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Reference movie issue
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P2 files… aren’t files but databases in a file folder structure. And they aren’t actually supported in Resolve. Resolve supports a specific list of media formats and containers.
https://blackmagic-design.com/media/2588311/davinci_resolve_8.2_supported_codec_list.pdf
You’ll notice reference movies aren’t on that list.
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[Joseph Owens] “A reference movie can and should contain everything that can be added to a Final Cut timeline — media, generators, transitions, filters, and a very long list of other things that are absolutely not going to fly in Resolve.”
Yes but filters, generators, etc all need to be rendered as QT files so not matter how complex the FCP timeline, it all ends up being a list of QT files wrapped up by a single ref file.
I can export a 2hr timeline as a QT ref file in seconds . It would take 1/2hr to flatten out the same to a self contained file. Not to mention the extra space required.
QT ref is a uniquely powerful feature of QT. Many are afraid to use it but it can turn processes that take hours into seconds. Take syncing picture to .wav. I can create hundreds of synced QT ref files representing many hours in less than a minute. The same process creating self contain QT would take many hours.
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Just use XML out of FCP. Resolve supports these.
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[Juan Salvo] “P2 files… aren’t files but databases in a file folder structure. And they aren’t actually supported in Resolve. Resolve supports a specific list of media formats and containers.”
If you want to call xml files a database.. ok. I could say the same for QT ref. Semantics really.
[Juan Salvo] “https://blackmagic-design.com/media/2588311/davinci_resolve_8.2_supported_co…
You’ll notice reference movies aren’t on that list.”
That’s a list of codecs not file formats, thou .mov is listed many times under file ext. Like I said before, if an app supports .mov it normally supports referenced .mov. I’ve never seen it specifically excluded.
I’m surprised it doesn’t support P2. There are many formats that are essentially referenced formats that break video and audio into separate files, mxf included. This may be why Resolve doesn’t pass audio as it ignores the elemental audio files. That will be a problem if DaVinci decides to grant the much requested ability to pass audio in renders. Count me in wanting that BTW.
John Heagy
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[Juan Salvo] “Just use XML out of FCP. Resolve supports these.”
Yes that’s a great feature. But lets say I’m using the Calibrated or MXF4Mac QT components in order to use P2 or Sony .mxf media directly in FCP. That would not pass to Resolve in an xml because they both use ref movie tech to re-wrap the .mxf.
QT ref is a powerful tech, and given QT does all the heavy lifting, it should be supported by Resolve. Again, it may be that DaVinci did not intend to exclude it.
John Heagy
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[John Heagy] “given QT does all the heavy lifting,”
You assume that Resolve is using QT APIs to decompress media.
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Regardless of the power of that portion of QT, not arguing that it can be a life saver, how much work could have been done on your DaVinci by exporting local files, the DaVinci having access to the media or the DaVinci machine creating it’s own local files from the Refs while you’ve been telling us how great the “Tech” is, which I believe most agree with.
Ref’s can save a ton of space, but not really because the renders need to be somewhere…. either in the Ref itself or in your render folder. Ref’s can, but not always, save a bunch of time. But right now, it appears that you are fighting an uphill battle with something that doesn’t do what you want it to do.
It’s also worth noting that, as a far as I’ve noticed, no one from BMD has chimed in here….
Sorry to be that guy…
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[Eric Johnson] “how much work could have been done on your DaVinci by exporting local files”
Thank you for the concern, but no loss of work has occurred. We’re in the early stages of integrating Resolve into our workflow.
[Eric Johnson] “it appears that you are fighting an uphill battle with something that doesn’t do what you want it to do.”
No battle has ensued, except with some who insist I should be happy with the Status Que. Believe me, if I settled for all the short comings and out right bugs I’ve encountered in apps we rely on… I’d be in a world of hurt. I’m prepared to lobby my case and, unless I get a definitive “no” from BMD, I can wait patiently for the fix/feature and work around it in the meantime.
If others have no need for ref movies then fine. Unless ref movie support in some way disrupts your workflow, I don’t understand the resistance here.
John Heagy
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[Juan Salvo] “You assume that Resolve is using QT APIs to decompress media.”
Not necessarily…
QT API calls and codecs can work independently. It’s very possible to use the QT API to locate and describe a ref movie and then use the codec separately, depending on the codec.
I believe one must use QT to decode ProRes unless Apple deems you worthy and provides the keys to AV Foundation.
John Heagy
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