Importing variable frame rate footage from a Panasonic AG-HVX200

[Steve Eisen]

[Danni Karanja] ” For one using a DVCPRO-720P24 capture preset or creating a custom preset, FCP ONLY captures the video in 59.94fps”

This is correct. They should have taught you this in film school. You need to shoot 24pn.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group

[Danni Karanja]

Thanks Dave-

But what exactly is the difference? I thought Transferring was like capturing… or is transferring create low res clips to offline edit and then create a EDL after which you can online edit the final cut?

Sorry I’m a very spatial thinker- but if you could elaborate on the difference and also tell me how to do a low res offline edit to save hard disk space. I’m desperately trying to figure out a more economical work flow.

Cheers!

[Danni Karanja]

Thanks Dave,

I get it now. From now on I’ll use 24PN when I’m using variable frame rates. In terms of the log and transfer command- problem is I’m using FCP5 so that option isn’t there. I started logging my shots with the intention to batch capture. Thus far I’ve logged all my shots (setting the in and out TC) but when hit batch capture for my selected clips I encounter this error message:

“Batch capture: Time code error: Unable to locate the specified timecode. You may have specified a timecode with insufficient room for pre/post roll operation.”

I understand (on a technical level) what FCP is saying- but I’m not sure what I should do to correct this, or how I could have entered my in/out time codes with allowance for pre/post roll.

I have a deadline for Monday to get this edit done, so I’m just gona try re-enter the in out points and capture them one by one.

[Danni Karanja]

Don’t answer the last question- I’ve figured out why I got that message. I wasn’t running the tape before clicking batch capture, so it wasn’t reading the time code. Now that I’ve got it to capture- a few other errors occur.

To begin with my frame rate for this project was mostly 24p with a few variations of 30p (for timelapses) and 8F (interval shooting) for quick motion dramatic effect- but again most of my footage was shot in 24p. On import my capture settings are 720p24 48kHz with advanced pull down for duplicate frames. I know understand that when you shoot in 24p its actually 24/60 and its recording more than 24 frames- but I’m unclear about the advanced pulldown for duplicate frames setting.

This is because for at least every bin that I batch capture I get three clips that pop up with errors saying: VFR/pull down cadence were detected.

When I’ve encountered the problem I’ve simply changed the capture presets to 720p60 and its imported it as 59.94.

I’m trying to grasp this as best as I can. Thanks to your help I understand how the camera records frame rates better- I just need to understand how FCP imports these frame rates.

Cheers,