Need Help with Workflow!!!

JBurkey

JBurkey

Active member
Hello fellow DVXusers, I'm sure this has been addressed before but I'm having a time finding posts about it.

I am about to begin a 20 minute documentary project for the local fire department. I'm collaborating with a friend who works on a mac with FCP. I work on a PC with Vegas. We have to tag-team the editing to get it done in time for their deadline.

What are your suggestions for how to handle a cross-platform editing workflow? We intend to use an external HDD to trade back and forth as we "change shifts". Any and all ideas are welcome on workflow, file formats, etc. I'm just a lowly student still cutting my teeth and this is my first "real" project involving this kind of collaboration.

Thanks all,

Jerry
 
Capt is correct, Vegas and FCP are two NLEs in two totally different catagories and not very compatable at all. For what y'all are trying to do, IMHO you guys are set up for disaster...

Let's learn two very important lessons here, since you are a begining student.

1- Not all NLEs are compatable when sharing editing on the same job, very few are.
2- Always test a system you've never used FIRST before you ever take on a job that requires it. Never use equipment DURING production for the first time. When you get into production, you should be familiar with everything you use, FIRST.
 
I'll third that one. I'd pick the location of the NLE that you can both access at whatever hours and make that THE editing suite. Then just cycle around the clock on that one until its done. Or the other choice, if you're a regular editor, make the investment in say a MacMini and FCS. Then you could tag-team w/ external hard drives at two different locations. Anyway, good luck.

cheers.
 
BenB said:
2- Always test a system you've never used FIRST before you ever take on a job that requires it. Never use equipment DURING production for the first time. When you get into production, you should be familiar with everything you use, FIRST.
Click to expand...

Unless you have one of those "cool" production teams that decides they can go ahead and make decisions about new/different shooting formats mid-stream without talking to Post first. I really love those guys, I truly do. :beer:
 
I understand that FCP and Vegas are not compatible. What I was looking for was a way around this issue. Another user suggested printing to DV tape after every editing cycle, which would be a pain in the A, but sounds like it might be my only option.
 
Well... if you're going that route, just export your footage after every cycle, and burn the file to a DVD. If the project is only 20mins long, it should all fit on the dvd.
 
Does Vegas export EDL???

That might be the way to go... but you'd both have to capture the material as Vegas won't capture the same way FCP does format wise...

Importing EDLs would be the only way.

CaptM
 
Capt, great idea. I had thought of EDLs, but didn't mention it as the two don't capture the same way. Do you think there may be TC problems between the two with this solution? Unless you can work without TC not being a problem. Never done it that way. Just thinking off the top of my head.
 
Yeah -- TC should be TC, right? Regardless of the capture format... as long as Vegas sees TC.

I'm thinking it should be good. Like Avid/FCP tag teaming.

CaptM
 
Understand your dilemma. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. But, the reality of the situation is you might have to make some compromises in your workflow. I would avoid trying to find a way to bring edit decisions back and forth. Instead, break the film up. You do 10 minutes, he does 10 minutes. Use quicktime as a way to bring your cuts into each system, or whichever one becomes the master system. Even Avid and FCP don't play nice with each other when it comes to sharing sequences. It can be done, but you need third party apps to make it work well. So bottom line, find a way to split duty but keep the transporting to a minimum. Otherwise, you'll be asking for trouble and wasting more time than if you just did one shift of editing.

Steve
 
stevesherrick said:
Understand your dilemma. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. But, the reality of the situation is you might have to make some compromises in your workflow. I would avoid trying to find a way to bring edit decisions back and forth. Instead, break the film up. You do 10 minutes, he does 10 minutes. Use quicktime as a way to bring your cuts into each system, or whichever one becomes the master system. Even Avid and FCP don't play nice with each other when it comes to sharing sequences. It can be done, but you need third party apps to make it work well. So bottom line, find a way to split duty but keep the transporting to a minimum. Otherwise, you'll be asking for trouble and wasting more time than if you just did one shift of editing.

Steve
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is something we have been talking about in meetings- how to divide up the editing to minimize this back-and-forth stuff. We're concerned about maintaining style consistency but that just requires more attention to detail and clear communication about how we're going to do things.

I have to say, I have no idea what EDL is!
 
JBurkey said:
I have to say, I have no idea what EDL is!
Click to expand...

Takes a big-man to admit that.

Ok... somewhere in Vegas you should be able to export an Edit Decision List... or EDL.

FCP will be able to IMPORT this EDL as a sequence and you'll have the same clips in each timeline. You can batch capture from the original tapes or even CAPTURE the tapes in FCP and then direct these offline clips now in your timeline to the appropriate captures.

Then, you can see what the other person is doing.

CaptM
 
Only problem with EDLs is that all the information won't come over. Effects, that kind of stuff. The suggestion of using EDL is valid, but the time required to batch capture, perhaps recreate effects, etc might be more effort than it's worth. Automatic Duck makes a cool program that allows you to export and import sequences between programs like FCP and Avid and even premiere and After Effects. It does a good job of accurately recreating your sequence, even with some basic effects like dissolves. Not sure they have a version for Vegas yet, but that to me would be the closest I would get to the recapture method if going back and forth a lot.

I think you're wise to have the creative meetings and figure out how you want to approach the editing. Then you can delegate the editing tasks. And with broadband connections you can do a hell of a lot of review via online, so you'll never be left in the dark as to what the other person is working on. Check this out.

http://www.syncvue.com/

Steve
 
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