Michael Hutchinson
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Bryson,
A huge thank you for the excellent input. You were right on with your two main troubleshooting ideas: 1. The last time it crashed was when I decided to import and cut up a DV file I created some two years ago on my Powerbook G4 and has since bounced around from hard drive to hard drive. 2. My Java preferences were set to prefer 64 bit over 32 … when it comes to the under the hood operations of my Mac, I’m hopelessly ignorant (side question: should I also change my web browser preferences from 64 to 32…or better yet, what would you suggest as the optimum Java preferences … I don’t dare mess with any of the Network or Advanced settings without knowing what I’m doing.
I’m pretty careful with my file naming so I don’t think that was the problem…the vast majority of files I work with come from my Sony PMW-EX1 and because of the tapeless workflow, I don’t change any of the actual file names (most look something like this ” GF1_0001-1 “. Underscores and hyphens are safe, right?
Hopefully the Java prefs (combined with a little more selectivity of the files I choose to import) will lead to the app performing as it should.
Lastly, I’ll take you up on that incredibly kind offer to get me a fully working timed demo and will email this to you in just a minute. I have little doubt that I’ll purchase the full pro application, but as an independent filmmaker with a very limited budget (especially at the moment) I really want to make sure CatDV performs as hoped.
Truly grateful,
mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Thanks for clearing up the confusion about certain incompatible apps vs. apps in general, and I will hang in there. I’m definitely just scratching the surface of CatDV and based on the general consensus, it seems to receive an overwhelmingly positive response (much more so than any other media asset management tool out there).
I guess I just need to know that it will work and I won’t be losing what could amount to hours upon hours of tedious logging because the program isn’t stable. My problem is that a trial version should actually allow you to actually try the program. But when I go to save a catalog, I’m reminded that this is only a trial version and that I should expect the program to shut down in a few minutes (so basically, I can’t save a catalog and continue because it will shut down, and I can’t just continue to log numerous files because it will (and has) crashed in the middle of logging files, losing a solid 3 hours I had spent logging.Hopefully someone from CatDV will help explain what might be going on because I think this program is amazing and I would really love to add it to my workflow, but if I have to worry about random crashes that cost me hours of work, I just can’t afford the loss of time and more importantly, the incredible frustration that comes from having to re-do an already tedious process.
Thanks again Dennis!
-mdh
Michael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
I definitely run other applications at the same time as CatDV. I don’t have Gridiron Flow (though a cursory glance at the app seems like it’s something I’d very much like to have), but I’m a multi-tasker and find it difficult to run just one application at a time.
If CatDV can’t handle running multiple applications, then I’m not sure it’s right for me. It’s definitely the best media asset manager I’ve found out there, but if I’m not ready to cough up $340 + $80 for the Calibrated Software for something that is so unreliable and doesn’t seem to have an auto-save function so that I don’t have to worry about losing a bunch of logging info if I don’t remember to save as I go.I’m beginning to think that a customized Bento template or even a basic numbers spreadsheet is a better way to go if CatDV is so unstable.
Many thanks for your help Dennis!
-mdh
Michael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Hi Kuhnen,
Thank you so much!!! Exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for.Only problem now is, as I posted on the CatDV forum, the program keeps crashing on me, yesterday costing me 3 hours of logging info. Ostensibly, this is because I’m using the “trial” version…of course, I’m not about to invest $340 for CatDV + $80 for the Calibrated Software codec until I know this is going to be a reliable workflow and that CatDV doesn’t have stability problems with Snow Leopard. It’s not much of a trial if it quits after saving or just randomly at any point in the process. It’d be like test driving a new car with a half cup of gas in the tank. “Yeah, it drove great until we got out of the parking lot…”
Anyway, your advice is hugely appreciated and if you have any knowledge about what might be going on with my copy of CatDV (is it stable w/ Snow Leopard or are they still working out kinks), I’d be even more appreciative.
As to your earlier advice, once you’ve brought the files into FCP using the method you outlined:
1. Copy full BPAV to Scratch Disk/RAID using Sony Clip Browser.
2. Open CatDV and import .mp4s into new catalog (or current catalog I’m guessing if it’s part of an ongoing project).
3. Log and select clips for FCP project.
4. File–>export–>final cut pro XML (save to desktop)
5. in FCP, File > Import > XMLTwo questions:
1. What sequence settings do you use?
2. Have you heard of any sound quality problems? Another user warned that without rewrapping as .mov files, you get poor sound quality…any truth to that? Do you know what he’d be talking about?Many thanks,
mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Many thanks Bryson! Really helpful suggestions, although I just have to correct one small thing:
You wrote “you’ll follow your regular XDCAM>FCP workflow.” Unfortunately you assume too much of me as I still don’t have an XDCAM>FCP workflow that I’m entirely comfortable with. Even though you’re a Panasonic guy, I’m sure you probably have a better system than my own. If you or any of the other XDCAM pro’s could offer some insight into their own XDCAM>FCP workflows, that would be hugely appreciated.
My current workflow is basically:
1. Drag & drop BPAV from SxS card into a newly created folder with a structure like (XDCAM Footage– >BPAV folders –> xx_YY_MM_DD (where xx stands for the project or client initials) –>BPAV
(maybe it’s another cardinal sin, but I haven’t used Clip Browser at all in my workflow, though I imagine I should probably integrate it at some point in order to make DVD backups)
2. Open up XDCAM Transfer, add the new BPAV to the source list, select all and import to a manually modified Scratch Disc (set in preferences) that includes an XDCAM folder along with sub-folders “Cache” “Export” and “Import” (this was a Larry Jordan suggestion in a Lynda.com tutorial, but I’m wondering if it still makes any sense).
…That’s it…hence the reason I could use some serious help!Also, thank you for saving me $80. I was going to get the Calibrated Software codec that would allow me to use the .mp4 from the actual BPAV in FCP, but the shoddy sound rules out that possibility…if the sound is no good, you can have 4K RED footage under perfect conditions, and it won’t make a difference. In my experience, people will sit through grainy footage, but not garbled sound.
Many thanks!
mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Hi Clint,
Many thanks for your help! I’m getting the impression this is new terrain for many a filmmaker (on the FCP forum, the best response I’ve received was “go over to the CatDV forum,” which, of course, I had already done.)
I finally made the decision to go w/ CatDV after heading over to a local value-added Apple Reseller that does a lot of work w/ the RED cameras and talking to their CEO. Because they work on quite a few projects of varying size at once, I asked what he used for media management (certain the response would be “why Final Cut Server of course” but, to my surprise, he said that Final Cut Server was a bit cumbersome and asked if I’d heard of a little program called CatDV that was actually taking quite a bit of business from Apple.) This was coming from an Apple Value added Reseller by the way recommending a UK based media asset management tool, so at that point I basically said “screw it” and decided to shell out the $340 for CatDV Pro.
I’ve been thinking about going w/ the Calibrated Software codec and even though I’ll probably end up getting it, I’m stubborn and holding out until the last possible minute before shelling out the $80…shouldn’t it all just work in perfect harmony rather than me having to get out the credit card every time I want to make life a little easier.
Anyway, hopefully my question will yield some fruitful responses and help us both out in the process. In the meantime, best of luck w/ the animated short…please send along any promo or link that I can check out at some point…having never worked on animation, it’s still complete magic to me.
All the best,
mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Wow! This might be exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’ll give it a try. Many thanks!
Michael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
So it appears that within a little over a day, you guys have come up with 4 or 5 different ways to create this type of project. I’m honestly amazed by the knowledge here and your willingness to share it with me. I think the rotoscoping with Mark’s explanation of how to create a 3-d that would allow Santa to be “dropped in” is the closest to what I was imagining as I figured this was done by just a couple guys with little budget and lots of time.
I guess my curiosity stemmed from two things: 1) I was recently at a Dave Matthews concert and on the flight home, decided to kill some time by seeing how easy it would be to photoshop guitarist Tim Reynolds out of the shot and put myself in his place. It wasn’t that difficult, but I had to do some layering to make the depth of the shot appear realistic, and it got me to thinking how this could be applied to video.
2) I was unfortunate enough to happen upon a morning TV show where they were plugging yoostar.com (the green screen thing where you can “insert yourself into your favorite movie scenes”). While I thought this was just plain stupid and limited in its scope (no television = no Seinfeld = no point), I still didn’t know the technique that the creators used to make this possible. Then along came the Santa interrogation video and it piqued my curiosity.
Anyway, many many thanks to all of you who contributed in my curiosity, and anyone else with other ways to create this same effect.
As I’m pretty sure you’ve all made the nice list by offering your expertise to someone as inexperienced as myself, I’ll go ahead and make an exception to my “Happy Holiday” standard greeting and wish you all a very Merry Christmas,
mdhMany, many thanks!
Michael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
As always I’m humbled by the combined knowledge of the people here on this forum. Many thanks!
In complete agreement that the angles and lighting were the most important elements, and that the continuity lapses are a bit of a shame (though I showed this to several people who don’t work in video production and nobody noticed.)
I sort of see what you mean about shooting in front of a dark background and rotoscoping (still haven’t learned rotoscoping, but I get the basic idea and can probably find a forum on here that discusses rotoscoping at length) but I guess what really still baffles me is how he could be “dropped in” behind Jack but in front of the background.Many thanks and apologies for my general ignorance of what are probably amateur level concepts (pretty self-taught in FCP, so there’s a lot of basic stuff that I just don’t know),
All the best,
mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ -
Many thanks! So would that mean that they created a similar background to the ’24’ clips for the Santa scene and used a stand in for the shadowed knife threatening? Or that they just did some basic cropping of the two scenes to get the desired effect?
Much appreciated! You guys are awesome!
-mdhMichael David Hutchinson
“That most limited of all specialists, the well-rounded man.”–F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’