P2 & FCPx workflow

I

indigo

Well-known member
I'm having problems working out a 'decent' workflow for FCPx when using P2 and am wondering what others are doing?

In FCP7 I'd import into P2CMS then select the footage I'd require but FCPx won't (or doesn't seem to) play with P2CMS or come to think of it .MXF files that aren't coming from a camera or physical P2 card.
Cheers
 
In FCP 7 you should have been using the Log & Transfer function.
In FCP X, Import From Camera, you can select on or more clips to import at once, or specific ranges of clips.
Neither version requires P2MCS at all.
 
When working with any tapeless camera system, you should always, always, always make a copy of the entire file structure of the memory card.

Many NLE and other programs need this structure and the metadata stored within it to import properly, even if they supposedly work directly with the codec and file extension.

EDLs, AAFs and XMLs will work more smoothly if you have the correct directory structures to use in place of tape reels.

When you online in other programs, they sometimes need the extra information that's stored in those other files in the card directory for import or other metadata.

Finally, you don't know what the future holds in store for us, so archiving the whole card will protect your ability to work with next year's (or next decade's) software.
 
Hey indigo,

From my experience, there are 3 ways to bring P2 footage into FCP X.

1. P2 cards in the camera ~ connect via FireWire and you're good to go.
2. from Quicktime files that you've made with another version of Final Cut Pro. To import these, just select "Import Files" (ie: not camera archive).
3. from P2 card volumes that you've saved on a hard drive ~ this works well, except for spanned clips and 1080/24PA footage which comes in with incorrect pulldown at times.

***Spanned Clips do not seem to play well with FCP X. ** I've had several crashes while importing spanned clips, which result in no video being able to be played back from the Event, Project or Import window. :(

Happy Editing,
Andrew
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top