-
XDCAM workflow for TV show
I am lead editor on a fishing series and for our last show of the season the producer’s have announced that we will be shooting the show with XDCAM. the event is in two weeks and we start editing the following week. I need HELP! I’ve been reading up on all that I can find on XDCAM, but there seems to be a lack of info on how to integrate XDCAM into an FCP workflow. I’m getting the impression that there are more than a few “gotchas” in using this workflow.
Our current setup is 3 editing stations and two digitizing/editing stations tied to an XSAN server. In the past footage was shot on Beta SP and DV. Archivial footage was brought in from Digibeta. This is digitized as DV footage for offline and then uprezzed to Uncompressed for online.
This is a four day event and we get a massive amount of footage. For the last two days over thirty cameras are shooting for around 8 hours a day. We use time of day TC and catch logs which record when a fish is caught and all relevant info. This is used to narrow down the amount of footage that is logged and digitized. During the logging process the assistants scan the tapes for other useful footage. We’ve done 16 one hour shows this year and we have the system running pretty smoothly.
Now this. The producer’s are convinced that XDCAM will make our jobs much easier so they aren’t allocating any more time for us to do this show. Being the skeptical person that I am I want to find out as much as I can about using XDCAM with FCP prior to being thrown in the fire.
The things we are doing:
1.Upgrading all workstations to FCP 5.1.2
2. Securing an XDCAM deck prior to starting the edit.
3. Talking to the Sony rep who sold the producer’s on this idea.
4. Praying a lot.If anyone has any insights they can share with me or point me in the directions of some info I would be most appreciative. I’m really concerned about how best to bring in the footage for offline so we can online accurateley. Besides the XDCAM footage I’m sure we’ll still have some Beta, DV and Digibeta footage to mix in during editing along with all the graphics.
Thanks in advance for any help
Vince -
7 Replies
-
[Vince Sanchez] “If anyone has any insights they can share with me or point me in the directions of some info I would be most appreciative. I’m really concerned about how best to bring in the footage for offline so we can online accurateley.”
Wow… Sounds like a real undertaking. But don’t worry…. XDCAM is easy to work with. My company has been using XDCAM for the past year for the same thing as you – fishing shows. We also do hunting shows but we use primarily HDV for this because of the size of the cameras.
As for you… Upgrade your systems to FCP 5.1.2, download the Sony software for XDCAM from this site (https://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/markets/10014/xdcam_info.shtml) and READ the documentation. With XDCAM, at the moment, there is no offlining process. Proxy video support is not available at this time. BUT no need to worry.
All you have to do is connect your machine to your digitizing suite(s) using firewire and use the Sony software to ingest your clips. The software will allow you to create in-points and out-points that will allow you to ingest only what you need of that clip. But, there is a word of warning, all of you audio will be eight channels, even if you only used 2 or 4 channels.
[Vince Sanchez] “Besides the XDCAM footage I’m sure we’ll still have some Beta, DV and Digibeta footage to mix in during editing along with all the graphics.”
Now, this may give you a headachce of sorts. XDCAM is created in the MXF format, where as BetaSP, DV, and Digibeta have their own formats. Mixing formats has always been a real thorn in our sides using FCP. I’m not real sure how you mix these formats now, but you can do the same with XDCAM. The machines can be hooked up in a way that you can still digitize the old way, if needed. That way, you can control the audio inputs.
With FCP, you can work entirely in the XDCAM MXF format in your sequences, as I have for the past year. Its just been recently that I could use the software to download my clips directly into FCP. We use the IMX50 format. About three months ago, while in Canada on a shoot, our truck was broken into and the cameras were stolen. Bummer…. Well, we decided to upgrade this time and go with the XDCAM HD system which works exactly the same as SD XDCAM.
Anyway… I hope I didn’t confuse you and I hope I answered a few questions. If you need more help, I’ll be glad to point you in a direction that will help.
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Wayne,
Thanks for the info. I’m beginning to feel better about this now. I now I’ll have more questions as we start testing but my big question right now is what is the data rate for XDCAM? How big are the files going to be? You mentioned no offlining if you import files, not necessarily a bad thing if the files are reasonable. We currently have 3TB for offline and 1 TB for online. Normally we use around 1.5 TB for the DV footage for our offline. I understand that xdcam can record with different data rates, which one do you use? Is this determined by the shooter?
Thanks again.
Vince -
[Vince Sanchez] “I now I’ll have more questions as we start testing but my big question right now is what is the data rate for XDCAM? How big are the files going to be?”
All very valid questions! SD XDCAM can record DVCAM (25 mbits), IMX30 (30 mbits), IMX40 (40 mbits), or IMX50 (50 mbits). IMX50 files run about 6.2 mb/sec. A standard 30 mintue program for us will run anywhere between 25 gig to 40 gig, on average. Your program will be substantially larger due to the number of discs recorded.
[Vince Sanchez] “I understand that xdcam can record with different data rates, which one do you use? Is this determined by the shooter?”
We use the IMX50 setting f the format. We are looking for the best quality. The disc will hold about 55 minutes of footage using this setting. The shooter does have to set his/her camera for this, so its a good idea to discuss what quality matters for you. To be perfectly honest, the DVCAM setting looks awesome, too. We just like the higher quality of IMX vs. DVCAM.
[Vince Sanchez] “We currently have 3TB for offline and 1 TB for online.”
As for your space concerns… I used a 2TB RAID last year and I could get about 13 shows on the RAID before I had to dump the field footage. That’s not bad at all. We now use the TerraBlock 12D with 6 TB of space. I’m very sure that I will be able to edit an entire 26 show season on this using XDCAM HD (digitizing in the DVCPRO HD codec).
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Wayne this is really helpful, I feel like I’m starting to get my head around this now.
One last question for now. Since this is a compressed format how does it work with graphic files? we use animations, standings charts, lower thirds and flying logos. We use uncompressed for our online because in DV quality there is a big hit in quality. Do you know the color space, DV is 4.1.1 and HDV IS 4.2.0, what is XDCAM?
BTW I’ve checked the SONY site and found some more info, but it all skews toward the HD version of XDCAM, the bit rates they mention are different for than SD for HD.
Again thanks for the feedback. -
I believe its 4:2:0…. I’m not sure about that BUT IMX doesn’t work very well with graphics but its passable for network television. Now, if you use your XDCAM deck to digitize manually, the machine will output 4:2:2 into any codec of your choice.
Let me say that IMX50 is the best overall codec. Graphics are ok, but its not uncompressed.
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Wayne,
I had some questions for you about your TerraBlock 12D.
If you had time to send me an email at dan@rylow.com,
I would appreciate it. I’m about to go HD and will require
a new RAID to replace my 4 drive MacGurus/ Sonnet setup
(which has been flawless by the way) and don’t know
about the TerraBlock 12D. If I could ask you a few things,
that would be very helpful.Thanks in advance,
Dan -
Thanks Wayne. This is a lot of great info. I think I have enough to go into feeling pretty good. I’m sure I’ll find more questions once we get going, but this is the most clear, understandable info I’ve seen in all my searches.
Vince
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up