Question about ProRes Alpha channel in FCP 7

[Kevin Monahan]

David,
The alpha channel is only in ProRes 4:4:4:4. It’s an awesome codec and one that will finally replace the Animation codec in my own workflow. Unlike Animation, ProRes 4:4:4:4 can play back in the timeline with Dynamic RT enabled. Very nice.

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[David Roth weiss]

Thanks Kevin.

Yes, I’ve been looking forward to this improvement for a long time. I think it counts as a small, but very significant improvement.

David

David Roth Weiss
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[Kevin Monahan]

The new ProRes codecs are very nice indeed. I like ProRes Proxy. Lightweight, but still looks great.

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[John Pale]

[Kevin Monahan] ” ProRes 4:4:4:4 can play back in the timeline with Dynamic RT enabled. Very nice.
“

Great that it works in Dynamic RT, but Avid’s been able to do multiple layers of RT alpha keying for years….even on Mac hardware! This limitation is deadly on a sports show with lots of graphics.

[John Pale]

What I meant to add was that Avid can do it at Full Output Quality…not just preview.

[Walter Biscardi]

[John Pale] “What I meant to add was that Avid can do it at Full Output Quality…not just preview.”

Yeah and I could do this three or four years ago with the Pinnacle CineWave in FCP. Realtime Animation codec / alpha channel key, in realtime, in full quality straight to tape, no rendering. Chroma keying too. Sad that we can’t do this at all with much faster machines and newer improved FCP.

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[John Pale]

This is an unbelievably bad limitation in sports coverage, where a score or clock graphic is up for nearly the whole time. Its totally a real time effect on Avid, but on FCP you need to basically render vast sections of the show. Just love looking at a producers face when you have to explain that one.

[Kevin Monahan]

My bad. I just tested it. It actually does playback in real time (dark green render quality) with SafeRT/High Quality/Full Frame Rate. So there you have it!

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[John Pale]

[Kevin Monahan] “My bad. I just tested it. It actually does playback in real time (dark green render quality) with SafeRT/High Quality/Full Frame Rate. So there you have it! “

Woo Hoo!

[Tom Matthies]

Ya’ll gotta remember too that all the higher end Avid systems have a LOT of hardware support in their board sets that allow for the added functionality you are talking about. FCP is, for the most part, all software based and one of the reasons it’s so much less expensive that Avid.
My 2¢ worth.
Tom

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