[Mark Fanjoy]

Outstanding. Thanks!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Raphael, you have helped me more than you realize just by posing questions. I solved the mystery, sort of, but am not sure what to do about it in the future (but I’ll figure it out.)

I created a new Motion3 sequence with existing clean .mov footage I had. It had the same problem, dropped frames and would not play back. So, I removed the video and exported from Motion3 only the graphics sequence I created. All of a sudden when I drag that .mov file into the Timeline I receive a prompt saying…

ATTENTION: THIS CLIP DOES NOT MATCH THIS SEQUENCE’S SETTINGS OR ANY OF YOUR SEQUENCE PRE SETS. FOR BEST PERFORMANCE YOUR SEQUENCE AND EXTERNAL VIDEO SHOULD BE SET TO THE FORMAT OF THE CLIPS YOU ARE EDITING.

So, I say “YES” to the prompt and presto, it plays back fine. On top of that, the original sequence AND the new test sequences I created play back fine too. Whatever this setting adjustment did in FCP it seems to now allow those sequences to play back.

I even imported the raw .flv file directly into FCP, dragged it into the Timeline, rendered it, and it played back fine!!

Go figure. I’m assuming it has something to do with this FCP format setting. I’ll have to learn what that is.

Thanks for your patience with my issue!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Yes, once I convert the .flv file in Streamclip to a .mov file with a DVCPro50 Codec, I can double click on the file and QT plays it right away. I have done a Kaspersky scan on the .flv file and it is clean if you are curious enough to email the .flv file and see what it does for you.

I’m going to download another .flv file at random from YouTube just to see if it is my conversion routine or specific to that file, although I’m guessing a .flv file is a .flv file regardless.

Thanks!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Rafael, I’m converting the .flv file in Streamclip to a .mov file using a DVCPro50 codec. Once converted, it plays back in Motion and FC fine, but not in the Timeline.

Thanks!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Okay, thank you. I changed the extension to .mov and that did not work. I converted the .flv file to a .mov file using MGEG Streamclip. Still, no go.

What I don’t understand is why this file, whether converted to .mov or NOT, it will play back in Motion3 and in FC6 Viewer, but will not play back when dragged and rendered in the Timeline. Leads me to believe it is a configuration setting within FCP.

Any other ideas and/or feedback will be greatly appreciated. I’m stuck and need this piece to incorporate into my project.

Thanks!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Jonathan, not sure if there is a way to work directly from the native MXF file, at least with FC6. I have not been able to. Probably has something to do with Panasonic’s split directory structure. An import must be performed for FC to read and manage the split files via the xxx.txt file.

I can tell you for sure that allowing the L&T function to do its job converting the files into QT is perfectly fine, does not degrade the quality of the native files, and “wraps” all the multiple native source files (Audio, Video, BMP Thumb) into single manageable QT files. Yes, this doubles your hard drive capacity use.

As for workflows, someone can point you to a better PDF source, but I have all MXF directories on my local hard disk AND backed up on two other separate external drives. I have one single batch capture directory (on my hard disk) for every QT file converted with L&T. For me, there is no reason to manage multiple QT directories/sub directories when FC6 is doing that job with bins. And it makes L&T a pain in the rear doing so. I don’t back up the QT directory, because it is so easy and fast to simply re capture video from the native files if they ever got blown out.

Also, research the pros and cons for changing the original source file name when in the L&T mode.

DOUBLE AND/OR TRIPLE BACK UP YOUR MXF FILES. Hard drive space is cheap compared to the alternative consequences.

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

We didn’t go there with the XML file. We have maintained a very smooth routine with EDL’s for so long, we’re leaving it at that. I deliver a basic cuts only with occassional split video, or disolves. Nothing fancy. So neither of us understand or appreciate the value of XML files at this time, if there is any at all for us.

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Jeremy, I hope you get this message from an old string. Keeping topics in the same thread as you recommended!

You were curious how the FCP to Media100 workflow turns out. It didn’t flow! My editor could not get Media100 to read the original MXF files. Nor could he use the P2CM program to even view the files. He believes it is a compatibility issue with his PowerMac-based system vs an Intel-based Mac system. Bummer.

So, I’m just going to send him the Quicktime converted (wrapped) media files that FCP creates when I Log & Transfer. According to multiple responses here, that media is comparable quality to the original media, so it works out just as well. He can read the QT files I convert just fine.

Thanks!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Shane, how come you have to always be the one to give me the bad news!! 😉

Okay, well at least I’m researching before I ask. I could not find a way to do it to save my life, and now I know why.

Thanks for the support!

Wherever I am…I’m lost!

[Mark Fanjoy]

Very cool. Thanks Jeremy for the support. I will update you this week when we go through the transfer from FCP to Media100 process.

Wherever I am…I’m lost!