FCP7 L&T and Processor Usage at DVinfo.net

Yannick Hausler · September 8th, 2010, 10:33 AM

Hi,

I understand that this has been posted here many times before but I haven't seen people talking about the processor usage while importing these clips through the L&T window in FCP.

Has anyone noticed that if your clip is about 2mins or more, then the processor usage of transcoding goes down? It starts of using 100% and then depending on how long the clip is, sooner or after the processor usage starts to fall until it only uses 20% (longer clips).
I am using a quad core 2009 macpro..

Regards
Yannick

Joe Goldsberry · September 9th, 2010, 05:49 PM

I've noticed that but it only happens if the audio is LPCM.

Hopefully Apple will soon have an update to correct this annoying behavior.

Joe

David Morgan · September 10th, 2010, 11:18 AM

Have you guys developed a solid, reliable workflow with FC 7? This is the main reason I haven't bought into this camera.
I've read that there are issues using PCM audio and clip mark in & out settings with L&T. Other than that, have you been transcoding to ProRes as a standard? If so, Pro Res 422 or Pro Res LT?
thx
dave

Bill Carnicelli · September 11th, 2010, 08:10 AM

David, I have 2 of these cameras and use FCP7. I have not had any issues and I love these cameras. Here's my workflow. Set the audio on the camera to record Dolby Digital instead of the LPCM. Log & transfer does not handle the LPCM well and will cause the transcoding to slow down. I mount the card in Log & Transfer and import everything. I don't bother trying to set in and out points. I've been transcoding to ProRes 422. It is faster then realtime to transcode. The other issue is that Log & Transfer does not recognize the recorded timecode of the AVCHD file. This has not been a deal-breaker for me. Eventually there will be an update to FCP and I'm sure these issues will be addressed.

Bill Carnicelli
Carnicelli Media Productions, Inc.

David Morgan · September 11th, 2010, 10:12 AM

thx for the reply. Very clear. Wonder if you have experience in low light with these units? I guess I'm spoiled from the days of my PD-170. I'm using 2 Canon XH-A1's now. Work well in theatre lighting with CCD chips but horrible under real low light conditions.

Steve Fox · September 11th, 2010, 10:34 AM

Hi David,

I added 3 - NX5U cameras back in February to replace my PD170's I shoot a lot of dance recitals with lighting that varies from poor to great (professional lighting). What I have found is the NX5U cameras have been fantastic with low light and the clarity is much sharper. My customers have remarked how much better the clarity is with the final product is this year versus the previous years. (shot with the PD170's).

Most of the time I don't run the cameras past +6db gain at f4.2 - f5.6. If I need more light I can open the iris with out running up the gain.

I am glad I made the change. I still have some PD170's for those jobs I need tape at SD.

Steve

David Morgan · September 11th, 2010, 10:49 AM

thx, Steve, the news is encouraging.

Have you had any flash band issues?
2- Have you tried the SD mpeg 2 workflow? I frequently shoot shows for another company that is still primarily working in the DV realm. (He does have a 2/3" chip camera however). Instead of handing him tapes recorded in DV, I would have to give him the mpeg files, either transferred to a hard drive or I could just give him the SD cards. I would be buying the bolt on 128 gig backup drive so I could record simultaneously anyway. He uses Adobe Premiere 4

Steve Fox · September 11th, 2010, 11:01 AM

Hi David,

I have been offering my customers SD DVD for dance. It did not make sense for me to shoot the NX5 in HD and go through all of the conversion to arrive at SD. This year all of my dance work has been in SD mpeg 2 format. this gives me with a 16GB card close to 4 hours of shooting in SD. If I need HD, I record to the FMU at the same time and record HD 1080.

I have one client that is thinking about offering HD to their parents as an option next year. With this camera I'm covered.

I did some samples using HD and SD recorded at the same time and found that the final output to SD DVD was about the same quality. Going the mepg-2 route it was a much faster work flow.

I edit in FCP 7.0, I use StreamClip to convert the meg-2 files to DV Streams. I am currently using a 4 year old Mac Pro 2.0Ghz Quad system.

Steve

David Morgan · September 11th, 2010, 11:16 AM

Whoo man, this seems too easy. I agree with you on the HD downconvert to SD process. I'm not happy with the results or the extra steps. I think, at least at this level (not broadcast) if your going to shoot HD then it should stay in HD all the way to Blu-ray or the web. If not, then SD but 16 x 9 is still the way to go.

Steve Fox · September 16th, 2010, 08:08 PM

There is a thread for the newly released update 7.0.3 With this update FCP can now L&T the MPEG2 SD footage and convert to Apple ProRes 422. Once brought in, your ready to start editing. Using StreamClip you still need to render the audio. The only problem I have found is the time code is still reset to 00:00:00:00 for each clip.

Steve

September 8th, 2010, 10:33 AM	#1
Yannick Hausler New Boot Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Posts: 18	FCP7 L&T and Processor Usage Hi, I understand that this has been posted here many times before but I haven't seen people talking about the processor usage while importing these clips through the L&T window in FCP. Has anyone noticed that if your clip is about 2mins or more, then the processor usage of transcoding goes down? It starts of using 100% and then depending on how long the clip is, sooner or after the processor usage starts to fall until it only uses 20% (longer clips). I am using a quad core 2009 macpro.. Regards Yannick

September 9th, 2010, 05:49 PM	#2
Joe Goldsberry Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Whitman, Mass Posts: 101	I've noticed that but it only happens if the audio is LPCM. Hopefully Apple will soon have an update to correct this annoying behavior. Joe __________________ http://JoeGoldsberry.com

September 11th, 2010, 10:34 AM	#6
Steve Fox New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 14	NX5U replacement for PD170 Hi David, I added 3 - NX5U cameras back in February to replace my PD170's I shoot a lot of dance recitals with lighting that varies from poor to great (professional lighting). What I have found is the NX5U cameras have been fantastic with low light and the clarity is much sharper. My customers have remarked how much better the clarity is with the final product is this year versus the previous years. (shot with the PD170's). Most of the time I don't run the cameras past +6db gain at f4.2 - f5.6. If I need more light I can open the iris with out running up the gain. I am glad I made the change. I still have some PD170's for those jobs I need tape at SD. Steve

September 16th, 2010, 08:08 PM	#10
Steve Fox New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 14	FCP 7.0.3 Update There is a thread for the newly released update 7.0.3 With this update FCP can now L&T the MPEG2 SD footage and convert to Apple ProRes 422. Once brought in, your ready to start editing. Using StreamClip you still need to render the audio. The only problem I have found is the time code is still reset to 00:00:00:00 for each clip. Steve

September 10th, 2010, 11:18 AM	#3
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	Have you guys developed a solid, reliable workflow with FC 7? This is the main reason I haven't bought into this camera. I've read that there are issues using PCM audio and clip mark in & out settings with L&T. Other than that, have you been transcoding to ProRes as a standard? If so, Pro Res 422 or Pro Res LT? thx dave

September 11th, 2010, 08:10 AM	#4
Bill Carnicelli Tourist Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Winter Park FL Posts: 3	David, I have 2 of these cameras and use FCP7. I have not had any issues and I love these cameras. Here's my workflow. Set the audio on the camera to record Dolby Digital instead of the LPCM. Log & transfer does not handle the LPCM well and will cause the transcoding to slow down. I mount the card in Log & Transfer and import everything. I don't bother trying to set in and out points. I've been transcoding to ProRes 422. It is faster then realtime to transcode. The other issue is that Log & Transfer does not recognize the recorded timecode of the AVCHD file. This has not been a deal-breaker for me. Eventually there will be an update to FCP and I'm sure these issues will be addressed. Bill Carnicelli Carnicelli Media Productions, Inc.

September 11th, 2010, 10:12 AM	#5
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	thx for the reply. Very clear. Wonder if you have experience in low light with these units? I guess I'm spoiled from the days of my PD-170. I'm using 2 Canon XH-A1's now. Work well in theatre lighting with CCD chips but horrible under real low light conditions.

September 11th, 2010, 10:49 AM	#7
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	thx, Steve, the news is encouraging. Have you had any flash band issues? 2- Have you tried the SD mpeg 2 workflow? I frequently shoot shows for another company that is still primarily working in the DV realm. (He does have a 2/3" chip camera however). Instead of handing him tapes recorded in DV, I would have to give him the mpeg files, either transferred to a hard drive or I could just give him the SD cards. I would be buying the bolt on 128 gig backup drive so I could record simultaneously anyway. He uses Adobe Premiere 4

September 11th, 2010, 11:01 AM	#8
Steve Fox New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 14	Hi David, I have been offering my customers SD DVD for dance. It did not make sense for me to shoot the NX5 in HD and go through all of the conversion to arrive at SD. This year all of my dance work has been in SD mpeg 2 format. this gives me with a 16GB card close to 4 hours of shooting in SD. If I need HD, I record to the FMU at the same time and record HD 1080. I have one client that is thinking about offering HD to their parents as an option next year. With this camera I'm covered. I did some samples using HD and SD recorded at the same time and found that the final output to SD DVD was about the same quality. Going the mepg-2 route it was a much faster work flow. I edit in FCP 7.0, I use StreamClip to convert the meg-2 files to DV Streams. I am currently using a 4 year old Mac Pro 2.0Ghz Quad system. Steve

September 11th, 2010, 11:16 AM	#9
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	Whoo man, this seems too easy. I agree with you on the HD downconvert to SD process. I'm not happy with the results or the extra steps. I think, at least at this level (not broadcast) if your going to shoot HD then it should stay in HD all the way to Blu-ray or the web. If not, then SD but 16 x 9 is still the way to go.