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Tips for workflow for multicam shoot with Sony EX3 and Canon 5D MkII
Shot a bunch of two camera interviews with the EX-3 and the 5D. I’ve been trying to find the ideal workflow. What I’ve been doing is converting and 5D H264 to ProRes, using Cinema Tools to slow down to 29.97, then using Plural Eyes to sync. Works like a charm except for one thing: because there are different codecs I can create a multiclip sequence, but not a multiclip.
It’s not the end of the world, of course, but I find multiclips handy in this kind of multiple camera interview situation. So, trying to figure out the best way to make that happen.
The obvious possibility is to convert the EX3 files to ProRes, so that they are in the same codec as the 5D files. But this takes a good amount of time for many hours of footage.
I guess the other possibility is to make the H264 files into the same codec as the EX3, which seems to be XDCAM EX 1080P 30 (35
I don’t see an easy way to use compressor to transfer the 5D clips into this codec–am I missing something?
Is the best way to convert the EX3 clips to ProRes?
Thanks for your help.
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6 Replies
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[Tom Downey] “Is the best way to convert the EX3 clips to ProRes?”
If you want to Multiclip, yes. Sorry, but this does take time. Something you have to factor into your decisions to shoot productions with different cameras.
When approaching that decision, you need to say, “yes, we can do this, but in order for this to work properly, we will need X amount of time to convert everything to a uniform codec.” If you don’t have the time to do that, then you need to approach the project differently, make new plans. Shoot with the SAME cameras, or don’t multiclip and use Plural Eyes.
Shane
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I just used the same workflow and am looking for answers on how to multiclip as well. One thing I can tell you is that I converted all my 5D footage to the XDCAM EX codec using MPEG Streamclip and it makes my life a lot easier. I’ve never really had multiple cameras so the multiclip thing is new for me. Hope this helps.
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Thanks for the MPEG Streamclip suggestion–did not think of that. It is much quicker and the files are much smaller than going the ProRes route. I haven’t worked with the stuff much on FCP yet, so we’ll see. I’m keeping both options open until my editor starts working with it. Seems consensus is ProRes is better to work with in FCP, but man that codec takes a long time to compress and uses a helluva lot of disk space.
Anyone have opinions on ProRes vs. XDCAM in this specific situation?
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Thank you for this tip. It helped me too. Is the situation the same in the FCX? Do I need to render all footage? /I use Sony Ex3 and Canon 5D and 60D/. For example in Edius 6 you can edit it in Multicam with no need to render. Does not matter which type of codec are footages made of.
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[Mario Dobsovic] “Is the situation the same in the FCX?”
FCX doesn’t do multicam…yet. Apple said “coming soon…2012.” So…at this time, the situation isn’t the same.
[Mario Dobsovic] “Do I need to render all footage?”
FCX will edit some formats natively…no rendering. But again, no multiclip.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Well thanks for the heads up I see this is an outdated post. To fcpx comment after 10.3 multi clip is an opinion and for multi formats it works.i havent tired xdcam format yet but I pushed a 5 cam multiclip with all different formats. I’m going to do a canon dslr (h.246) with ex3 xdcam it’s going to be fun.ill post on the results after. I hoping with fcpx being able to accept the native codecs all I have to worry about is my ram and processing speed.
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