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Transfer/Render Files From FCP to Vegas
I’m really hoping someone will be kind enough to point me in the right direction here. I produced an independent feature last summer, and my editor has made virtually no progress in six and a half months, leaving me no choice but to take over the edit.
Unfortunately, he has all the footage in Final Cut Pro .mov format, and I use Sony Vegas on my PC, with no desire to join the “Mac Revolution”. I purchased a used Mac which I plan to throw on Ebay as soon as I’m done with it. How should I go about rendering the clips in FCP to a format suitable for Vegas without compromising HD quality? Any help would be tremendously appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
-Mitchell
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6 Replies
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You could render them using the Apple ProRes422 codec and they will be readable on the PC with Quicktime. You can also render to the free Avid DNxHD codec which is available on both platforms.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks John! So, either of those would allow the files to be imported into Vegas without sacrificing a great deal of quality, I assume? Also, of the two options you present, which would you go with if you were in my position?
Thanks again!
-Mitchell
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Mitchell, here’s what one user whose opinion I trust had to say about getting footage from a Mac into Vegas.
If the footage has to come over with accurate color, then you both need to install the free Avid DNxHD codec.
You can download this from the Avid site.
It will prevent the customary color (gamma) shift that happens when PCs and Macs trade footage. -
I would go with Prores, simply for speed.
Personally, I prefer using .mxf files, but they are not as fast to render as Prorez is.Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASSTCertified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor -
Also, of the two options you present, which would you go with if you were in my position?
I’ve never transferred files from FCP to Vegas so I would definitely do some tests before deciding. I’m just going by what I’ve read.
I know Douglas has done this so I would go with his recommendation but Mike makes a good point about Gamma. Some version of FCP use the wrong gamma for a PC. I’m not sure in which version they corrected this but it’s something to watch out for.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thank you so much everyone for your input and help; it’s greatly appreciated! I’ll let you know how it turns out.
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