Sequence Settings

Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

Sequence Settings

Posted by Natalie Konyalian on October 31, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Hi, I’m still fairly new at using FCP, and get a bit lost when it comes to the technical lingo. I need to know what sequence settings to use for an upcoming project. The footage is coming from three main sources, Sony XDCAM, Canon 5D Mark II and a Varicam, so it’s all been transferred with different formats (frame size, compressor, video rate etc). Once the film is completed, we want to save it on a hard drive to send off for grading, and then transfer it to Digibeta (for TV).

Can someone tell me specifically what sequence settings should be used?

Thanks!

Natalie Konyalian replied 16 years, 6 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
5 Replies

Nick Meyers
November 1, 2009 at 1:34 am

Probably use Prores as a codec.

for frame size you could just go with your delivery format, which is standard def, (PAL or NTSC)

but it might be safer to go with an HD frame size,
in case there is some future need for your show in HD

i’m assuming you are shooting HD,
buy you don’t say what your frame sizes are.
that would help.

Different frame rates is just asking for a hard time.
FCP cant deal with that very well.

for a better answer, you really should list more details.

nick
Rafael Amador
November 1, 2009 at 1:39 am

Hi Natalie,
In FC you can mix almost everything EXCEPT footage with different Time-base.
Get all your footage with a common Time-base.
If you need to transcode some footage (Canon) do it to Prores.
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com
Natalie Konyalian
November 1, 2009 at 7:08 pm

Thanks guys. If it helps, here are the formats I have:

The footage from the Sony XDCAM has the following:

Frame size: 1920×1080
Vid rate: 25 fps
Compressor: XDCAM EX 1080p 25

Frame size: 1280×720
Vid rate: 25 fps
Compressor: XDCAM EX 720p 25

Frame Size: 1920×1080
Vid rate: 23.98 fps
Compressor: XDCAM EX 1080p24

Then there’s the following from the Varicam and the Canon 5D:

Frame Size: 1920×1080
Vid Rate: 24 fps
Compressor: Apple ProRes 422

Frame Size: 1920×1080
Vid Rate: 30 fps
Compressor: H.264

As each one is different, I just need to know what settings to set up the sequence as, in the simplest possible way, ie, what frame size, aspect ratio and compressor etc? We want to save the project on a hard drive when it’s finished, to send it off for grading, and then later be able to transfer it on digibeta for TV airing.

Thanks again.
Rafael Amador
November 2, 2009 at 2:48 am

Hi Natalie,
You have some EX-1 footage at 23’98fps.
Transcode that footage to Prores and then Conform it to 25fps.

With the Canon footage you need to transcode it and change the time-base to 25 fps.
You can do it in MPGStreamclip or in Compressor.

I haven’t work with Varicam and I know that this footage have some particularities.
f you could just Conform it to 25 fps, would be the best solution. No generation lost.
When everything ready you can drop all the stuff in a p25 sequence with the size you want.
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com
Natalie Konyalian
November 4, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Thanks Rafael, I’ll try that and see how I get on :o)

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