HVX files for editing not sure, Help

A

ajmax

Well-known member
What do my files on the HVX come out to be?
I am going to be hired to shoot using my HVX on P2.
I don't know and will not know who will be editing and on what system...
What do i tell the person who is hiring me that my files will be?
I am planning on taking a hard drive and either copy my files to it or taking my laptop and importing my video into FCP and then copying the capture scratch folder that will contain the clips in a Quicktime format to the hard drive.
If I do the first option, are the files that i copy straight from camera to the hard drive going to be MXF Files. If they are can any editing system handle that?
If I go with option 2 can any system handle those Quicktime files?
Your Thoughts...
And please, only answers or thoughts to this scenario.....
Please no lectures on how I need to teach this person on their execution of this project.
This is the situation that I am in...
Thanks
 
The files coming off of the camera are mxf files.

I'd ask to see which edit system they were editing on.

If it is Avid/FCPro 5.1.2 or later/ Vegas or Premiere with ray light/ or Edius, just give them the HD with the mxf files.

Done.
 
I don't know what the editing system will be....
How do i give him the mxf files?
Is is my option 1?
 
ajmax said:
I don't know what the editing system will be....
Click to expand...

You need to find that out - without knowing where its going there is no way to ensure the workflow.

How do i give him the mxf files?
Click to expand...

Same way you would give anyone files - either on a hard drive, or possibly on DVDs (depending on the amount of footage).

Is is my option 1?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's the best option for you because it represents the least amount of work for you.

But you'll probably have greater compatibility with more editing systems if you go with the second option you listed, importing the MXF files into your FCP system and then copying your Capture Scratch folder onto a drive - which would be full of Quicktime files.

The only issue there is that the editor would lose out on the opportunity to log the footage easily. Personally, as an editor, I would prefer to import footage myself, which would make it easier for me to organize and log it as I see fit.

The best thing you can do right now if find out what the editing workflow will be (i.e. what editing system this will be posted on). Without that information you really can't make any educated decisions, instead you'll only be hedging your bets.
 
Thanks guys,,,,
This is what i needed to know...
as for the editing system...
My client does not know where her client will have her edit and which part of the country she will be when they tell her to go to a post production house of the their choosing...
It's one of those deals....
So I want to be able and give them the best option that is manageable...
And it is a pretty good chunk of change to turn down ..
gotta pay the bills...
 
Just give them the MXF files.
IF they hired you to shoot with an HVX200, then they SHOULD know they will get MXF files.

If they have a problem after the fact, charge them to convert the files to something they can use.
 
I will give them the MXF Files....
When they hire a video crew, they hire crews form all over the world so I don't think they know or care that they are getting HVX 200 material.
They just want the images...
I just hope that the MXF file are compatible with most editing systems....
 
If they have one of those backwards editing systems that doesn't support it, you could give them uncompressed video.

It might be a good idea to try to iron that out in advance -- it's the professional thing to do, and may save you time and headaches.
 
How do i give them uncompressed video?

I understand about trying to find out before the shoot.
I totally agree with you guys..
The situation is that I will get hired by a freelance producer who is in the states and the she'll take off to any part of the world where she is sent...
Where she is, she will then go to edit...
that could be the same week or a few months down the road.
Neither one of us will know when or where it will be...
the only thing that we know is that she will have NTSC video...
She does not know where to edit until she is told where to go...
That is why I want to make it as easy as possible
 
You'd have to load your MXFs into your NLE and output uncompressed video from there. Obviously you'll need alot of disk space to deliver that, but chances are you are sending an external hard drive anyway.

I just want to reiterate the need to find as much of this out now, or at least raise the issue with the client. If she hires people to edit, she needs to hire people who can work with DVCProHD and hopefully P2/MXF.
 
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