[Michael Kammes]

I wrote up a doc on this which may help.

https://michaelkammes.com/encoding/avid-is-self-aware-fast-import/

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

Unless it’s changed, and if you play by the rules of software EULA:

If you’re running MC on a Mac that also has FCP installed on it, YES, you can export into ProRes.

If you’re on a Mac but DO NOT have FCP installed, you can play ProRes, but not encode into it.

If you’re on a PC and install Quicktime, you can play ProRes, but not encode into it via MC.

You exporting a Avid DNxHD encoded file will probably not play on his system correctly unless he downloads the free Avid codec. However, 3.5 is an older Avid system, so you DNxHD file *may* not look right on his system when he downloads the new codecs.

You may want to look into a different codec.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

Thanks for the input.

Given the fact there are dozens of systems in the MC 3.1.3 workflow, tied to several other workflows, I think attempting to disrupt that may be a massive issue. It may make more sense to track down the appropriate codec pack for 3.1.3 (or, just install that version of MC) on the encoding box.

Thanks again for the feedback, if I’m missing anything, I’d love to hear about it.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

We were as taken by surprise by FCP X as anyone else was. Resellers, like most of the public, are kept in the dark when it comes to Apple development, despite what the rumors say. As I wrote in my blog (https://michaelkammes.com/final-cut-pro/fcp-x-from-a-unique-perspective/), the concern Apple has for VARs is virtually non existent.

Yes, Key Code Media has historically sold a great deal of Avid product (most in the country, if not the world). Avid adopted a VAR model a while ago, and the Hollywood market in the late 90’s made it fertile ground. Through the years, however, we’ve made it a point to not ever push any of the post & post production products we carry if it doesn’t fit – and thus we carry many competing technologies. Avid. FCP. Premiere. I’m sure if there was more demand, we’d sell more Edius as well. You should see our SAN line card….*shutters*

So, with that back story, I believe our position has not changed. If your workflow DEMANDS features FCP does not have, then we’ll recommend what DOES fit best and/or improves the workflow. This was true a year ago, 5 years ago, etc. Simple as that.

This is, of course, also tempered with a “wait and see” attitude. If you can wait to make a decision, why not? FCP X will have updates. Avid will have an update in the forseeable future. CS6 will be out…sometime. It’s a constant wait and see attitude. At some point, you need to bite the bullet, and WHAT will work for you on the day of reckoning? That’s where we help narrow down the choices.

FWIW, I am very, very impressed with the strides Adobe has taken over the past few years. Blown away, even. I recommend them often. Of course, in the past 3 years, Avid, AMA, and 3rd party I/O while retaining the core product that is Avid have made it an excellent choice as well. I push no product without client cause.

TODAY, FCP X will not work for a majority of my my multi-step workflow clients. Period. Thus, we recommend Avid or Premiere.

As Larry Jordan said in the seminar, do not confuse the launch of FCP X with the product. FCP X will have a place in the Post Industry once it matures. However, as also mentioned in the video, within the radius of Hollywood, and all the workflows Mother Hollywood needs, that maturity may never be enough.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

We’re very proud of the panel, and we here at Key Code Media worked extremely hard to deliver a a panel that would not dwell on what Apple did or did not do with FCP X – but where the industry is going and is FCP even involved.

We were able to fix, and in some places, even improve the show from the original broadcast. We plan to do more events in the future, and would appreciate constructive feedback on what topics are interesting to the industry as a whole for the future.

Check out the trailer video (a bit more dramatic than the panel) And the 3D behind the scenes stuff. We also posted our entire workflow, if interested.

Main Page for the Event: https://www.keycodemedia.com/the-final-cut.html
VOD of the Event: https://www.keycodemedia.com/Final-Cut/the-live-stream.html

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

You need an I/O device that handles component. Is there a reason you don’t want to use firewire on the DVCAM deck?

For component, Blackmagic and AJA are probably the most popular devices. I strongly believe that AJA has a vastly superior product and support over the I/O Blackmagic offers, however, traditionally Blackmagic has the lower price.

Both companies offer Internal (PCIe cards) and External devices (USB / Firewire).

I recommend checking out https://aja.com and https://blackmagic-design.com and choosing one that can handle component video in at your price point. Expect to spend a few hundred to maybe $1200 depending on horsepower and functionality.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

I get the impression you’re not gonna be happy with any answer, but I feel compelled to try yet again:

FCP is a video editor. Not a picture editor. Video, in the HD realm, tops out at 1920 x 1080. This is far less than than the 3K or higher you mentioned.

FCP was written at a time when 18MB pictures were NOT the norm. This is now a problem. Which leads to….

Apple DOES get the point. That’s why FCP X exists. FCP X remedies your issue. Technology moves, man. So does your camera, and so must your software.

AE is an EFFECTS editor….NOT a video editor. We do not live in a world where one program does EVERYTHING the best. Thus, we have multiple tools.

Avid, FWIW, can’t handle anything larger than 1920 x 1080. Point to a 5K image? Avid resizes to the size of the project. Hey, at least FCP can handle 2 + 2.5 K.

Premiere? yes, Premiere handles larger images. Not all NLEs are created the same….if they were, what kind of market place would we have?

Hundreds of thousands of people for several years have had to deal with this limitation. So do you. If this is the least of the things I have to worry about during the day with my VIDEO NLE, then I’m thrilled.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

Didn’t you read above?

GFX above 3000px…BAD. Crashing / out of memory, not unexpected.

FCP, like any app, has limitations. You’ve found one. If you can’t deal with it…FCPX is pretty cheap.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

Apologies for the delay…had a shall we say, *involved* event this past week…

Many thanks for the links and tutorial, Ted. Watching and bookmarked, as well.

Walter, I think you get what I’m asking, I just don’t have enough user experience with the various tools to make the 2D graphics (now with depth) appear to “fit in” with the 3D live footage, but I think you’ve pointed me in the right direction.

I appreciate the pointers, gang.

~Michael

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[Michael Kammes]

We would hope he’d dig the homage!

I’d be more worried about another entity taking offense.. 😉

Thanks for watching and enjoying!

~Michael

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