[Neil Sadwelkar]

For a beaker mask, couldn’t you just take the clip over to Motion and make a mask there? Or, is there some third party FCP X plug-in that does masks?

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

I was at NAB and saw the demo with Warren. Even played with the app. But I forgot to check if v9 adds the following capabilities…
Support for stills/feeeze frames referenced in XML/EDL/AAF
Support for alpha in V2 clips. Like text in a TGA with alpha and soft shadows.
Or maybe ProRes4444 clips with alpha perhaps.

Or maybe these exist in v8.2 Mac or Win.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

It is possible to successfully export an XML out of FCP 7, import that into Resolve 8.1.1, have it match up to all clips. Then grade clips in Resolve, render them out as individual shots with handles, export an XML out of Resolve and import that into FCP 7. This returned XML correctly links to the graded shots.

All this works and I have just finished 4 episodes of a 8 part series with this workflow. Apart from the occasional mismatch – which could be traced to sloppy labeling or no timecode – I haven’t seen the range of issues you describe.

You problems seem to stem from the fact that your original source files do not have a reel and timecode. And/or that you have mixed frame rates. You also need to ensure that you do not choose to automatically add clips to media pool when importing XML into Resolve. But, ensure that all your clips are in one place when still in the FCP 7 timeline, then import clips into Resolve’s media pool and then import the XML. It will link to any clip from the media pool.

Also, render all the shots in one go and then immediately make an XML.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

Are you scaling the video into something less than 1920×1080?

Else, even at 5 Mbps (5000 kbps) and your quality settings, you should get decent video. Unless you’re scaling it to 720×576 or some other size. So the Frame controls setting affect the picture only if you are changing the size and/or frame rate. Else they don’t matter.

Also, if your original video is very noisy, it will look worse with compression. Just like grainy film gets worse with compression. Better to slightly de-noise the video before compression.

And there’s nothing wrong with Apple’s H.264 encoder. It can produce excellent results depending on the source and output settings. It’s a carpenter and his tools thing.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

Is the project frame rate and that of the clips the same? Also, enable embedded timecode and reel name support.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

You could try that, but in all probability, even Smoke might struggle with some of the clips.
There might be a way to fix this in FCP, though.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

I’d like to propose…

Support for titles and other objects with Alpha and which can be linked to an XML. Imagine, you can master out a graded programme with subtitles, and even opening titles, lower thirds and other supers.

While we are at it, some rudimentary compositing, even simple DVE moves inherited from an XML would do nicely too.

And, pass-through for audio embedded in a video clip. Great for dailies.

DPX standard log to Lin conversion like Apple Color can do.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

You can’t reliably mix frame rates in in a timeline if you need to take it out via an EDL. The EDL put out by the editing application cannot correctly represent shot lengths for different frame rates in one timeline. Whoever edited this should have first converted all the media to one common frame rate.

For now, they can either struggle with this, or go back, convert everything to one frame rate and re-edit. There is no simple fix for this. Clumsy edit work.

BTW your Quad core MacPro is underpowered for this task. Even a new i5 iMac will probably outperform it in some tasks.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

You’re exactly right.

This is exactly how films in PAL lands work.
Films that are…

Shot at 24fps
Telecine’d at 25 fps to PAL tapes
captured as 25 fps to FCP
conformed 25fps to 24fps in Cinema Tools
edited on a 24@25 timeline in FCP

The 24@25 fps timeline in FCP yields an EDL which is nominally 25fps not 24fps. Resolve, Smoke, Lustre, whatever, work as 25fps. When we need to do a sound check, we provide a 4% speeded up sound. Just to check sync.

After recording out to film neg, we get the exact number of frames which were shot. A film projector then plays out the same film at 24fps. Which syncs with the original unspeeded sound.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Neil Sadwelkar]

No there’s no interlacing in the still you’ve provided. What you’re probably seeing is the effect of ‘binning’. Which is, the use of alternate or ‘one out of so-many lines’ to create an HD image out of a sensor that has a higher resolution. In any case, you’ve provided a still of the canvas. The image on your Bravia out the Blackmagic may show some other artifacts that resemble interlacing if the BM card is converting progressive 29.97 to interlaced 59.94, sort of like psf.

And, shooting 23.98 wont make a difference to the binning, but may permit true 29.97 monitoring which might minimize the ‘faux interlacing’ that your BM card-Bravia TV seem to be doing.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India