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XDCAM EX and the mixed format timeline
Hey all,
We just got our shiny new PMW-EX1, so as the guy who has to deal with it in post I immediately shot some underexposed and shaky footage to see how transfering and editing would work in FCP.
The transfer is a breeze, and even in low light the footage looks much better than it would have on our Z1, but I can’t put the footage into an HDV sequence without rendering. Shouldn’t this work? I have FCP 6.0.2 on Leopard. My sequence is 180i60 HDV and I’m using the Blackmagic 59.94 HDV easy setup.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts,
Zak -
4 Replies
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Zak,
XDCAM EX will need to render. XDCAM EX and HDV are in the same family but not identical.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Director-At-Large
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
Steve,
Thanks for the response. I realize they’re different codecs, but I thought that FCP’s “open format timeline” would let them live and play next to one another in peace and harmony… or something like that but less adorable.
The HDV played back realtime when I changed the sequence to XDCAM EX. Is FCP only “open” to formats that Apple specifically written in support for?
For now I’m just going to shoot with the 25 mbps SQ or “HDV” format until all of the footage for this big HDV project is in the can. Do I have to say “on the card” now?
Thanks,
Zak -
[Zak Mussig] “Do I have to say “on the card” now? “
Yeah, you do. No more “can” talk 🙂
– Don
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[Zak Mussig] “Is FCP only “open” to formats that Apple specifically written in support for? “
That is pretty much the case. The “open format” timeline is open only to those codecs that are fully paid up members of Apple’s quicktime native club … but I thought the new XDCAM EX codec already was a member of that club? What I’ve noticed myself in FCP6, albeit in passing so my assumption may be quite wrong, is that when mixing codec flavors you get quite a big hit on RT where the codecs native frame size differs. As an example, XDCAM HD at 35 Mb/s VBR and HDV (25 Mb/s CBR), both 1440×1080, mix quite easily in each others timelines … but throw in some good old SD DV and its quite another story. Prior to FCP 6, mixing XDHD and HDV would bring my laptop to its knees, whereas mixing XDHD (or HDV) and DV would be something that Unlimited RT could handle quite well.
As for your choice to shoot at a lower resolution, well only you can make that call, but its not a decision you should make lightly. Exhaust all your options first … you’ll never be able to recover the lost quality after the fact.
Switch on Unlimited RT in your sequence, if you’ve not done so already. You may find you can eke out the additional performance you need.
Cheers, and Best for 2008
Andy
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