FCP 6 EX1 problems

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nickmicros

Well-known member
I believe that I do not have the system requirements to run XDcam footage on my home lab top. Can anyone confirm this for me?

I have never worked with any XDcam footage on my personal system but I got a gig as a colorist for a project that was shot with the EX1 and want to work from home. The footage 1920x1080 some footage was 29.97 and some was 23.98. Also, the DP shot with a nano flash meaning he was shooting in 4:2:2 color sampling.

My timeline is set up as XDCam HD422 1080p30 (50 Mb/s) compressor






I am running the sequence in FCP 6.0.6 but want to send the sequence to color. The computer is an old PowerBook G4, 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM for memory and running Mac OS X version 10.4.11.
 
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A G4 is going to struggle mightily w/any Long-GOP codec such as XDCAM EX or HDV, but what do you mean the settings "seem right"? Either they sequence settings are right (they match the source clips exactly) or they are wrong (they don't match the source clips exactly). Also, color correcting on a laptop screen is an effort in futility. You need to be feeding an accurate video signal out to an HD broadcast monitor to truly know what the footage looks like and what your manipulations are doing to it.


-Andrew
 
They seem right, meaning they match the source clip excactly but maybe I am missing something. Pulldown pattern, maybe there is something in the video processing that needs tweaking. Render in RBG or YUV.... Could be a setting in playback control.

I know a calibrated monitor is needed when grading footage. I bought a couple of tutorials when color came out. There is a reason why am working like this and its a long story. But thanks for the heads up.

Also, I edit and grad with the same system with DVCpro HD 1280x1080 fine.
 
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DVCPro HD is a much easier codec for the CPU to handle than HDV or XDCAM. Do you have another machine to test the footage on? Considering it looks bad just played in QT I don't think it's a problem w/a setting in FCP.
 
There hasn't been a issue with a couple other systems. I am meeting with the editor tonight as well as the DP and director. I am just going to assume that my home powerbook can't handle the footage.

I'm removing the stills since the project is yet to be released also.
 
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