-
SWITCHING FCP to PREMIERE… multiple formats… native or transcode?
Hi. I’m in midst of the switch- from FCP to Premiere… I have been reading creativecow forums to get my basics down. I have a specific question regarding a project I started in FCP and now want to complete in Premiere and the question of native/transcoded.
This summer/fall I began working on a documentary in FCP, shooting a Canon 7D, a Canon XA10, a Panasonic HX200, and a GoPro. We FCP ‘Logged & Transferred’ the footage, and used MPEG Streamclip to process the gopro raw footage. Transcoded as such:
– Canon 7D & Canon XA10: Apple Pro Res 1920×1080, 23.98
– Panasonic HVX200: DVCPRO HD 720p 24p
– Go Pro: APple Pro Res 1920×1080, 29.97 (we figured we would need to convert this to 23.98)Beyond ‘Logging & Transferring’ we have done only a little editing. Considering this project will last a few years, I want to set it up in Premiere the best way possible, even if it means accepting that I might have wasted time already.
So this is my question. Is there any difference in how Premiere handles different formats in one timeline if the files are native or transcoded? let me phrase this differently- considering we’ll be editing all footage in the same sequence, if I had never transcoded- would it be better for me to start with a clean slate and work with the native files? would premiere do a better job processing (better performance & looks better upon final output) if…
1. the files are all raw… and edited in one sequence.
2. the files are transcoded, kept as is- meaning they may have different codec, frame rate, frame size… and edited in one sequence.?
3. the files are transcoded, all with the same codec, frame rate, frame size… and edited in one sequence?
4. or do I have it all wrong, and I’m over-thinking this?
Which # is the right track?
On a side note, if it comes down to a question of performance due to my setup performing okay with native files, here is some info to help: two workstations- both are used to work on this project… one is a 2009 macbook pro, and one is a 2011 imac connected via 1 GB ethernet to a maxx digital evo6 set up as a SAN.
thanks all!
-
8 Replies
-
I can’t speak a lot about this….
but it has been noted that although from a GOP structure Prores is a nice codec to work with….
PPro is a 64 bit application….Quicktime is essentially still a 32 application….so while Premiere can read/write Quicktime….you may be adding an unnecessary bottleneck by using Prores and forcing Premiere to deal with that 32 bit addressing for that particular media.
I hope some others can chime in to give you more definitive info.
Alex
-
But at the same time, if you have already transcoded, go with it. You will not have probs. editing QT’s.
Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
and what about using different codes/frame sizes… does premiere handle this better with native or transcoded, or the same?
Should I convert the go pro footage to 23.98 before editing it with the 23.98 footage it in as I would have with FCP or with Premiere does it matter? WHat about the panasonic 720p footage? In FCP I was advised to leave it and just increase the scale within FCP, what about with Premiere. Thoughts?
Katy Garton
http://www.sproutfilms.com -
If you have a powerful enough machine and most of all a powerful graphics card. I would just do a XML export from FC and import that into PPro and edit in native.
Just a thought
Phil LeBeau
http://www.phillebeau.com -
Katy, congrats on making the move.
Premiere Pro will resolve the frame rate issues and actually has a fantastic scaler to mix 720 and 1080 footage. From Adobe’s point of view, the editor shouldn’t have to worry about codec, frame rate or aspect ratio. So, as a general rule, I say throw it all on the timeline.
As for your earlier question, I’d say just stay with what you’ve got. If you have QT PRoRes, then edit with that. If you’ve got some GoPro, don’t bother converting it (unless you want to).
I recommend converting from H.264, AVCHD or other longGOP formats to an I-frame codec (like ProRes) for two reasons only:
1 – your system is a bit older and you it can’t keep up (fairly unusual)
2- you don’t find the editorial experience satisfying with LongGOP formats (scrubbing longGOP video is MUCH more CPU intensive!)I hope this helps.
Dennis – Adobe guy -
thank you all for your great feedback
Dennis that is great information about premiere and codecs/frame rate/frame size… I’m assuming this means native or transcoded it’s all good to just pop it all on the timeline. But on that note, I want to take this opportunity to learn as much as possible for future reference. Dennis, you said, “I recommend converting from H.264, AVCHD or other longGOP formats to an I-frame codec (like ProRes) for two reasons only: 1 – your system is a bit older and you it can’t keep up (fairly unusual) 2- you don’t find the editorial experience satisfying with LongGOP formats (scrubbing longGOP video is MUCH more CPU intensive!)”
Do you mean specifically that since the footage is already transcoded and I’ll be editing the transcoded material, I should convert the H.264, AVCHD or other longGOP formats for the reasons stated or does this apply to native footage as well- meaning, I hadn’t transcoded, would you still advise me to transcode and convert the H264, AVCHD, LongGOP footage while keeping the other footage native. just curious- getting my bases covered for all my projects, present and future.
As for my system, yea the laptop is old, the imac is brand new and I’m thinking of getting a mac mini for a second machine since my macpro/maxx digital server is the work horse. any thoughts about premiere with the mac mini/imac?
Thanks so much!
Katy Garton
http://www.sproutfilms.com -
Phil, I did an XML export from FCP to Premiere- it worked great, but the reference files in FCP and now in Premiere are linked to transcoded files. I was wondering if it was worth starting over since not much editing has been done and working with native… or since all the footage is already transcoded and linked in the project file if I should just stick to transcoded.
the imac: Processor 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7, Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 MB
macbook pro: Processor 2.8 GHz, Memory 8 GB of RAM, Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
thanks!
Katy Garton
http://www.sproutfilms.com -
My latest blog article here on the Cow includes our current workflow in our facility for Premiere Pro. Like you we switched from FCP 7 last year. Well actually from 11 years of FCP directly to Premiere Pro CS 6. See if this helps out your workflow at all….
https://magazine.creativecow.net/article/workflow-update-imac-adobe-the-x-factor
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media“This American Land” – our new PBS Series.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up