Convert Offline RT to Full-rez DV

H

hanguolaohu

Active member
Hi, I’m using FCP 4 and I was wondering how to convert Offline RT footage already edited in the timeline to full res. DV footage. The problem is I have been editing a big doc in Offline RT, and while doing a 2nd project which is a VCD I captured in full DV quality, but whenever I place the VCD full DV quality footage in my sequence, it automatically reverts to Offline RT quality. I finally acknowledged this problem after finishing the VCD edit, so now I’d like to upconvert all the existing editing Offline RT footage to DV quality. Is there a simple way to do this, perhaps with Media Manager? I tried making a new sequence with full quality DV settings and pasting my Offline RT cut, but it just shrinks to a small screen. I also tried changing the sequence settings on the Offline RT cut, and the same effect happens, the screen just shrinks in size. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Alex
 
Re: Convert Offline RT to Full-rez DV

Here's what you do:

1) Select your edited OfflineRT sequence and select File -> Media Manager from the menu.
2) Select the options to create a new offline DV NTSC sequence and to trim the existing media and click OK. It is also easier (in my opinion) to select the option to make a new project.
3) Open your new Project/Sequence. You may have to check each clip in the sequence to make sure its aspect ratio has not been altered from being an Offline clip. This is found under the "Distort" category of the Motion tab.
4) Open the Log and Capture window. Start a Batch Capture and select the option that captures everything in the sequence.
5) Get all your tapes out and recapture.
6) Hurray! You're done! Now save!

(This only works if you logged your footage before capture. The only way to recapture unlogged footage is just to sit down, log all the parts you used, and then capture them again at full resolution. See, this is why you always log before capturing!)
 
Re: Convert Offline RT to Full-rez DV

I have another question along these same lines--

I currently capture and edit everything @ full DV resolution, which means I really couldn't get away with timely and productive editing on a laptop or some other lower-powered system. So here is my question:

"If I were to capture all my footage @ full DV resolution, could I a) then resample the same footage as PhotoJPEG or some other smaller codec, b) edit using that codec on a low-end system for cutting/timing, then, only after finishing a 'rough cut,' c) using that timeline with the original DV footage on my main system for final rendering/fx/color correction, etc."

I thought this is what OfflineRT was for. If so, do I REALLY need to "log" every shot? Can't Media Manager use my editing timeline from the RT version to pick 'n' choose what to grab and render? Please let me know the procedure or where to find it. Thanks.
 
Re: Convert Offline RT to Full-rez DV

You really seem to be asking a couple different questions here. I'll try to answer:

1) Yes, you can make duplicate clips at different compressions. First capture your footage at the higher frame rate, then use Media Manager to duplicate the project, selecting "Recompress" from the pulldown list of options. This will create duplicates of both your project and your media in different locations, recompressing the media according to the option you select.

I never do what you're talking about. If I have lots of footage to use, I just capture it all at OfflineRT format and later recapture, but that's up to you. It's another step, but it's usually a small one for me because most of my projects are under ten minutes in length once they've been edited. Anything much longer, and you may just want to skip the extra capture.

2) Yes, Media Manager can use your edits from the RT sequence to online the project with full DV media. No problem there. When I have lots of footage to sift through, I usually just set one in and one out point for the entire tape I'm using, so FCP has a reference point for what reel and timecode I'm using. Then I break it up into clips later as I figure out what I'm going to include.

However, a caveat about logging: don't avoid logging just because you don't feel like it. I only capture without logging clips when I know that it will take me several times watching all the material to figure out what I want. But when I have a project where I can tell quickly what takes I'm going to use, I log. Logging is a great way to get to know your footage and be really familiar with it by the time you get it online. It keeps you from getting lazy.

But you don't have to log every shot. You just have to give FCP some reference point to go by.
 
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