Stephen May
Forum Replies Created
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Sverker – what OSX version are you on, which XDCAM Transfer Software version? What FCP version?
Did you import via FCP: IMPORT > XDCAM, or did you do it all in XDCAM Transfer and then import the needed clips into the browser?
-thanks
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Don,
Check this out:
pretty useful chart comparing FCP versions with OSX versions and QT versions that play well together.
What do you think? -s
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Sverker,
Are you planning to shoot pointing straight up into the sky? I shoot up at about 10,000 feet or two miles high up at a ski resort, and the sun is bright and strong, but I;m not shooting straight up, except for follow shots of a skier or snowboarder coming off of a big table, or lip, or what have you. The EX1 handles those moments really well. It doesn’t hurt to employ a good picture profile, and of course, ND2 on the Fujinon lens.
Can you describe your shoot?
-s
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Audio Fix for Entire Sequence:
Create a new sequence. Drag your existing master sequence into this new sequence. Go to MARK > AUDIO PEAKS > MARK. Audio peaks are detected on your timeline. Double-click your master sequence to make necessary changes. Go back to the new sequence and go to MARK> AUDIO PEAKS > CLEAR.
Now check the sequence again.
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Derek,
That’s exactly the mic I use as well, and I also have the Rycote ‘wookie’ – so it sounds like the Rycote adaptor will be a safe upgrade. Also in the reply to your post, I caught the correction: Cold Shoe! You’re right, and it makes good sense to leave that open for wireless mic receivers.
Derek, on the ‘low-budget camera excuse’ – I like your sentiment. Truth is that mine just came back from Sony Repair in LA, and inside of a really long story, I got the “Sub $10,000 routine from one of the guys at Sony (not LA repair). He was, btw, the guy who authorized the repair. But I know what you mean about the whole inexpensive position.
Thanks for the help.
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
The BBC has guidelines for footage submission. They are an authority on filmed nature, etc. They produced the box set DVD Planet Earth. One of the FCP Tutorials even features some of their clips on the topic, “Color” – a series of bumpers that they produced. I noticed that their work is excellent, and is all shot in PAL.
In standard definition, PAL is a higher res than NTSC, albeit 50 cycles instead of 60. I took a course in FCP6 for a Level 1 Apple Certification and one of the attendees mentioned shooting a documentary in PAL at 24fps – he said it looked great. It was in SD and that’s why he tried it. Where it comes to HD – I guess the resolutions are standard, so it may not matter anymore.
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
That brings up a good question: I run Software Update once in a while, and have become a little paranoid about upgrading anything that Apple says needs to be upgrades. Lately, it is often a large file patch that enables the latest software which is centered around all the new hardware/iPod/iPhone stuff.
My main concern is FCP stability, so if software update says “Strongly recommended update” for “Security reasons” but then goes on to basically say that the update enables you to rent movies, or sync with the wireless hard drive – or whatever for the iPhone/cloud synchronicity… well, I just get worried that either it will effect my Quicktime Pro software or who knows what? So once I’m stable, I become very clingy to what I have and slow to update.
All that said, I’m probably pretty behind in my Quicktime Updates. I’m on 7.3.1 for example on my macbook pro. And at work, probably even older. What advice do you have regarding Quicktime Updates for Quicktime Pro users that are not interested in iTunes/iPhone compatibility but serious about FCS2 stability?
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
I am really beginning to appreciate the resources that COW bring to people like me! Thanks for the help – great suggestions. So does the shockmount attach to the (hot-shoe?) mount that is directly above the onboard mic, and to the side of the shotgun mount that I’ve been using?
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
I’m working out of the office today on my macbook pro, and just realized something obvious! I have Leopard on my laptop and still running Tiger on the mac pro at the office – and that’s why I can’t see the Import XDCAM option at work.
The first cut I did with the EX1 was from home on my laptop. But still don’t get why my notes don;t come in with my clips when I right-click in the Browser / Import > Files.
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
I baby my EX1, and I’m like that with everything, but the sliding cover to the SxS card slots doesn’t bother me as much as the ON/OFF switch in the back to shoot, or review media. I think they changed that on the EX3, but I’m not sure. Its a lot of camera for the money, and I imagine there’s some give-and-take for all the features and the Fujinon lens (in the case of the EX1.) – but the cover works.
Another aspect of the EX1 that I would give a heads-up for is that if you use a mounted stick mic, like a Sennheiser shotgun, and if you put a good wind cover on it, you’ll see it in your frame when you’re zoomed out wide. That’s always nice to catch at the editing room! “Oh, great – how did I miss that in the field?”
The only other thing that really bothered me, didn’t seem to be a concern among other EX1 users, is the chromatic aberration, when zoomed all the way in, especially in 1920 x 1080. I’ve been able to reduce that problem by employing Picture Profiles. Anyway, the EX1 is a great camera, and I’ve seen chromatic aberrations in more expensive cameras, and also in high level digital SLR cameras too.
-s
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer