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general codec editing question
So as I’ve been working with Final Cut for a couple months now…I’m trying to understand how Final Cut works best with codecs.
You can change your sequence settings to work with any codec natively…but it seems that the best are DVCPRO-HD and ProRes. (I’ve only worked personally with ProRes, but I’ve seen a lot of people use DVCPRO-HD)
Should my workflow be to push (transcode) my footage to a common format like these, or to edit natively in their codec – h264, XDCAM-EX, etc.
How do you make the decision of what codec to use?
Does it matter if I mix ProRes formats?
Thanks in advance for help in clearing this up for me.
-Jason
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4 Replies
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Hi Jason,
I don’t think there’s ‘one best codec’ though I’m liking ProRes very much, too. I transcode, via Firewire, HDV to ProRes and it makes for good visuals and smooth editing.
As much as possible, I’ll work with the native format. But when it comes to formats like H.264, which are not designed for editing [more like a delivery format], I’ll transcode it first. If it’s a SD project, likely to be DVCPro50 [better color space for graphics than basic DV]. If HD, ProRes.
Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
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I agree with Kai.
No much need to transcode except in certain situations.
I edit XDCAM native and export to Proress.
DVCProHD is another acquisition format.
Capture or edit with him only if this gonna be your delivery format. If not: Proress.
So more or less the thing is to render to a better codec than your acquisition one.
This whatever will be your delivery format. Make a good Proress master and from this you can make MPEG-2 for DVDs, web videos, print to tape or whatever you want.
Best,
Rafael -
I’m currently shooting HDV on a Canon XL-H1 and I read (and am experiencing problems with) something about the HDV capture to ProRes not carrying correct TimeCode over with it?
I’ve been experiencing a bunch of problems with the HDV – FinalCut workflow. I’m sure most of it is user error, I’m just very new to Final Cut…I have a long background in AVID…
-Jason
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Hi Jason,
I haven’t work with HDV, but there is tutorial in the cow (of Chris Poisson) about the HDV>Proress workflow.
rafael
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