FS7: XAVC-I to ProRes for FCP7 batch export

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
This seems like it should be a basic question, but how do I export the footage XAVC-I footage from this lovely camera so I can edit it in Final Cut pro 7. As I understand it Catalyst Browse won't do a batch export.

In fact what's thee pathway for FCP X and for Premiere as well.
I have an old version of the original Premiere 6. Will that handle XAVC?

Lenny
 
Thanks Joe, looks like it was posted today .

I installed the update, but it doesn't help me yet. I'm deep into understanding this camera , but I'm in kindergarten about post. I don't have the slightest idea how to get these files into FCP 7. I can't even seem to get them transcoded one at a time from Catalyst Browse . When I hit export it says I haven't picked a destination and I don't see where you choose that.

Help - please point me to a primer on post for XAVC!
 
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Lenny, have you tried booting up FCP7 and just trying a Log and Transfer after installing today's patch from Apple?

Ben.
 
Lenilenapi said:
This seems like it should be a basic question, but how do I export the footage XAVC-I footage from this lovely camera so I can edit it in Final Cut pro 7. As I understand it Catalyst Browse won't do a batch export.

In fact what's thee pathway for FCP X and for Premiere as well.
I have an old version of the original Premiere 6. Will that handle XAVC?

Lenny
Click to expand...

You can use free Davince Resolve to transcode.

(and if you shoot log you can apply a lut at the same time and maybe a few exposure corrections if you want :) )
If you dont want to do any colour work just add the lut this can be applied to the entire sequence in 'one click'
Resolve does not support any EI choices you made however so if you used EI then you will have to correct using the log wheels to nail your black and white points.
Should you have shot any off axis lighting you can correct to a grey card by eye, or use the Macbeth card matching facility that will nail 20 odd colours in one click, supposing you added a macbeth card to your shot before the slate.

Should you have shot 4k and are headed for an HD timeling you can downscale or maybe even make a 720 proxy.

If you are shooting 4k for HD this could be a good time to crop in if you saw the boom etc.

You can also with a bit of trickery kill off the six unwanted sound tracks - that is what Im actually working on at the mo - and split the two tracks into two mono - not a stereo pair which will help if you shot a shotgun and a lav.

Im working on this sound unfungling. Peter (Mr Resolve) just sent me this to decode..
"Hi Sam, u need to set the audio as stereo or multiple channel mono in the media pool, right click, clip attributes. Set this prior to adding clips to the edit timeline and when they are added they inherit the track and channel config you set."

Once you have it all set up you should be able to save the project settings so the setup is done once.


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Using Cat Brows when you click export (of a single clip :( ) you shoud get a window open up that allws selection of the destination location.

Cat browse sustains exposure choices you made in Cine EI - very good.

Using Cat Prep you should be able to batch export but the version I have which was out of date till yesterday could not read FS7 files - a new version is available I have not tested it yet..

--

Once you have exported your pro res you should be cool in the NLE of your choice.

S
 
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With Cat browse I get a window that seems to allow choosing a destination folder, but it doesn't seem allow me to browse to that location and pick it like every other program I've eve used. Am I supposed to write down the full description of the destination folder each time. (i.e User>name> desktop>folder1>folder2> etc)? I guess I can do that but i'll probably make a mistake.
I feel like I'm missing something very basic.
 
It worked last week - I cant get it to work today - sorry!

That program feels half built.

Due to the lack of batch processing Ive really put CB on hold and am concetrating on using Resolve.

S
 
Well I did finally realize how to pick a destination folder, but then it fails to export - no explanation given.
 
Thats where I got to.

It seems broken.

Im guessign Resolve boils your blood cold. Have you tried CatPrepare - new version might actually read the camera.

Cat Prepare is designed for ingest so the simplest way to get your head around it is to attach a card reader som footage and go through the full process.

Cat browse is really worth looking at what it does with EILog footage, just for education but its not there for workflow.. yet.


In resolve Ive just cracked killing the spare audio tracks and splitting the stereo pair. That is sexy for making stuff edit ready!

S
 
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Premiere CC2014 handles the files natively, you don't need to batch export and it edits smoothly. Not sure if I still have a copy of CS6 on any of my machines if I do I'll check and see if that works - I'd be surprised if it does.
 
My guide to transcoding with FCP X: http://cinetiny.com/B5XbjUrH

Guide to transcoding with Davinci Resolve: http://cinetiny.com/zX06CIz6

Lenilenapi said:
With Cat browse I get a window that seems to allow choosing a destination folder, but it doesn't seem allow me to browse to that location and pick it like every other program I've eve used. Am I supposed to write down the full description of the destination folder each time. (i.e User>name> desktop>folder1>folder2> etc)? I guess I can do that but i'll probably make a mistake.
I feel like I'm missing something very basic.
Click to expand...

And as for Catalyst Browse maybe this will help others but you have to select one clip at a time, then at the bottom where you see "FILE" select "transcode to" and you will get a dialogue box with options such as resolution, format, color, etc.. (see screen shot). I just tested it again, and it does work for me. I'm on PC Windows 7 x64 SP1 -reasonably patched up but not fully.

Untitled_zpsd4c28560.png
 
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Actually from what I read the lite version of v11 is only restricted to UHD resolution for output. But I haven't been able to try it because I have the full version (the lite version is a totally different install)

Also in my experience Resolve is usually slower to transcode compared to other software. But its my favourite and I still love using it.
 
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I stand corrected then. Looks like the latestest DaVinci Resolve Lite will output up to UHD resolution both for monitoring and delivery (render).

I haven't benchmarked it against other batch tools, but it works for me. It is, at the very least, reliable.
 
That's great about resolve. that means it will also edit in UHD. Learning resolve has been on my to do list for a year now - 'bout time.
 
Lenilenapi said:
That's great about resolve. that means it will also edit in UHD. Learning resolve has been on my to do list for a year now - 'bout time.
Click to expand...

Well the little battle ive been fighting this weekend when not chitter chattling is reolve and the FS7.

You gotta have a mean computer if you want to edit 4k mxf or prores.

Transcode down - no problem (overnight) but playback hmmm.

S
 
I know the phrase "offline edit" is fighting words to some people, but it's worth remembering that you can import your 4k files into a Resolve project, transcode them to something lightweight like ProRes LT at 720 or 1080, keep the file names, edit in whatever NLE you please, and bring the EDL/XML back into Resolve to relink with the 4k masters. In this type of arrangement you can edit a shoot and deliver 4k, but don't need an edit machine that runs real time 4k.

Again, it's fighting words for some, but it's a practical solution if you don't have the budget to upgrade hardware or software packages.
 
I completely agree. transcode, edit, colour, render out from the 4k source.

Im not sure how to do that yet but Ill get there.

S
 
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