working with AVC Intra in FCP7

[Jeremy Garchow]

The AVC-I codec is a decoder only, so what you are seeing is correct.

You can transcode to ProResHQ if you want, but it takes a hell of a lot longer than using AVC-I.

What I use and recommend is using MXF4mac to bring in the native AVC-I footage, then edit in a ProResHQ timeline. Bypass Log and Transfer completely. You then edit (you could even edit in a lesser quality ProRes codec, such as proxy or LT) then media manage the final timeline and reingest just your final sequence @ ProRes HQ.

Jeremy

[Greg Nosaty]

I don’t understand why Apple says “native” if it’s a decoder. I see no advantage to using it then. I have been ingesting AVC Intra as ProRes HQ already and it works fine except that the ProRes files are enormous.

I used to use HD Log but found it very cumbersome. Is MXF4Mac a similar similar app or less elaborate? Does it really transcode faster than Log and Transfer?

cheers,
Greg Nosaty

Cinemontage Productions Inc

[Shane Ross]

MXF4QT doesn’t transcode. It allows you to edit the MXF files natively in FCP without transcoding…and without wrapping into Quicktime. It also allows you to map the metadata to columns in FCP…ALL of the metadata, not just the few things FCP allows you to access.

Apple says what it says because it makes it sound better. Ahhh, Marketting departments…

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
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[Greg Nosaty]

Do both you and Jeremy use MXF4Mac? Do you have any glitches working in full resolution or proxy?

cheers,
Greg Nosaty

Cinemontage Productions Inc

[Shane Ross]

Yeah, we both use it. I love this app. But not sure what you mean by full res vs proxy. MXF4QT allows you to edit the original MXF files, it doesn’t make a proxy. FCP 7 allows you to import as Prores Proxy. And yes, there is a slight quality loss

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Jeremy Garchow]

Yes, I use it, and now that we have a proper avc-I decoder, we use it even more. Here’s a primer that I created before avc-I was native to fcp. Now that avc-I is natively decoded, it works just the same. Let me know if you have questions.

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/garchow_jeremy/dvc_pro_hd.php

Jeremy

[Jeremy Garchow]

Oh, and by the way, I don’t use the p2 proxy files as we don’t have the proxy board in our cameras (if that’s what you mean by proxy).

I would recommend the workflow I highlighted earlier.

[Greg Nosaty]

This is what Jeremy said about working with MXF4Mac and proxies, so maybe I’m the one that is misunderstanding:

“What I use and recommend is using MXF4mac to bring in the native AVC-I footage, then edit in a ProResHQ timeline. Bypass Log and Transfer completely. You then edit (you could even edit in a lesser quality ProRes codec, such as proxy or LT) then media manage the final timeline and reingest just your final sequence @ ProRes HQ.”

cheers,
Greg Nosaty

Cinemontage Productions Inc

[Greg Nosaty]

I’m shooting with the HPX300 right now so I could record full res and a proxy. Then with MXF4Mac I could edit using the proxy and online my final sequence with the AVC Intra ingested as Prores HQ.

Do you guys have issues working with FCP pluggin effects or green screen comps in MXF?

cheers,
Greg Nosaty

Cinemontage Productions Inc

[Shane Ross]

Why edit with the proxies? Use the full res clips. Especially when it comes to compositing…you don’t want to go low res then have to fix the comps in high res.

I haven’t done compositing when I have used MXF4QT. Always imported and used the QT files. I just haven’t shot or dealt with green screen for a year or so.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def