Capturing to FCP but delivering for Avid....

MikeWilkinson

MikeWilkinson

Veteran
Here's the shoot setup:

2 HVXs shooting 1080i60
3x16 GB P2
an FS100


It's an auction, and on the second day there will be some serious length to the record time, such that I'm going to opt for recording the wide static shot onto a MBP with FCP's capture now feeding an external HD. (intern will be monitoring)

The client has asked for a PC formatted HD, as they edit on Avid.

It is my understanding that My only option would be a FAT32, but they have drive size restrictions. Could I get around this by partitioning a 500GB drive into 4x125 segments?

My other question is can anyone think of other workflow options that woudl be better? I can get a PC notebook, but I don't have Premiere/Vegas/Avid, and if I did I'm not very comfortable operating them, especially if something went wrong.

I'd like to be able to give the client the drive at the end of the day and be done, but should I just consider the option of capturing it now and dealing with getting it on a PC HD after the shoot?

I'm ordering the drive tomorrow, will need to format by Tuesday. Any input is appreciated. Thanks guys.
 
FCP just will not work well capturing to FAT32 formatted disk. Are you capturing to a notebook? Use an Intel Mac, install XP on a bootcamp partition and use Adobe OnLocation (the rebranded DVRack HD). To avoid any firewire issues, get am eSata Express343 card and external eSata enclosure. Format the drive NTFS in Windows. Record live through OnLocation to that drive.

Other alternative-- record live into FCP and lay into FCP timeline. Use Automatic Duck to create Avid-compatible sequence. Then, under Windows, copy everything to NTFS formatted external drive.

I would really try to avoid FAT32. Your client, by the way, could always install MacDrive on his PC and be able to read Mac formatted drives. That $70 solution is well worth it. Even if you install it and add cost of software and "consulting" to your bill, it will make life a lot easier. You can then skip the NTFS stage. Likewise, put MacDrive on your computer and capture through OnLocation to the Mac-formatted drive, which you client with MacDrive could then read.

Ned Soltz
 
Thanks Ned. Oh and by the way I just ready your article on backing up your files... good stuff!

The more I look into it, the less I like the FAT32 option.

I don't have Premiere, so no OnLocation. I also already ordered the client's drive and billed him for it. D'oh!

MacDrive looks awesome! I'd never heard of it. I think maybe I should call my client, speak to his editor, and see if he has or can get MacDrive. That woudl make things VERY simple on my end.

Can Avid not ingest DVCPROHD QT movies?

Thanks!
 
Thanks, Mike

The DVCPRO HD codec is an Apple codec.

The MacDrive solution (I believe it is up to version 6) really is very effective and I have never experienced a problem with a PC reading a Mac formatted drive with it.

The nice thing about the Automatic Duck solution (despite the $500 price tag) is that you basically can deliver Avid projects, bins, timelines, etc etc ready to edit. If you merely brought a QT file in DVCPRO HD codec over to a PC, it could not read it because the codec is Apple.

Automatic Duck is fine for conversions of 60i material. You cannot bring 24p to Xpress Pro but, per the note on the web site, you can do it to NitrisDS.

Ned
 
How about mac avid?

How about mac avid?

Sorry if this is slightly hijacking the thread, but you guys are close to the issue that I've been looking into a bit today. I'm an FCP editor, and don't really know my way around Avid so much...or at all.

If I'm loading P2 on-set, backing up MXF and so on, and I use FCP to make quicktime DVCPro HD files of the footage, will Avid running on a mac be able to cope with the files? My guess is that this works, because the director requested that I provide quicktime copies of all the footage, but I do like to check up on this sort of thing. Thanks!
 
Arben said:
My guess is that this works, because the director requested that I provide quicktime copies of all the footage, but I do like to check up on this sort of thing. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Even though DVCPROHD is an Apple codec I've read several sources that suggest several forms of Avid support the format. AvidXpressDV may not, but if you have the HD version I've read that does.
 
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