HPX250: Rewrapping MXF to Quicktime MOV

S

Stringer

New member
Hi all,

I'm on the verge of purchasing a HPX250 camcorder in the coming days.

I'll use AVC-Intra for production work, but want to also do some news work in standard definition DV codec.

I need a way to edit DV in Final Cut Pro 7, and do it fast. My problem is going to be getting the camera's MXF-DV files translated to Quicktime MOV-DV files which Final Cut Pro can see.

I figured the fastest way would be to look for a tool that can rewrap the MXF files in a Quicktime MOV container, which in theory should be fast and have no quality loss.

Has anyone had experience with using the HPX250 cam to shoot DV and turn it around fast? Does rewrapping sound like the best workflow, or are there better ways? Has anyone found a good, fast rewrapping tool?

Thanks.
 
For FCP 7, I have done this:

Open Compressor, and make a droplet. In the dialog box, choose your output format. Leave the destination at the default, same source as clips. I put a folder on my desktop labelled "Droplets" in which I keep droplets for the various output formats I want and save the droplet there.

After you unload your card onto your HDD, just drag the card's folder onto the droplet of choice (you don't even have to open FCP or Compressor). A new dialog box comes up, and you have a chance to change the output folder if you want, or you can leave it as source and the clips will go to where the original clips are. The progress doesn't show up on the box, but if you use the finder to view the target folder's contents you'll see the files start appearing as they are finished. The clip names are by default the original clip name plus the name of the codec you selected. Easy to tell from the original.

Hope this helps. For me, I like it better than Clipwrap.

John
 
As FCP7 is old and outdated, and since Adobe's CS6 is due out in a few weeks, kicks total ass over FCP, and can work with the native media, one workable solution is to upgrade your editing software.
 
Just buy GrassValley Edius. Use Bootcamp. ABC, NBC and others that use Panasonic P2 cameras use Edius. No transcoding of anything. Everything is reatime. I can edit right off the camera with the P2 cards. 20 min. later, I can start uploading to the news FTP site. Doing this with a cheap $500 PC laptop.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the helpful replies.

I guess the consensus (above) is to buy the HPX250, but to ditch my editing software (FCP7). It's sad that FCP has become a train wreck, though there's some news reports that a new version of FCPx to be released in late 2012 will support MXF (too late for me).

I've used Edius in work situations, I've got an old dormant version of Adobe CS3 (maybe I should update it), and keeping an eye on Avid Media Composer as well.

Apple should never have made life so hard. They could easily have created a quick MFX rewrap tool as a stop-gap measure to keep them in the game.
 
It has been around for a long time. I'm an Edius user so I have no personal experience with it, but when the HVX200 first came out Raylight was a must-have for FCP and Vegas users.
 
Yes, sorry about the mis-info!

I did the log and Transfer first into ProRes HQ, and the resulting files into the droplet. So quick I forgot I did it!

The process of log and transfer is speedy for both AVCHD and AVC Intra. The droplet speed depends on the file format you are encoding. You already own this software.
 
AlmaVideo: Thanks for your detailed posts about ProRes workflow. Very useful. I will create droplets and see how it goes.

THoff: Raylight looks great. I think I might buy it to gain fastest possible transfers for news. Thank you very much.
 
I took some HPX250 footage recently (it's a great camera) and here's my workflow:

Turn on Mac > Open FCP7 > connect iHPX250 to USB > log and transfer footage > do editing > deliver corporate video to client > get paid

You don't need to throw away FCP if you use the HPX250, it just all works.

Am I missing something here?

Cheers

Neil

PS By the way, Edius is great too, strongly recommended, running on Win7 under Parallels on a Mac.
 
I've installed Raylight for Mac users. It's the bomb. It just re-wraps the header and no transcoding. But, if you have Bootcamp, Edius is the way to go. Another secret. Once you edit your 2 to 3 min. news VNR (Video News Release), output a P2 file in a folder named for the event, and upload that folder to the news FTP,etc. Everyone can use that P2 file, whether macs or PC's.
 
I have to agree with Neil Richards, I don't see how the purchase of a HPX250 necessitates throwing FCP7 away. You can quite easily make it work. Sure CS5.5 and (soon) CS6 offer functions that remove some of the steps, but it's not a necessity. It all comes down to $ and what is the most sensible solution for you.

In any case, you can absolutely work with the HPX250 and FCP7 if you choose to do so.
 
Been using FCP and now FCP X with p2 footage for six years

There is no need to change platforms and editing systems unless you want to.
 
I've tried FCP, but I can't edit off the cards inside of my P2 cameras. If you're not shooting the news or needing very fast turnarounds FCP will work, but for news, Edius is the bomb.
 
JohnnyD said:
I've tried FCP, but I can't edit off the cards inside of my P2 cameras. If you're not shooting the news or needing very fast turnarounds FCP will work, but for news, Edius is the bomb.
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It is possible to get that functionality within FCP, but you'd need an add-on program. Some examples include Raylight, or Calibrated's MXF Importer.
 
Thanks, Neil, Johnny, Bryn, David and everyone for the workflow suggestions. Many great ideas.

I put an order in for my HPX250. It should arrive in a few days (yippee). I also placed an order with Amazon for Barry's HPX book. Look forward to it.
 
Stringer said:
I also placed an order with Amazon for Barry's HPX book. Look forward to it.
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Maybe it was just a limited offer, but when I got my HPX it included a voucher for a free copy of Barry's book. I sent it in as soon as I received the camera and had the book probably within a week. Not trying to steal sales from Barry, just sayin... I'd be ticked if I bought it then got it free as well :)
 
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