Mpeg-2 in final cut

PaPa

PaPa

Major Contributor
Hey guys, need your help. I am shooting a feature within the next few weeks and we are trying to figure out the logistics for editing.

I will be capturing on a PC as the final HDV footage ( canon XH A1) will be graded and such on the PC.

The editor, however, uses a Mac and will be editing with Final Cut Studio 6. I have read that final cut cannot read or support Mpeg-2 so what are my other options? I suggested that i capture everything and then re export into SD mov file so that she can edit an offline version and then we would have to reassemble the HDV stuff at full quality on the PC, but is there an easier way to do it.

also would there be a way for her to burn in the timecode if we have to go the long route and rebuild everything on PC later on?

What is the best solution?

thanks!
 
i did use the search and found what information i could, but i wanted to know if there were any changes in the newest version of final cut.

streamclip seems interesting, but is it a hassle? What are the alternatives in our workflow?
 
ProRes! ProRes! ProRes!

GREAT codec in FCP studio 2. works great with HDV. (does increase file size tho)

Capture on the Mac> Edit> Output> Finish on PC
 
is prores in final cut studio?
So it captures in FCP, what does it output to so that i have the absolute HIGHESt quality for PC afterwards for color grading etc... ?
 
ProRes comes in FCP2
You COULD output with ProRes but im not sure if a PC can read it.

You should find out what your PC grading software can handle.
(maybe it can do ProRes?)

Ive never used that sort of workflow, but would love to hear what people
think would be most efficient....
 
Don't use Pro-Res. You can only get it with FCP and it won't work on a PC. I suggest PHOTO-JPEG at 75 percent quality.
 
care to elaborate?

I am trying to solve the issue of either capturing on PC or Mac. The Coloring will be done on PC and the editing will be done on Mac. The PC needs the highest possible quality while the mac does not.

Should i capture PC, or capture Mac? If captured on Mac, what will the file type save as? Is that file as high quality as Mpeg-2? Will i be able to edit the Mac footage in Premier Pro CS3?
 
If your shooting a feature. I´d keep thing simple and save.
Capture on a mac, edit in FCP, CC in Apples Color.
And why all this back and forth? With HDV there is no reason for an offline edit.(Given an up-to-date workstation)
Not saying that your described workflow wasn´t common, but If there isn´t one person on this project, who really knows all about networking in postpro, I´d stick with on OS.
All the best!
 
Definitely- capturing on a PC will be quite difficult if not disastrous if the plan is to edit on a Mac. I'd capture on the Mac and then export into a format the PC can read- such as Animation codec. But again- yeah it's really pointless to go back and forth if you can help it.

Noah
 
i agree that it is pointless, but the editor has a Mac, and I have a PC. I am the DP and colorist, and i have no access to a mac. So what are my options?
 
What program are you using on PC? If it's an AVID, you can use a program like Automatic Duck to move your project from Final Cut to Avid, but I hear it's far from perfect. I've also heard of people using Automatic Duck to move from Final Cut to After Effects, and then to Premiere, as you can't go from FCP straight to Premiere for some reason. If you plan on doing that, I'd keep the edit as simple as possible. 1 video track, cuts and dissolves only...Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. A simpler way to go is just edit and capture in Final Cut, and at the end export an uncompressed Quicktime of the sequence in Animation or Photo-Jpeg codec and color grade the movie, although you would be stepping down a generation. Also, FYI, HDV doesn't color correct all that well. If you push things too far the artifacts REALLY start to show.
 
Batutta said:
What program are you using on PC? If it's an AVID, you can use a program like Automatic Duck to move your project from Final Cut to Avid, but I hear it's far from perfect. I've also heard of people using Automatic Duck to move from Final Cut to After Effects, and then to Premiere, as you can't go from FCP straight to Premiere for some reason. If you plan on doing that, I'd keep the edit as simple as possible. 1 video track, cuts and dissolves only...Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. A simpler way to go is just edit and capture in Final Cut, and at the end export an uncompressed Quicktime of the sequence in Animation or Photo-Jpeg codec and color grade the movie, although you would be stepping down a generation. Also, FYI, HDV doesn't color correct all that well. If you push things too far the artifacts REALLY start to show.
Click to expand...

I have never had a problem color grading HDV. It is not heavy color correction, just simple curve adjustment and saturation. I know that department very well.

i am using premier pro cs3.

right now i just need to focus on finding the best workflow.
 
neat. But man seems complicated. he is also going from program to program within an apple computer and not switching computers. Would that not cause an issue?
 
PaPa said:
i agree that it is pointless, but the editor has a Mac, and I have a PC. I am the DP and colorist, and i have no access to a mac. So what are my options?
Click to expand...
Couldn´t you grade on the editor´s computer?
Seriously, if it´s just about adjusting curves, just do it with FCPs 3-Way-CC, anything else sounds like overkill...
 
"neat. But man seems complicated."

yep -
combining both platforms into one workflow is like that!

would love to hear which road you decide to go down
 
Spartacus said:
Couldn´t you grade on the editor´s computer?
Seriously, if it´s just about adjusting curves, just do it with FCPs 3-Way-CC, anything else sounds like overkill...
Click to expand...

I may just have to do that. Unfortunately it is on a laptop, which means render times are even longer.
 
i think we are just going to capture on my PC laptop, then lend the laptop to the editor once we are finished, then get it back for the grading.

So yeah.. problem solved.. somewhat.
 
PaPa said:
i think we are just going to capture on my PC laptop, then lend the laptop to the editor once we are finished, then get it back for the grading.

So yeah.. problem solved.. somewhat.
Click to expand...

A wise decision, provided you can trust the editor with your laptop.
 
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