GH4 GH4 Random Newbie Questions...

[scotteh]

Depends on the system. On my 2011 17" MBP I can edit native AVCHD in both Premiere CC and FCPX very easily. I do transcode in FCPX just because it skims the clips just a tiny bit better but native editing runs like butter for me.

I'm on a mid 2012 MBP with FCPX. Seems like right when I import AVCHD direct the from the card it transcodes, but is that just a setting? I don't check the box for proxy media or optimize media. I seem to remember even if I copy the whole Private folder over it still transcodes. Maybe I just haven't looked into it hard enough. I know in one of the latest FCPX updates they added support for .mts files, which is nice since before you needed the whole Private folder or use something like Clipwrap to re-wrap it to a different file type.

Haven't tried Premiere CC on my Mac, but on my PC I remember importing a .mts file and I saw the "Transforming" status bar in the bottom right.

 

[blazer003]

I'm on a mid 2012 MBP with FCPX. Seems like right when I import AVCHD direct the from the card it transcodes, but is that just a setting? I don't check the box for proxy media or optimize media. I seem to remember even if I copy the whole Private folder over it still transcodes. Maybe I just haven't looked into it hard enough. I know in one of the latest FCPX updates they added support for .mts files, which is nice since before you needed the whole Private folder or use something like Clipwrap to re-wrap it to a different file type.

Haven't tried Premiere CC on my Mac, but on my PC I remember importing a .mts file and I saw the "Transforming" status bar in the bottom right.

Premiere only has to re-encode the audio, the video it plays natively.

 

[The Irish TRex]

A better preamp can improve the audio quality of an external mic, but with wireless audio packs like the Sennheiser G3 system their own audio circuitry is the limiting factor, so you won't gain any benefit from using high quality preamps before connecting to the camera. Just make sure the Sennheiser receiver unit and the GH4 camera audio levels are set correctly.

I haven't tried this with a GH4, but I imagine that setting the GH4 to -12 dB and setting the Sennheiser receiver AF Out to -30 dB would be a good place to start.

Interesting. Good to know. So the G3 mics won't gain any help from going into a better preamp first? Okay, good to know. I do plan on getting the YAGH thing soon because we need the SDI outs (long story) and XLR outs for some of our mics. Wish it wasn't so much, but hopefully it has great preamps.

.....

As for taking off the lens during recording, seems like the general consensus is, don't. Not that you can't because there is a "shoot without lens" option in the settings, but it's probably safest not to. I guess during a long event, I'll just have to sync more in post. I'm used to audio being recorded with video and not separately so that's how we are setting up to do things with the GH4's. Shouldn't be too hard to sync a couple more times when recording is stopped and it's not like we plan to change lenses while recording all that much. But good to know.

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Thank you BRUCE for the AFL/AEL suggestion. I'd still love to know why having Continuous AF setting ON or OFF is better. Most seem to say off is better, but I wonder why and if that's true specifically with the new GH4. Also, I'm wondering when following people around what most people do regarding AF Mode (tracking mode, face/eye detection, MF, etc.) I appreciate all the feedback thus far.

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Next up I'll have to find a rig that works for walking around. Anyone use the Cam Caddie Scorpion EX? Seems lightweight, less expensive and modular enough for me. I know the Zacuto options but I'm already about to spend close to $10k on possibly 3 of these cameras, 6 lenses, audio pre-amps/YAGH, batteries and faster cards so saving whenever I can is great.

 

[TheDingo]

I guess during a long event, I'll just have to sync more in post. I'm used to audio being recorded with video and not separately so that's how we are setting up to do things with the GH4's. Shouldn't be too hard to sync a couple more times when recording is stopped and it's not like we plan to change lenses while recording all that much. But good to know.

For long events I let both the cameras and audio recorders run the whole time (if possible), so then I only have to perform one audio sync, and will have to chop things up from the one very long video file. With Sony Vegas Pro I can sync 3-5 hours of video in less than one minute, and it will hold up for the entire video. ( audio drift seems pretty linear with all digital gear )

 

[The Irish TRex]

What is the proper way to use 4k footage in a 1080p timeline in Premiere Pro CC in order to be able to zoom in, pan/scan, etc.? Would I just drop it on the 1080p timeline or do I need to do something to that footage first. It'll be mixed with other 1080p footage. I see all over of the benefits of shooting 4k which would give you 1080p 444 footage but I'm never sure how best to do that, specifically with Premiere Pro CC.

Thanks.

 

[SuperSet]

I create a 1080P sequence and then drop the 4K footage onto the sequence. You'll be prompted if you want to change the sequence or keep the settings. I choose keep settings.
Once the footage is on the 1080P timeline, it will initially be set up so you can pan/scan but if you want to downscale the footage, right click on the clip and choose 'Scale to Frame Size'. I don't know if it's actually 444 and to be honest, kind of skeptical.

 

[The Irish TRex]

I create a 1080P sequence and then drop the 4K footage onto the sequence. You'll be prompted if you want to change the sequence or keep the settings. I choose keep settings.
Once the footage is on the 1080P timeline, it will initially be set up so you can pan/scan but if you want to downscale the footage, right click on the clip and choose 'Scale to Frame Size'. I don't know if it's actually 444 and to be honest, kind of skeptical.

I feel like more has to be done to it to actually make it 444. That's what I'm getting at...I feel like I'm missing something because simply doing what you mentioned seems far too simple.

 

[Thomas Smet]

Are you 100% sure about the lens removal? On the GH1 and GH2 the camera would stop recording if I removed the lens. With adapted lenses I could remove the lens itself from the adapter if the adapter stayed connected to the camera but this was very difficult to do. Native m43 lenses however caused the cameras to stop recording once the connection with the body was broken. I have not tried this on my GH3 since I gave up on ever being able to do it but I was not aware that this has changed.

Did you have "shoot without lens" turned on?

Fran[/QUOTE]

Yes.

Has anybody actually tried this? I just tried it on my GH3 with a Panasonic 25mm f1.4 lens and the camera stops recording as soon as I remove the lens. Yes I have the shoot without lens option selected since I sometimes use adapted lenses. Now with adapted lenses if I remove the Canon or Nikon lens from the adapter while the adapter is still attached to the camera then it will keep recording. This is because the camera still thinks a lens is physically attached.