Hi ALL,

A quick post discussing workflow for the ex1 in FCP.

I set up capture preset as 1080p25f 35vbr (from uk) when files are ingested.

change to Pro Ress H1 4:2:2

what is everyones workflow and timeline?

Ollie

Choose the appropriate Easy Setup and change Render to ProRes. The sequence codec itself remains XDCAM EX though.

Some would change the sequence codec to ProRes as well but unless you have a reason to (and some may certainly) I don't see that as necessary.

Hey Craig, I've always been a little bit confused by something you just outlined. What is the difference between setting the Render setting to Pro Ras as opposed to setting the Sequence codec to Pro Res? This has always puzzled me.....and I apologize for butting into this thread!

Setting the Render to ProRes means all FXs (titles, filters, transitions, etc) will be rendered in Pro Res. This avoids the GOP re-conform that would slow down editing. Al untouched video will remain in EX codec.

On the other hand if you set the sequence itself to ProRes everything must be rendered. That can certainly slow you down as well.

Leaving the sequence codec in EX and Render setting in ProRes will still result in an EX codec export. Someone people may change the sequence codec to ProRes once editing is completed but everything is still rendered at that point. That would give you a ProRes export. This decision depends on whether you're OK with an EX .mov master vs a ProRes .mov master.

In any case I think it's easiest to edit in EX but set renders to ProRes and at the end of the project decide whether you want a ProRes or EX codec master.

Thanks for that very clear explanation. I guess it's up to me to figure out which codec to use for the final export. How much difference would there be in the exported file sizes between those two options? Say, for instance, if you chose the middle-of-the-road ProRes option and not one of the low- or fastest-bit rate versions.....I hope that question made sense! ;-)

ProRes White Paper - See page 10 as well as complete chart on page 20
http://images.apple.com/finalcutstudio/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper_July_2009.pdf

1920x1080 29.97
ProRex Proxy 45mbps
ProRes LT 102mbps
ProRes 422 147mbps
ProRes HQ 220mbps
ProRes 4444 330mbps

XDCAM EX 35mbps (as you know)
So even ProRes LT is about 3x larger.

Thank you again, Craig....very helpful!
Dave

Yup Render Settings to Pro Res is very helpful and faster.

But setting the sequence to Pro res surely will take longer to render.

Also wgat do you export your footage as? transcode or do anything in compressor?

Ollie

Home - Avia TV (http://www.avia-tv.com)
For this job it's XDCAM EX all the way, In and out.
Shot at 1080/25p, edited into 720p timeline.

I was using Apple's own h264 encoding for YouTube, from now on I'll be using x264