Error in importing .mxf files into FCP

[Greggor10]

This is my first time trying to import footage from the P2 cards. I am running FCP 5.0.4 with the upgrade. I shot my footage DVCProHD 720/24PN but I am still unable to drag/import the clips into a bin in which I have pre-exisitng clips shot with the dvx100a. Incidentally, The dvx stuff was shot at 24p advanced mode. I don't know if it makes a difference but are there any tricks to getting these clips to import into a shared bin? How about getting the hvx stuf into a an FCP bin period?

GW

[Francko]

u cant import 720 files, fcp lacks on this.
u can import 1080 files only...for the moment

Francko

[Greggor10]

What are my options re: this footage shot on 720? Hang onto it until Apple releases something?

GW

[Erik Olson]

Francko,

I think you might be mistaken on this - are you in PAL or NTSC territory? I've been told that FCP 5.0.4 does support 720/24PN in NTSC.

[monolith]

There's no question that 720/24p works in FCP 5.0.4 - I've been cutting it for weeks. The only issues that FCP is not equipped to deal with are pulldown rates on some 1080i footage (but there's a work-around in Cinema Tools).

I think the problem you are running into may be your import method. Apologies if I'm wrong on this. Set target bin in browser as 'logging bin' as per usual (no problem for files of different vid rates, frame sizes etc. to peacefully co-exist in a single bin).

Under File > Import > are you selecting "Panasonic P2"? FCP isn't yet equipped to deal with raw P2 metadata - you need to import it using the Panasonic P2 option (also appears under Import if you Ctrl+Click in your browser window) which rewraps the footage as a Quicktime movie (no quality loss). If you're using a P2 Store or your camera then the files should pop up (one group at a time - corresponds to either each individual card, or the partition that you dumped the card to). I imagine the situation is similar for FireStores. I suspect you're trying to click and drag raw P2 footage, and FCP spits the dummy when you try that cuz it doesn't support .mxf files.

Hit me back and let me know how you went. Intrigued if this doesn't work.

[Erik Olson]

Bump for Greggor10...

e

[Greggor10]

Monolith,

Thanks. I had never noticed the P2 importing option. Unless I am doing something wrong it looks as though I can only import one clip at a time and it takes about 3 minutes. Has this been your experience?

GW

[Greggor10]

Thanks Monlith!

[monolith]

Look for the 'Import All' button in the bottom right hand corner of the Panasonic P2 Import window. Or you can manually select all clips and import that way.

You can only import one group of clips at a time (from ONE card, or from ONE partition on a storage device) - so if you only see one clip appearing, then it's because you only recorded one take/file onto that source. Check the other sources in the drop-down menu (you've probably found that by now) - they're labelled NO NAME, NO NAME 1, NO NAME 2 etc probably.

Happy cutting!

[Erik Olson]

Yes, these are long unbroken card-to-capacity clips. Little pink exclamation points everywhere.

e

[Greggor10]

I am not able to "batch capture" with any sort of predictability. When I manually select all of the cliips and attempt an import FCP does not recognize a P2 path. When I try and open a new clip in addition to the one I have already placed in the browser the original disapperars and is replaced by the new. Any thoughts?

[monolith]

That's voodoo to me, magic man. No idea as to why or how. What are you importing off? Camera? P2 Store? Firestore?

Are you importing the same files? i.e. Do they have the same name?

[Greggor10]

All clips have different names. They are being imported off a lacie firewire drive. Does this help?

GW

[monolith]

Hmmm. The files on the lacie - were they captured straight off the camera (i.e. as it was recording) or were the files created elsewhere (P2 Card, FireStore, P2 Store) and then copied to the drive?

I'm reaching a bit. The only thing I can think of that might be different from my experiences is that files created on an HDD during recording don't have timecode. But I don't know why that would make FCP behave as it is.

Tell ya what - check your capture scratch folder. You should be able to 'click n drag' the .mov files straight from there into your FCP Browser. Even if the files don't appear in FCP, they should still exist on your HD/capture scratch.