need to convert avc-Intra to apple pro res

[Oliver Peters]

[Michael W. Towe] “If I import from a P2 card file structure I can tell X to optimize and according to the files it creates in the High Quality Media folder when played in Quicktime player they are ProRes. The files in the Original Media folder are ai5p I am assuming that is AVCIntra. So it looks like it is indeed optimizing.”

I see what you are saying. I just tested a few AVC-Intra clips. Inside FCP X it says AVC-Intra, whether optimized on import or not. In QT player 7, X and Pro Player the clip in the Transcoded Media – High Quality folder is in fact ProRes. The one that wasn’t transcoded on import is only re-wrapped. Neither lets you transcode Optimized Media after it has been imported. So I guess if you want ProRes, you have to pick Optimized at the time of import. I’m not sure where you set the format. I guess it follows the last Project setting. Sounds like this is all a bug.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Michael W. towe]

Yep I noticed that too. In the FCPX inspector the footage always shows as AVCI, even if you transcode on import and it is linking to a ProRes file. I think you’re spot on with the bug comment.

Michael W. Towe
President M2 Digital Post
http://www.m2digitalpost.com

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Michael W. Towe] “Yep I noticed that too. In the FCPX inspector the footage always shows as AVCI, even if you transcode on import and it is linking to a ProRes file. I think you’re spot on with the bug comment.”

This has happened with FCPX since the beginning.

It shows you the format of the original media, even if it’s optimized.

For instance, if you use HDSLR h264 media and optimize it, the inspector shows h264 and not ProRes. I don’t know if it’s a bug or feature.

AVCIntra 100 is a 10bit full raster, i-frame codec (like ProRes). Optimizing it won’t really do anything but take up more disk space.

Jeremy

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Michael and Jeremy,

I’ll download AVC-Intra decoder and the user manual from that link. Not had really good luck with Panasonic user manuals but maybe it will help.

So when I want to get the P2 files into compressor from the P2CMS database, how is this done? I’ve used compressor after exporting self contained QT files, drag and drop, and now I’ve used it by sending it to compressor from FCP X. Whoosh, done for you!

One more thing – if inspector in FCP X is saying that a file is still in the original P2 codec even though its been transcoded to pro res, what software can I use to tell me what I really have? My guess is it’s neither a bug nor a feature – it’s simply that the original codec was a piece of meta data that is attached to that clip. Not so much a bug but certainly immature software. (just a guess) Best of both worlds would be AVC-Intra 1080i60 rewrapped as ai5p(?) and then transcoded to pro res 422. That would be truly informative and help you develop better workflows or at least understand the one in front of you.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Michael W. towe]

[Craig Alan] “So when I want to get the P2 files into compressor from the P2CMS database, how is this done? I’ve used compressor after exporting self contained QT files, drag and drop, and now I’ve used it by sending it to compressor from FCP X. Whoosh, done for you!”

Hey Craig,

Not sure why you would need to go to Compressor from P2CMS to create ProRes files, that is an extra unnecessary step. Here’s my workflow with P2 into X.

1 – ShotPut Pro to copy P2 cards to two portable drives.
2- Import into X from portable drive telling X to optimize footage (This will transcode to ProRes however the inspector in X will still show the file as ACVI or ai5p. You can check the files in Quicktime Player by opening them and than looking at the the inspector (cmnd+I) it will show them as indeed ProRes 422)
3 – Edit away.

The only thing I use P2CMS for is to check playback of copied files once ShotPut Pro is done copying from the cards.

Michael W. Towe
President M2 Digital Post
http://www.m2digitalpost.com

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Michael,
What is the advantage of shotput pro over CMS? I’m not having problems getting the P2 footage into FCP X. I need compressor to transcode to AIC for Imovie. Now I can send the files from FCPX optimized or not into compressor but then its going through 2 transcodes.

Another question: By default the AG-HPX250 was set on 1080-59.94i/60i. Do you know if that is a frame rate of 60? I’m going to switch to 1080-59.94i 30PN but I’ve been experimenting with transcoding with footage shot in 60i. So I was wondering what the right settings were in compressor to match the original footage.

I’ll try QT get info to see what it says. I don’t know what FCP X was set at upon import.

Why do you prefer pro res over AVCintra?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Michael W. towe]

Hi Craig,

I use SotPut Pro since it will allow me to copy to multiple drives at the same time. Additionally it will verify the copies to make sure they were done correctly. If you do go to ShotPut make sure it is the most current release, I believe it’s Ver.5. Previous versions had issues with Lion and Mountain Lion where the copy speeds were unbearably slow. The latest version has the speed back down to about a gig per minute.

To answer your question on 1080-59.94i/60i… That frame rate is actually 30 or 29.97. The 60i is referring to the 60 interlaced fields, not frames, per second. The 30PN you are shooting is 30 or 29.97 frames per second but is shooting progressive frames not interlaced. I would suggest staying with the 30PN as progressive is so much easier in post. If you have someone that requires a 60i master then just drop your final edit into a 60i timeline/project and render it out. I do this all the time for the local NBC folks who want 60i

As for ProRes over ACVIntra… To be honest this is a bit of a carry over from FCP7 for me. I had a habit of getting everything into ProRes before editing. The knowledge I have gained from this thread has me rethinking that workflow. On my next project I think I will skip the transcode in X and just work in the AVCIntra format. If it works fine I’ll go that route and save the time of transcoding/optimizing.

Lastly for your need to go to compressor to get to AIC, I am afraid I can’t be of any help to you there. Not having used iMovie and having to do that in the past I am ignorant of the process of getting the P2 files into compressor.

Michael W. Towe
President M2 Digital Post
http://www.m2digitalpost.com

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Michael.

It’s strange that compressor can’t read P2 but if I set FCP X to not transcode to pro res and then send to compressor its pretty close. No matter what it seems AIC is pretty lossy. Oh well, by next year we’ll skip Imovie and just have students who know FCP X help the newbies.

Yeah I’m going to go with 30PN. I used 30P last year when we started with the AG-HPX170PJ. The footage looked great. We used FCP 7 exclusively and I felt pretty comfortable with the work flow. I like the AG-HPX250PJ even better but started playing with it on the default settings which was 60i.

The two things I wanted with the 170 were a more powerful lens and three rings instead of two for zoom, focus and aperture. They added both of these plus a better codec. Not sure about 3MOS vs 3CCD. I kinda like ccd more.

Not sure how I feel about FCP X but need to get off the fence and learn it better. I will say I like the “browser” part of the program. Just a better interface for seeing your import and playing around with it. The timeline part will take some getting used to. I don’t mind having a magnetic option and don’t mind having it as the default with the option to turn it off. Not having tracks is a huge change and for me a lot less intuitive.

Thanks for your help. I can see where shotput could come in handy when you are ingesting tons of stuff and need backups. There is a new app on Panasonic’s site that is a P2 for sale reader of some sort. Not sure what it does exactly.

P2 Viewer Plus
This new software supports P2 file viewing, copying and metadata editing for the latest Windows and Mac operating systems.

https://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/support/software.asp

scroll down to last download

Maybe a shotgun alternative or vice versa?

Craig

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Robert Hotz]

So Michael, are you understanding this yet? Because I’m seeing this now too and am terribly confused. I shoot P2 AVC-Intra. FCPX ingests and I tell it to “optimize media”. It copies the original AVC-Intra file to the location I specify, and converts it to ProRes and places that file in the Project Library “High Quality Media” folder (which I hate, because I don’t need both). In FCPX, it shows the file as optimized, but links to the AVCIntra version. If I tell it to optimize, then why wouldn’t it be using the ProRes version?

Apple says FCPX will “ALWAYS USE THE OPTIMIZE VERSION IF IT’S AVAILABLE.”

I find that in FCPX, I end up with 2 versions of every ingested movie file and this takes up space. It does the same with DSLR. I don’t need to keep the original H264, so I have to go in and delete files upon every import. Ingesting in FCPX is very time and space consuming. Is this by design?

Robert Hotz
Marketing Editor/Photographer
ABC10 San Diego

[Zach Smith]

This thread seems to be similar to the issue I am facing while importing AVC-100/60i footage into FCPX.

In the import window in FCPX I am utilizing the option to make selections from the clips on the P2 so I am not importing unwanted or unusable footage. I am not choosing to optimize the footage.

When I import and view my selections in FCPX everything looks correct but if I right click on one of those clips and choose reveal in finder. The clip that was saved in the original media folder doesn’t match what’s in FCPX.

I don’t understand why I would have the option to just import what I want from a clip if FCPX isn’t actually going to just save that portion of the clip. I am also confused why my selections are honored in the FCPX viewer but not in the original media folder.

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!