Need some serious help with DVCPRO HD

[Shane Ross]

This is advice if you are using FCP 5.1.4 or lower:

When you have multiple cameras that record multiple formats, then you need to capture ALL of them at the same codec. That way you can work with them all without the hassle of rendering. If you have HD footage and SD footage, and you intend to work on an HD timeline and deliver an HD show, then you need to upconvert the SD footage, like the DV 50. For this you need the Kona 3, or a 1200HD or 1400HD deck that can do that. The HDV you capture via the Kona as DVCPRO HD…the DVCPRO 50 you use the Kona 3 or 1200 deck as I mentioned. You need to capture everything as the same codec and same frame size.

This is advice for using FCP 6:

Just drop all the footage into the timeline and it all just works, and works well. Multiple frame rates, codecs…doesn’t matter. FCP 6 handles this.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[Chad Denning]

Well unfortunately my assist brought all of this in their native codecs… that’s why I was doing all of the hoop jumping. My big issue here is why doesn’t FCP export a clip out of a timeline that it can recognize when you bring it back in? I found a workaround using Compressor to convert my DVCPRO HD timeline to (surprise!) DVCPROHD clip that will play in my original timeline. And yes, FCP6 can’t come here soon enough. I wish I had the luxury of testing it out in one of our slow suites like Walter is but 6 is gonna get a baptism by fire on this project. It’s gonna be a long few weeks.

[Ben Insler]

Shane, I’m jealous if you have 6 already. I can’t wait.

But Peace Frog, I think your problem (as Shane touched on) is that you have two formats, 960 and 1280, and current FCP timelines only natively play one format. From the fact that your multiclips are working, it sounds like your timeline is set up for 960×720 (which is more of a HDV resoution which uses much more interpolation and anamorphic stretch than DVCPRO HD to get to a 16×9 aspect ratio). This will not play 1280×720 DVCPRO HD natively, but worse, this will cause your delivery to output in 960×720. If you’re deliering in HD, you don’t want to be dropping the DVCPRO HD footage resolution, and this is efectvely what you will be doing by using DVCPRO HD in a 960 timeline, as the 1280 footage will be scaled and distorted (although it will still “appear” the same) to fit in the 960 space. You should convert all your footage to 1280×720 DVCPRO HD and set your timeline for this – then your multiclips will not need to be rendered, and all your footage will be playing back natively at the BEST possible quality upon delivery.

Don’t sweat too much. If you don’t know about it already, you can use batch export to convert these clips – you do not have to do them one by one. Just do a test with one and make sure they stretch and display correctly as you up-convert from 960 to 1280. Your computer will have to work for a while to convert everything, but you can just click start and then go see Grindhouse twice, and when you come back you’ll be good to go… OK, it might take a while longer, but still. You may even be able to reconnect your old logs in your browser to your newly converted footage (no guarantees, tho). But I think you’ll still have to remake your multiclips.

If you absolutely need to keep working with mixed formats, make sure Unlimited RT is on and set to dynamic frame rate and quality. Your DVCRO HD footage should play back OK with these settngs in a 960 timeline (athough playback may stall on your external monitor).

Anyway,, hope that helps.

Ben

[Chad Denning]

I must not be ‘splaining myself clearly enough. I’m working in a DVCPROHD 720p24 timeline which is 960×720. My 3 main cams (HVX) are 720p24, hence why I set my timeline like it is. All the other formats were brought in and placed on top of my 8 tracks of DA88 audio (which is 1hr and 24 mins long)

I rendered each cam out one at a time and exported them out to a QT using “export a QT movie” I kept the settings the same as the timeline and presto a new clip that I could bring back into my timeline that was 960×720. When I went to do the exact same thing with the HVX footage it exported it as 1280×720 (even though the original clips, and the timeline show up in the “frame size” column of the browser as 960×720.)

When I go and import those clips in, they need rendered or have an orange bar. They should play like the others (they are native for heaven’s sake). The simple question now is, why does FCP export DVCPROHD at 1280×720 then not recognize it as DVCPROHD when it’s imported in. Like I said in my previous post. If I export using Compressor’s DVCPROHD setting it comes out as 960×720 and everything’s fine. So after all of that, I’m now ready to start editing.

[Chris Borjis]

maybe you should use mpeg stream clip to force the HVX clips to conform to 960×720?

[Chad Denning]

Not a bad idea… I ended up using Compressor… more or less did the same thing. With our new Facilis Terrablock I set 3 of the 6 suites up to compress the clips while I worked on another part of the show. Now that was handy.

[David Roth weiss]

[Peace Frog] ” I wish I had the luxury of testing it out in one of our slow suites like Walter is but 6 is gonna get a baptism by fire on this project. It’s gonna be a long few weeks.”

Just in case, clone your system drive first and it will just be a simple trial rather than a trial by fire.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

[Ben Insler]

P.F.

You’re right. I was typing that last post on my phone and clearly not thinking all to clearly as I tried to navigate the tiny Moto Q keyboard. Anyway, even though we were talking about 960×720, I was referencing a 1280×1080 workflow. My apologies.

Why are you exporting your DVCPRO HD clips through QT conversion. They are filmed natively at 960×720, no? Conform all of your non-DVCPRO HD clips to 920×720, and just leave the DVCPRO HD clips alone. That should work fine…or am I still missing the boat?

-Ben

[Chris Borjis]

[David Roth Weiss] “Just in case, clone your system drive first and it will just be a simple trial rather than a trial by fire.”

I just recieved an exact same drive (maxtor sata) as my main system drive and will be doing just that David (per your suggestion)

chris

[David Roth weiss]

Glad to see somebody heard that…

Did you get your upgrade? If so, then my theory about delivery being alphabetical might just be correct.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles