FCP: 3 cam multiclip, need help with proxies at DVinfo.net

Jim Newberry · December 7th, 2010, 12:51 AM

I'm editing an hour long performance shot with three 5D's. I've got them synced up in a FCP 6 multiclip sequence, but my Mac Pro is choking on the three streams, even though I converted the camera originals to Prores (not hq). I'd like to convert the originals to a lower res proxy file, probably using Mpegstreamclip, but I've got a few questions:

1) what codec would be good for this? (I've got a Mac Pro 2.66 with 9gb ram; the video files are on an external FW 800 drive)

2) I haven't done too much offline editing, and I hope to avoid a hassle with reconnecting the prores clips. I assume I right-click on the sequence, select "make offline," and then "reconnect media" and point to the proxy files? I didn't do any file-renaming...

I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Denis OKeefe · December 7th, 2010, 08:41 AM

I am far from expert in FCP but I have worked on some long multicam clips without major problems. A couple suggestions you might try - break the project into segments of 10 - 20 minutes so you don't have to handle a huge timeline until you get closer to the end of the edit. Load the clips onto your computer hard drive instead of an external drive. Check that you are using dynamic playback.

Jim Newberry · December 7th, 2010, 11:04 AM

I'll give that a try--I'd much rather not go through the proxy process if it's not necessary. Thanks.

Luc De Wandel · December 7th, 2010, 11:25 AM

Hi Jim
A lot has to do with the external drive, I'm guess. I edited four HD-streams of video, coming from my Sony XDCAM-HD and that worked perfectly. But I transferred everything to a internal disk first. Moreover, if I remember correctly, I had to select 'low' for video quality and 'safe RT'. I can look it up for you exactly what the settings were, but I'm on holiday now and I don't have my notes here withe me. I'm back on sunday, so if it's still useful, I can post again then.

With a mac Pro with 9 gig,4 HD-streams and a fast disk it, should run smoothly in any case.

Wayne Avanson · December 8th, 2010, 01:25 PM

I've been editing a three cam shoot for which I used XDCAM HD 422 and no problems. I use a MacBook Pro 17" i5 2.53GHz SnowLeopard and all the files are on an external 7200 LaCie FW800.

The play I shot was about and hour and a half all told.

Gary Barr · December 8th, 2010, 02:11 PM

Hi,

Another thing to try is tick medium quality, and then try not monitoring all the audio tracks if you've got them on the timeline still, just click the green monitor buttons on the left so you're listening to 1 track only and FCP isn't trying to play all those as well. Worked for me on a slower iMac.

Jim Newberry · December 11th, 2010, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the replies folks. Moving the drive with the project from external FW800 to inside my Mac Pro solved the problem.

December 7th, 2010, 12:51 AM	#1
Jim Newberry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 170	FCP: 3 cam multiclip, need help with proxies I'm editing an hour long performance shot with three 5D's. I've got them synced up in a FCP 6 multiclip sequence, but my Mac Pro is choking on the three streams, even though I converted the camera originals to Prores (not hq). I'd like to convert the originals to a lower res proxy file, probably using Mpegstreamclip, but I've got a few questions: 1) what codec would be good for this? (I've got a Mac Pro 2.66 with 9gb ram; the video files are on an external FW 800 drive) 2) I haven't done too much offline editing, and I hope to avoid a hassle with reconnecting the prores clips. I assume I right-click on the sequence, select "make offline," and then "reconnect media" and point to the proxy files? I didn't do any file-renaming... I'm sure I'll have more questions.

December 8th, 2010, 01:25 PM	#5
Wayne Avanson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 496	I've been editing a three cam shoot for which I used XDCAM HD 422 and no problems. I use a MacBook Pro 17" i5 2.53GHz SnowLeopard and all the files are on an external 7200 LaCie FW800. The play I shot was about and hour and a half all told. __________________ Avey theactionhouse.com

December 7th, 2010, 08:41 AM	#2
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	I am far from expert in FCP but I have worked on some long multicam clips without major problems. A couple suggestions you might try - break the project into segments of 10 - 20 minutes so you don't have to handle a huge timeline until you get closer to the end of the edit. Load the clips onto your computer hard drive instead of an external drive. Check that you are using dynamic playback.

December 7th, 2010, 11:04 AM	#3
Jim Newberry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 170	I'll give that a try--I'd much rather not go through the proxy process if it's not necessary. Thanks.

December 7th, 2010, 11:25 AM	#4
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Hi Jim A lot has to do with the external drive, I'm guess. I edited four HD-streams of video, coming from my Sony XDCAM-HD and that worked perfectly. But I transferred everything to a internal disk first. Moreover, if I remember correctly, I had to select 'low' for video quality and 'safe RT'. I can look it up for you exactly what the settings were, but I'm on holiday now and I don't have my notes here withe me. I'm back on sunday, so if it's still useful, I can post again then. With a mac Pro with 9 gig,4 HD-streams and a fast disk it, should run smoothly in any case.

December 8th, 2010, 02:11 PM	#6
Gary Barr Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 186	Hi, Another thing to try is tick medium quality, and then try not monitoring all the audio tracks if you've got them on the timeline still, just click the green monitor buttons on the left so you're listening to 1 track only and FCP isn't trying to play all those as well. Worked for me on a slower iMac.

December 11th, 2010, 07:57 PM	#7
Jim Newberry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 170	Thanks for the replies folks. Moving the drive with the project from external FW800 to inside my Mac Pro solved the problem.