couple of newbie question for FCP editing canon 5d footage at DVinfo.net

Wajahat Abbasi · January 4th, 2011, 08:42 AM

i have a limited experience with Song Vegas editing DV footage. this is the 1st time i am using Canon 5d and editing with FCP 7

i have a 15 minutes short film i need to edit

i have couple of newbie question.

1. FCP wont edit native 5D footage and i need to use prores in order to convert it in workable format. which prores do i use ? proxy? LT? 422? . after i have every thing ready on my timeline do i convert it back from prores to the original format/or link original format some how to be used for rending? i converted my video to prores LT and i have a feeling it lost quality ...

2. in Sony Vegas to deliver we would render at the end, but reading about FCP it looks like we EXPORT at the end not render, and rending is done as a process of exporting... am i right?

3. for the best HD video i should export my final project in h.264 correct?

thank you

Ned Soltz · January 4th, 2011, 09:02 AM

You should download the Canon plug-in for FCP. In the Log and Transfer window under Preferences, set your transcoded codec to ProRes LT. That is really the "sweet spot" for Canon DSLR footage.

Drop your footage into timeline and allow FCP to change sequence settings to match your footage.

Now, as far as final output, it all depends upon the deliverable requirements. If you are going to web, you would certainly use H.264. I would personally finish the project and then export a reference movie from FCP. Bring that into Compressor and apply the pre-set most suitable to your deliverable.

I often export a self-contained movie rather than a reference movie, but it really makes little difference.

Additionally, I much prefer Episode Pro to Compressor, but we're talking here about workflows strictly within Final Cut Studio.

Good luck with your first FCP project!

Ned Soltz

Wajahat Abbasi · January 4th, 2011, 09:07 AM

thanks for a quick response.

i used MPEG Streamclip to convert my raw footage to prores LT and just dragged all files to my project. it is different then what you suggested as far as the final result depends?

Jiri Fiala · January 4th, 2011, 01:16 PM

The main difference is that you can enter metadata in FCP Log and Transfer Canon plugin and it creates a Time of Day-based timecode. MPEG Streamclip does none of that.

But then again, you don't need metadata or for EVERY project. MPEG Streamclip seems to be faster. Some say LT is enough for quality/sampling/bitrate/latitude of original H264 files from Canon. I tend to stick to standard ProRes.

Wajahat Abbasi · January 4th, 2011, 01:19 PM

what is a standard prores? and why would i not chose standard over LT ? size?

Jiri Fiala · January 5th, 2011, 02:35 AM

Plain ProRes bitrate is 66 MBps, ProRes LT is 48 MBps. Some people say anything over LT is an overkill for DSLRs with mere 4:2:0 color sampling and resolution.

January 4th, 2011, 08:42 AM	#1
Wajahat Abbasi Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY, NY Posts: 138	couple of newbie question for FCP editing canon 5d footage i have a limited experience with Song Vegas editing DV footage. this is the 1st time i am using Canon 5d and editing with FCP 7 i have a 15 minutes short film i need to edit i have couple of newbie question. 1. FCP wont edit native 5D footage and i need to use prores in order to convert it in workable format. which prores do i use ? proxy? LT? 422? . after i have every thing ready on my timeline do i convert it back from prores to the original format/or link original format some how to be used for rending? i converted my video to prores LT and i have a feeling it lost quality ... 2. in Sony Vegas to deliver we would render at the end, but reading about FCP it looks like we EXPORT at the end not render, and rending is done as a process of exporting... am i right? 3. for the best HD video i should export my final project in h.264 correct? thank you __________________ Canon XL2, 20X zoom and 3X wide-angle, , Sony Wireless UHFs UWP-C1 and UWP-C2 , Manfrotto 503 head on 351 tripod , Glidecam 4000 Pro w/Glidecam Smooth Shooter

January 4th, 2011, 09:07 AM	#3
Wajahat Abbasi Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY, NY Posts: 138	thanks for a quick response. i used MPEG Streamclip to convert my raw footage to prores LT and just dragged all files to my project. it is different then what you suggested as far as the final result depends? __________________ Canon XL2, 20X zoom and 3X wide-angle, , Sony Wireless UHFs UWP-C1 and UWP-C2 , Manfrotto 503 head on 351 tripod , Glidecam 4000 Pro w/Glidecam Smooth Shooter

January 4th, 2011, 01:19 PM	#5
Wajahat Abbasi Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY, NY Posts: 138	what is a standard prores? and why would i not chose standard over LT ? size? __________________ Canon XL2, 20X zoom and 3X wide-angle, , Sony Wireless UHFs UWP-C1 and UWP-C2 , Manfrotto 503 head on 351 tripod , Glidecam 4000 Pro w/Glidecam Smooth Shooter

January 4th, 2011, 09:02 AM	#2
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	You should download the Canon plug-in for FCP. In the Log and Transfer window under Preferences, set your transcoded codec to ProRes LT. That is really the "sweet spot" for Canon DSLR footage. Drop your footage into timeline and allow FCP to change sequence settings to match your footage. Now, as far as final output, it all depends upon the deliverable requirements. If you are going to web, you would certainly use H.264. I would personally finish the project and then export a reference movie from FCP. Bring that into Compressor and apply the pre-set most suitable to your deliverable. I often export a self-contained movie rather than a reference movie, but it really makes little difference. Additionally, I much prefer Episode Pro to Compressor, but we're talking here about workflows strictly within Final Cut Studio. Good luck with your first FCP project! Ned Soltz

January 4th, 2011, 01:16 PM	#4
Jiri Fiala Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brno Czech Republic Posts: 453	The main difference is that you can enter metadata in FCP Log and Transfer Canon plugin and it creates a Time of Day-based timecode. MPEG Streamclip does none of that. But then again, you don't need metadata or for EVERY project. MPEG Streamclip seems to be faster. Some say LT is enough for quality/sampling/bitrate/latitude of original H264 files from Canon. I tend to stick to standard ProRes.

January 5th, 2011, 02:35 AM	#6
Jiri Fiala Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brno Czech Republic Posts: 453	Plain ProRes bitrate is 66 MBps, ProRes LT is 48 MBps. Some people say anything over LT is an overkill for DSLRs with mere 4:2:0 color sampling and resolution.