FS7: FS7 file workflow

A

Alan Dater

Member
I am interested hearing about FS7 file workflow methods from members. I only do shoots a couple of days a month for local producers and most of these are interviews plus some B roll. My usual method is to shoot in UHD using Slog 3. After the shoot I take the files home and make duplicates of the camera files. Then I bring those files into Resolve, add a Lut , remove the 6 extra audio channels, and output HD ProResHQ files. Using a portable drive I hand off both camera original UHD files and the HD ProResHQ files. I keep backups of the camera originals and the ProRes files for a few months just in case the producers need them for some reason.
This workflow works well for me but it does involve extra work, which I don’t mind, to transcode and output the HD ProRes files.
Curious about other workflows and opinions about my method and about using Resolve for transcoding instead of, say, Catalyst Browse?

Alan Dater
Marlboro Productions
 
Hey Alan I know we have communicated by email a few years ago. Let me ask you this, why transcode at all? I always deliver XAVC originals. Sure, some peeple might ask for ProRes initially, but then it is my job to educate them and help them as necessary to feel comfortable with XAVC. It's 2020 now, and nobody ought to shy away from editing native or delivering native. Client education . . . it is part of our job as "experts" in what we have been hired to do. In the long run, it is better for the client and better for YOU. Think of all the time and hassle you'd save.
 
Wow, I virtualy always just hand over XAVC-I originals. No one is paying me to go through all that extra work and I've never had anyone expect me to. That takes a lot of time.
I would only do anything like that is when I'm doing someone a favor and they aren't professionals. But then I'm usually doing that for free or very low money anyway.
I may give them a suggested LUT or direct them to Catalyst Browse and Hedge but that's about it .
 
^ Same here, Alan. That's a lot of extra work that you should be charging for (if you aren't).
If someone needs ProRes files, I usually try to convince them to try XAVC and they'll become a believer. But I've lost this battle before, so bought a ProRes recorder (Sound Devices PixE5) for those clients that just absolutely / positively have to have PR. I still roll internally on those shoots as well - giving me an XAVC backup instantly.
 
Yes, it is a lot of extra work. I do it for a couple of reasons. My clients do not have much experience with XAVC files and don't know how to deal with them and also it gives me a chance to go over the shots in Resolve and adjust the color etc to make them look their best. I do this because in most cases they will just cut the ProRes and output it without further color correction. I have considered an external recorder for ProRes and I might do that soon. I will start to "educate" my clients about XAVC files on the next shoot.
Thanks
Alan Dater
Marlboro Productions
 
Alan Dater said:
I have considered an external recorder for ProRes and I might do that soon.
Click to expand...

Agreed. That really is the quickest solution. Record internally to XAVC LOG and burn a LUT into your external ProRes recorder. That LUT can be on the output of the FS7 or depending on the recorder the LUT can be embedded there. For quick turn around I find this workflow hard to beat. Plus you always have your internal LOG XAVC to fall back on if anything is too far out on the burnt in ProRes or should there be an external recorder issue.

Chris Young
 
Cynthia Webster said:
Hi Chris!

Your workflow makes a lot of sense.
What kind of recorder are you using?
Click to expand...

Cynthia I use two units depending on what format I'm shooting. My original Atomos Samurai Blade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQP1E4kqCLo

and the later Shogun Inferno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPTS0Ag_9U

Though if was starting again I would probably get the Ninja V with the 12G SDI extension unit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfycKtDHScc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyyCT10SSlI
https://www.atomos.com/AtomX

The Ninja V would do everything the above two units will do but all in a smaller 5" unit with its smaller screen which I find fine to work with.

Chris Young
 
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