HDV Problems FCP 6

[Bill Dewald]

[Brad Jenkins] “Whats weird is when i play the clip in the viewer or canvas of final cut everything is perfect,”

So what’s the issue, then? Your system specs might be a bit low for ProRes – but if you’re getting playback in FCP, you’re in good shape, right?

How are you monitoring?

[Brad Jenkins]

Its only good in FCP. When i exported, even a 20 second test, using QT movie-current settings- self contained movie, the export is as bad as the original captured file in the capture scratch. As far as monitoring, im not sure what you mean, but in final cut pro it looks good in the canvas and viewer. The quicktime files Im using quicktime pro, my computer monitor with the Geforce FX 5200

Brad J.

[Bill Dewald]

[Brad Jenkins] “using QT movie-current settings- self contained movie”

And we’re talkin’ ProRes as those current settings? Have you tried or can you try native HDV?

Also, regarding the format/source of the tape, can you try shooting some footage with the Hdr-fx1 and ingesting that? I’ve found that Canon HDV does not play nicely with Sony camcorders.

But your hunch about the system specs vs. ProRes HD may be right.

[Brad Jenkins]

If it’s system spec’s only, will more ram fix the problems or is it the dual 1.8 ghz ?

Im going to export with the native HDV settings and test shoot with the sony camera.

I have a call in about the Camera that it was shot on, But I do believe it was a Sony HDV Cam and not a canon. I’ll know soon for sure.
thanks

Brad J.

[Bill Dewald]

I reread your top post and I missed something – the bottleneck for your system is your single drive.

Non HQ ProRes (1080i) is 145Mbit/s. which, I believe, requires at least a four disk RAID.

HDV (1080i) is 25Mbit/s, which still may require a two disk RAID to be rock solid.

Could someone else chime in on the specifics?

[Jeff Bernstein]

No, No, No, and No Everyone take a time out. In order for HD to work with FCP, you need an Intel proc. The ProRes codec was optimized for Intel. On some systems, you may get a Dual Quad-Core G5 to work, but just barely. Being on one of the slowest G5 systems, no chance in he11 that’s going to work.

You can, however, use DVCProHD instead.

Jeff Bernstein

Digital Desktop Consulting
Apple Pro Video VAR
XSAN Certified
MetaSAN Master Reseller

323-653-7611

[Bill Dewald]

Nonononononon….

By HD, you mean prores, right? Cos you went on to reccomend dvcprohd…

[Brad Jenkins]

Thanks Bill and Jeff. So is it #1 that my system is not intel, AND #2 the limitations of the single hard drive ( needing a raid set up) why I cant use Apple Pro Res? Just so Im clear, its both issues and not just #1 ????

Can someone please tell me what else I will be limited to by not having a RAID set up ?

Sounds like I should really look into a RAID set up. Any suggestions for the best set up ????? Is the G-Raid a “Good” option?

I know in the near future I will want the capability of working with Uncompressed video, and many of the other codecs I havent worked in yet. Will not having a RAID set up and an intel processor limit me from working with any of these?

Thanks Again.

BTW- I found out it was shot with a Sony HVR-Z1U HDV, and again Im capturing with the Sony FX1, so there shouldnt be any issues there.

Brad J.

[David Roth weiss]

[Jeff Bernstein] “In order for HD to work with FCP, you need an Intel proc.”

No, no, no! ProRes absolutely does work on non-Intel machines, and HDV can be captured to ProRes via firewire on the fly, using the exact technique that Brad used. See the tutorial at https://library.creativecow.net/articles/poisson_chris/hdv-prores.php . I use this workflow all the time myself, and cut on a dual 2.3ghz G5.

In order to capture using a Kona or BM card you do need an Intel machine, or at least the very fastest quadcore G5, but that’s a horse of a different color.

In Brad’s case he has two weak links. As Bill pointed out, the it is his single drive that is the weakest link. He absolutely needs a raid of at least two drives minimum, and better yet 3 or 4. He is also hamstrung by slow procs, but that’s not nearly as big a problem for him as the single hard drive.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.

[David Roth weiss]

[Brad Jenkins] “Can someone please tell me what else I will be limited to by not having a RAID set up ?”

Brad,

Bill is absolutely correct, your biggest performance issue is using a single drive as your media drive. The throughput of a single SATA drive is not sufficient for editing multiple streams of ProRes. A raid with two SATA drives will do the trick, but a three or four drive raid will be even better, translating into vastly improved realtime performance.

Since you mentioned that you want to ultimately have the capabiity of editing uncompressed HD, you should understand that the throughput requirements are much higher, requiring a raid with 6 to 8 hard drives. So, plan accordingly…

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.