[Dennis Radeke]

[David Roth Weiss] “Oddly, trying to learn Premiere has proven so much more difficult that I gave up”

try again. 😉

I find that whatever you’re used to, anything else seems strange for a while. I found that moving from Mac to PC when I started working for Pinnacle Systems. Once I knew how to move around the PC, it ceased to be difficult.

while I’m most familiar with Premiere Pro, I find that the difference between FCP and Premiere Pro are modest at best. The biggest differences are around keyboard shortcuts in my opinion.

[Dennis Radeke]

You might try PNG. That’s what I use when FCP doesn’t like a complex PSD. Once you layer masks and layer styles, it seems to go haywire.

[Dennis Radeke]

We’re definitely excited, but I will reiterate that this is a technology preview. 😉

[Dennis Radeke]

Jason, I wouldn’t expect any problems with the quadro 3800 in this situation for After Effects.

[Dennis Radeke]

Try using Premiere Pro to convert the file to something FCP can read. Depending on the version you are using, you could probably convert it to ProRes without much difficulty.

[Dennis Radeke]

Premiere Pro handles XDCAM HD (35Mbit) without any difficulty. Once the raw media is moved to local storage (optical media is generally too slow to edit from), Premiere Pro edits the footage natively.

There is no need for Log and Transfer or Log and Capture.

Premiere Pro currently does not handle 50Mbit XDCAM HD 422

[Dennis Radeke]

Dave is likely right on this one. HDV in FCP land is propietary and so if you did not capture it in FCP, that may be why you’re having problems in FCP.

assuming it’s a .mov file, you might want to right click on it and look at the inspector properties to see if you can determine a little more about the flavor of HDV you may have.

As for Premiere Pro, if you’re getting stuttering on the playback, it’s likely that your sequence is a mismatch (maybe it’s XDCAM EX for example) or your system isn’t handling the media very well. If you want, you can put Premiere Pro in a desktop mode and that will allow you to edit any codec that a Mac sees.

Hope this helps,
Dennis

[Dennis Radeke]

It becomes a different issue if you’re using video hardware like BMD.

Are you still using CS3 or have you moved to CS4? CS4 makes a couple of things easier in this case.

I would try a couple of things
1 – try nesting your sequence within another. If you’re in CS3, I’m assuming you’re using a BMD project. If you’re on CS4, try Adobe native (in desktop mode) and then a BMD sequence
2 – If you’re using a dual monitor – try importing the footage into a CS3 Adobe native project (not BMD). Go to playback settings and use your second monitor as a playback device. My apologies if I’m not more clear, but I’m doing it from memory.
3 – try an Adobe native project and see if the playback is significantly better.
4 – Download the CS4 trial and set up a desktop mode CS4 edit.

I hope this helps a bit,
Dennis

[Dennis Radeke]

Create a project preset that is using Quicktime as its playback settings. You might explore using Premiere Pro’s desktop editing mode which you can set up a project/sequence of almost any type.

I am using CS4 and throw in QT’s of all types with no problem.

[Dennis Radeke]

Premiere Pro does not force you to convert your footage in the first place which is an advantage…but that will not allow you to work with the footage with FCP.

You will have to do as Shane suggests.