there any reason I’d want to consider the DVCPROHD codec?”
Everything you’ve shot is naitive DVCPro HD. For me the question is “is there any reason to consider ProRes?”
It’s my understanding that the Io HD can play DVCPro HD out to your monitor without any problem.
If you bring everything into FCP via firewire, you’ll have no loss, and FCP can remove the pulldown on capture, allowing you to edit everyting in naitive 24P.
Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog -
Howdy DRW,
Thanks for the advice, I’ll most certainly take it. Nothing like being thrown in the deep end, eh?
I’ll be using FCP’s Multiclip function to edit. Any issues with it that you know of?
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Arnie,
To stay native would be ideal, all other things being equal. Since I’ll be editing Multiclips (7 HD cameras), I’d gotten suggestions that Apple ProRes HQ would handle the throughput better. The AJA supports it with hardware, not just software, and the file sizes are somewhat smaller. But I certainly do not want to compromise image quality, if that would be the case with the transcoding. Don’t have any experience with it, but I will after this project! Do you think the DVCPRO HD codec is just as capable?
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What kind of storage do you have?
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At 60P, DVCPro HD is 100 Mbps, and Pro Res is either 145 or 220 Mbps, depending on which setting you choose. I do not expect you would see any difference between running naitive DVCPro HD and Pro Res, unless you were looking on your scopes.
Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog -
4TB at RAID 0.
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That sounds good. You’ll need around 120MB/sec give or take for 7 streams if ProResHQ @ 720p23.98. If you decide to cut @ 59.94 that number will jump to 220MB or so. I’d suggest cutting @ 23.98 for that reason alone.
Also, if using the ioHD, use ProRes or HQ. It’s really what the box wants to see and ProRes has been a great codec (for me anyway) so far.
Jeremy
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