FCP2 and 24p Editing?

HybridCreations

HybridCreations

Well-known member
Please allow me to apologize for my inability to wrap my head around this. I'm a DP, and my partner is considering purchasing a used FCP2 system. Its running on a fairly capable G4 running OS9, but the thing I'm worried about is editing 24p footage. Will this version of FCP understand what I firewire to it?......24p or 24pa? I have read Noah's Sticky on editing 24p but I'm still confused. My specific questions are as follows:

1) Can I edit 24p footage easily in FCP2.0, both 24p and 24pa?

2) Do we have to capture the footage as 29.97 and then place it in a 29.97 timeline? Or are there other options?

3) Is there anything different that we'll need to do in order to edit this footage? (I.e. removing frames, etc.)

4) Would you recommend upgrading the computer to OSX and a newer version of FCP? (At this point, I'm not sure if this is financially feasible for us, but it'd be nice to know)

Thanks in advance. I apologize if this is a question you guys have answered before but I had no luck in any of my searches.

-Ryan
 
I'm no Mac pro, but I'm thinking you should do the 4th thing you mentioned.

As far as I know FCP4 is the earliest version that recognizes 24p. I'm thinking that fcp2 and os9 are kinda obsolete and it'll be slow, and if you come across problems, people may not recall how they fixed them in fcp2.

As long as fcp2 isn't a hack version you should be able to purchase upgrades which aren't too expensive. If the computer is a dual G4, you should be fine for editing video, upgrading to osx isn't very expensive either.

Editing 24p advanced is extremely simple with FCP4, 4.5, and 5. Capture with the preset(remove advanced pulldown), edit with your timeline sequence set for 23.98. Print back to tape with the cadence set for 2:3:2:3, or compress an mpeg at 24p.
 
Yup- FCP 2 and native 24p are going to be a no-go or I should say an extremely slow, painful and ultimately worthless go. Cannot recommend the upgrade to OS X and FCP 5 highly enough. Seriously- FCP 2 is stone age at this point.

Noah
 
Hey, FCP 2 was my first love! it may be "out dated" but stone age? it has feelings too...
 
Thank you so much guys. I have been trying desperately to convince my partner of the exact problems you mentioned. All anyone kept telling us is "Yes, FCP2 can edit 24p, duh, why not, it records in 29.97 anyway." Thank you for allowing me to keep my sanity.
-Ryan
 
Technically you can edit 24p (F5) on FCP 2 at 29.97. This is the way people get by with Final Cut Express and even iMovie but as pointed out if you're serious about this, especially if there was a need to edit in true 24 mode, then you'll need to upgrade.
If there no money shoot 24p and edit FCP 2. If there is enough money to swing it, upgrade.
 
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