Editing MXF files in FCP Color

twerp

twerp

Active member
is there an easier way to edit MXF files in color other than compressing each individual clip into color and editing each clip in color individually?

we'd like to be able to take our WHOLE time line, load it into color... and edit each clip individually without having to compress hundreds of clips just to edit them.

are there any programs that will allow this?

please help, as we have a big edit coming up, and we just don't have the time to be compressing a clip, loading it into color, coloring it... compressing the next clip... loading it into color... repeat hundreds of times!

please help!

thanks!
 
Not sure I understand what you mean by "compressing" each clip into Color. If you mean converting MXF files into Quicktime movies, this does not involve any compression of the footage. The underlying video is not compressed; it is just put in a new wrapper. Since you are planning to use Color, you must have access to Final Cut Pro, so all you have to do is ingest all of the footage in question into FCP at one time and it will all be converted into Quicktime movies you can correct in Color.

If you are new to Color, you might want to take a look at the Apple documentation describing recommended workflows among the applications in Final Cut Studio.
 
Yeah, I too am very confused by your workflow. Somehow load the clip into COLOR, then get to FCP?

This is the workflow. Import into FCP. Edit. SEND TO COLOR. Color Correct. Render. Send to FCP. Output.

Importing MXF into FCP is just putting it into a QT wrapper, and is faster than realtime. If, however, that is too SLOW for you, then you can always try MXF4QT, that will allow FCP to work directly with the MXF files. And I hear that it is compatible with Color.
 
Why are you compressing clips to edit them?

Are you indicating that you don't want to transcode or rewrap mxf into QT?
 
hey guys, sorry that that was so jumbled; i hope this helps.

our workflow is as follows:

we shoot a project @ 720p 24pn > we upload the footage onto our MAC via firewire through P2CMS (P2 Content Management Software) > we then import the footage into FCP, edit it > we then send the footage to Color... this is where our problem has originated... the footage appears in the Color timeline, but is red and has an 'x' in it. it does not allow us to Color the footage.

everyone we've spoken to has suggested that we export the project from FCP into a Quicktime file then send that Quicktime file to Color and CC that.

in the past we have been able to CC our footage in Color without exporting the MXF file into a Quicktime file. Now it seems the only way for us to CC our footage is by tediously exporting each individual clip into a Quicktime file, sending that to Color and then sending that individual clip back to FCP. we used to be able to send the entire timeline, how it was, into Color and edit each individual clip without exporting ANY of it to a quicktime file. it was MUCH easier and way less of a headache than our currect situation.

we also have NO idea why we are now unable to just edit it like we used to.

we really could use some help o_O

thanks for the replies guys.
 
How are you importing into FCP? MXF4QT? Calibrated? Direct Import because P2CMS installed an MXF Quicktime component allowing FCP to directly access the media (althought the audio and video are separate)?

If you want to use Color, then you need to use the LOG AND TRANSFER method to import the footage into FCP. It is at THIS stage that the quicktimes are created, the MXF files are converted to QT...zero quality loss. Then edit THEN send to Color.

Or use MXF4QT for this...I think their software works with Color. I'll check tonight to verify.

If you export a QT file, and try to send that to Color, you will end up with a SINGLE clip in Color...not good. You'd have to export the QT movie, reimport into FCP, then razor all of the cut points, then send to Color. And all the fancy transitions will be married to the video....this is a BAD way to do this. VERY bass ackwards.

Wanna use Color? Gotta do things properly.
 
Couple questions. Are you using raylight so you can edit MXF file in FCP? Do you log and transfer as has been suggested.

Are you editing more that one kind of footage? AKA DVCPRO HD and HDV? Or DVCPRO and DV? Color will only handle one kind of footage at a time. So if you were doing DVCPRO HD and HDV you would have to convert all the HDV to DVCPRO HD then export to color.
 
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