[Dennis Lillee]

Hi Carl,
In short, Raylight was essential.

The long version:
Raylight has been the only one I’ve found to work like a conventional codec (install, it works in QTPro). Naming the files .MXF crashes PPro3.2, but wrapped as a .MOV out of QTPro with Raylight installed, it handles the .MOV files.

I tried Cineform but it alone wouldn’t read the Mac FCP DVCProHD format.

Ironically I received some Sony AVCHD footage that PPro3.2 wouldn’t open (need CS4) but Cineform NeoHD on PProCS3.2 would import it, convert to Cineform intermediate, and PProcCS3.2 can edit them. The Cineform codec is installed so will allow playback of these Cineform AVI in Windows Media Player as well.
The only catch is the Cineform trial ends in 15 days, so:
– Raylight decode _essential_ for the Panasonic DVCProHD through FCP .MXF
– Cineform trial seems like a genuine great tool, solved the Sony AVCHD issue for CS3.2, decision is same kind of money deciding between PProCS4 upgrade or Cineform NeoHD with the current PProCS3.2.

Thanks again to Jon Barrie who had the explanation concise and well tuned 🙂

[Dennis Lillee]

Thanks Jon,
I had read similar kinds of replies in other threads, but yours succinctly summarised it with my situation in mind perfectly.

Reporting back for others what I have found
– Avid DNxHD codec for windows (free) does not allow Quicktime to playback the Mac FCP format.
– Calibrated{Q} DVCProHD Decode for windows (demo) does allow playback. There are lots of options for controlling the codec, so I read the user manual and started some combinations. Bad export results/no quick luck, so considering it wasn’t free and wasn’t working straight away, I stopped the trial/error cycle.
– Raylight Decoder demo worked. No options and exported with QT Pro without a problem. CS3.2 Imports the .MOV wrapped Mac .MXF and can edit while Raylight Decoder is installed. Just need to purchase Raylight Decoder now to remove the 7 DVFilm labels on the demo.

Some other thread recommended Cineform as a whole better workflow that will also solve the problem. I looked at Cineform workflow and it is very appealing, I have downloaded the trial that is my next test.

My decision at this stage is between buying the Raylight Decoder demo to become Raylight Encoder Pro, or to put that company money towards Cineform if there are long term benefits from that workflow… possibly meaning no future upgrade to CS4 required with Cineflow workflow… but I haven’t looked into that yet.