[Andy Mees]

Don’t worry, FCP will look after it for you … it will automatically add the Shift Fields filter for you when you add the DV clips to the HDV timeline.

Do check it on a monitor before you commit back to tape tho’. You can use FCP6 to do a live DV downconvert of your HDV timeline, that way you can have a look on a typical standard def monitor or TV.

If you have a high enough resolution computer monitor you can also resize your canvas to 100% … that way you can see the interlacing and maybe spot any problems.

[Andy Mees]

sure. we have a number of Quad G5’s running Tiger/FCS1 combinations with an all 1080i workflow … I can probably arrange a few quick tests for you if that helps BUT we don’t have FxFactory installed

my email is in my profile

[Andy Mees]

don’t make the mistake of thinking that the volume level as shown by the volume level line in the waveform display is displaying in a linear fashion … audio is logarithmic and FCP displays it that way, the sudden drop off in level that you *see* when keyframing audio is a reflection of the way FCP’s draws the level ie logarithmically. the way you *hear* that same fade between the two keyframes is linear.

[Andy Mees]

try Mattias Sandstr

[Andy Mees]

how easy or difficult do you want it to be?

although it relies on installation of a third party product for deployment of your plugin you can build a plugin without ever touching a line of code using Noise Industries amazing Fx Factory
https://www.noiseindustries.com/products/fxfactory/index.html

the same principles apply with CHV’s QC Integration FX
https://www.chv-plugins.com/cms/FxPlug/QC-Integration/QC-Integration.php

along the same lines, if you need or want to roll your own effect but don’t need access to controls to interact with the effect directly in FCP, then FCP can read Quartz Composer (qtx) files natively … you just drop them in your timeline. check out this video tutorial at dvcreators.net
https://www.dvcreators.net/rayz-o-lite/

moving on, if you have some understanding of coding principles then the basic built-in FCP plugin language is called FxScript, and its relatively easy to learn:

just select one of the plugs from the existing built-in plugins, right (ctrl) click on it and choose “Open in Editor” .. the plugin script will open in an FxBuilder window. poke around with the existing code, check out the FxBuilder menu options, download the Using FxScript documentation https://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleApplications/Conceptual/Using_FXScript/UsingFXScript.pdf, check out Joe Maller’s various websites especially this first one https://www.joemaller.com/fcp/fxscript_reference.shtml print out every page and eat every word of it, then check this one when you get goinghttps://www.fxscriptreference.org/ … you’ll be turning out plugs in no time.

and last, but far from least, if you’re planning on hiring someone then you need someone who knows a bit about Cocoa, Objective-C, OpenGL and the like ( or is willing to learn )
install Apple’s (free) developer tools (on your OS X installer disc) then download and install the FxPlug SDK from the developer website … with that you’re fully suited an booted to give it some serious XCode action 🙂

hope it helps
Andy

[Andy Mees]

best recommendation would be to get a copy of forum leader Shane Ross’s Creative COW Master Series tutorial DVD entitled “Getting Organized in Final Cut Pro” … organizing FCP projects is his special ability !

https://store.creativecow.net/p/63/getting_organized_in_final_cut_pro

[Andy Mees]

[Danial Chase] “We are about to install 2 new FCP edit suites “

whats not clear by this D, is whether there are existing edit suites and/or how much infrastructure you already have.

[Danial Chase] “…need advice regarding which media server, raid controller, capture cards or any other peripheral equipment we may need”

as noted, for a 2 system setup as simpler SAN system like the Terrablock or EditShare should be enough … but if you are integrating into a larger whole and/or planning for something much bigger then you might want to look more closely at an XSAN setup

its not clear whether you plan to ingest from a mobile deck rack (ie a stack of VT’s on a trolley) or from a fixed ingest station. if its the latter then you’ll need a patching capability. maybe check out BMD’s Workgrouo Videohub https://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/workgroupvideohub/workflow/ (you’d need a BMD Multibridge or similar to convert your UVW to SDI in order to work with this ) … of course, this might also be overkill for your needs

and you’ll need lots of cables 🙂

a lot depends on how much money you have to throw at this thing. and take Bob’s advice i’d seriously consider hiring a consultant/systems integrator to help you throw your money at the right solution for your needs, it may well save you money

[Andy Mees]

[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

[Andy Mees]

[elgizzle] “Happy Holidays! I am working with Sony’s HDXDCam and have tried importing the clips into Final Cut. I am using version 5.0.4 and have updated and added the Sony XD software. My problem seems to be that I need to be using FCP 5.1 or later and as much as I have tried, I cannot find out if it’s possible to “upgrade” to 5.1 (It seems I can’t!?) Anyways, trying to “update” from 5.1 doesn’t work either, as I get a warning saying I don’t have the right version. So, is it possible to upgrade to 5.1 without a bigger investment into Fianl Cut 6? Thanks for any help!! “

You’re out of luck I’m afraid. Support for the XDCAM HD codecs (but not the new EX) was first added in FCP version 5.1.1. To get to there from where you are you would need to first upgrade to FCP5.1 which was not a free upgrade hence you can’t just use software update. With the version of FCP you have you are already as far as you can go. Apple no longer sell FCP 5.1 upgrades so you would need to get the FCS2 upgrade instead. If you have FCS1 then the upgrade to FCS2 is US$500 well spent. Other than that you could cast around on eBay or at local FCP retailers to see if they have any old stock of FCP 5.1 upgrade.

[Andy Mees]

No, nothing specifically to do that, but the Compressor/Limiter filter should get you where you’re going … check this quick tute over at genius dv
https://www.geniusdv.com/weblog/archives/compressor_limiter_with_final_cut_pro_to_fix_audio.php

Good Luck and Seasons Greetings
‘Andy