Multi-cam post workflow in FCP with different codecs

[Ben Creighton]

Hi guys,

I posted this same question in a different forum, but then soon realized that there hasn't been a response posted to any question there in over a week. So, since I have no patience, and I trust you guys, and you'll actually answer me, I'll post it here too.

Here's my dilemma:

I'll be shooting for 2 weeks on a cruise ship and in Hawaii. The cruise line won't let me set up my Panasonic AC-160 on a tripod; but it looks like I can get away with using my JVC HM-100 due to the smaller form factor, but still no tripod. I'll also be using a Canon 7D, Panasonic X900M, and a GoPro. My question is, what format should I shoot in for best results in post? Delivery will be for the web and for DVD, so 720p is an option. I just hate to NOT shoot in 1080 when I can, so as to keep the HD/BluRay option open down the road. But I think the only format that all the cameras have in common is 720/60p (?)

My other concern besides matching frame rates is ingesting into FCP7. The JVC shoots in native QT format, but obviously the other cameras don't. Should I log and transfer everything, including the JVC footage, using ProRes? What would you guys say is the smartest way to go in order to make all these cameras get along on the FCP timeline?

Thanks,

Ben

[Tim Gilbertson]

Use Compressor to transcode to ProRes in whichever ratio you want (422, 444). It'll make your life much easier. I'm not sure if it'll let you multicam different codecs anyway. I know different frame sizes/frame rates won't work. In any case, it's a quick transcode in Compressor.

T

[Joel Peregrine]

Hi Ben,

Its a pain but as Tim says the most efficient way is to encode to ProRes. I use ProRes LT. I dealt with this back in 2008...