ProRes 422 Render Codec question (Sequence Settings)

[Michael Kammes]

A few things:

You can do you edit in XDCAM as you normally would. When you are done with your Edit, change the sequence render settings to ProRes and re-render. That will take all the footage and effects in your timeline and render it out to Pro Res.

I’ve always been on the fence with XDCAM. If it’s cuts only, low track count, very little effects or color work, it’s fine. Otherwise I prefer doing a pre-encode into Pro Res before I start editing.

As far as your timeline going Red…that’s expected if you are mixing codecs in the timeline. Mixing Pro Res, XDCAM, and graphics files is difficult for FCP to do in real time.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .

[Holden Kim]

You can do you edit in XDCAM as you normally would. When you are done with your Edit, change the sequence render settings to ProRes and re-render.

Thanks, Michael for the quick answer. I’m sorry for my ignorance but what’s the benefit of editing in XDCAM and “re-render” after changing the render codec setting to ProRes? Would it be better if I change the render codec setting to ProRes first and edit away?

That will take all the footage and effects in your timeline and render it out to Pro Res.

Don’t I need to change the QuickTime Video Settings’ Compressor setting to ProRes if I want the final QuickTime exported movie to be ProRes? Because when I left my Compressor setting to XDCAM HD, the QuickTime movie was exported to XDCAM although my Render Codec was set to ProRes? Does that make sense? I’m sorry if I’m confusing you. It’s because I’m confused too.

Thanks

[Michael Kammes]

The benefit of editing natively in XDCAM is that you can load the disc and/or files and begin editing right away. You cannot do this if you transcode to Pro Res before you edit. What you are essentially gaining is time.

The benefit of rendering in Pro Res is that the quality and color space of the render will be better, due to the compression scheme Pro res utilizes compared to XDCAM.

If you change the render codec to Pro Res, and your timeline sequence settings are set to XDCAM, you will render into Prores, but FCP may not play it back in Real Time because your sequence is set to XDCAM. FCP like having things all in harmony for optimal playback.

The final export setting is dictated when you go to FILE–EXPORT. All other settings dictate what FCP uses while it’s running (timeline, render, etc.)

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .

[Holden Kim]

Thanks for the elaborated answer, but I’m not sure if some of your answers are 100% true. For example:

The final export setting is dictated when you go to FILE–EXPORT. All other settings dictate what FCP uses while it’s running (timeline, render, etc.)

When QuickTime Video Settings’ Compressor is changed to ProRes, it exports ProRes. In the same way, when it’s set to XDCAM HD, it exports XDCAM HD. I’m strictly talking about File-Export-QuickTime Movie here, not File-Export-Using QuickTime Conversion. So correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I have no choice but to change the Compressor setting to ProRes if I want the completed full-res video in ProRes.

Anyway, let me get this straight. I’m just gonna write down these steps in order and please tell me if I’m doing anything wrong. The POINT is I want the most efficient and best way to edit XDCAM HD footages using ProRes 422 codec, hopefully in final video in ProRes codec as well.

Steps:
1. Use XDCAM Transfer program downloaded on Sony website to transfer XDCAM HD footages.
2. Import them into FCP browser, drag one of the clips to timeline and let the FCP match the setting automatically. That gives me (XDCAM HD 30p in Compressor setting and Same as Sequence Codec in Render Codec setting)
3. Then change the Render Codec setting to ProRes and leave the Compressor setting alone for now.
4. Edit and finish it then when I need to export full-res QuickTime Movie, change the Compressor setting to ProRes (??, and render it again?)

This way, I get to edit natively, which in my case XDCAM HD, and still render faster using ProRes codec. Does this sound about right? Or on step 3, should I change the Compressor setting to ProRes and edit so I don’t have to re-render again after it’s finished? (note: I’m NOT talking about transcoding all the footages and bring them into FCP here.)

Thanks again for your help. It’s really helping me a lot. I’m just not there yet, still need some stuff cleared.