How can you edit for a digital IMAX movie?

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Level 1

8 points

How can you edit for a digital IMAX movie?

I have an hour of digital IMAX rendered animations (4096x2160), but even with 16 gigs of ram, I can't even come close to editing the footage for a movie. Every time I do the slightest thing, I get the spinning beach ball.

Is there a way to "dumb-down" the footage for editing, then return it to it's full glory for final output? If so, what settings should I use? Originally rendered in Pro Res 4x4x4. I'm hoping to not have to buy a high-end video card, etc.

Any help is appreciated!

Jim

Mac Pro dual 3.2 gig 16 gig ram, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 21, 2010 6:27 PM

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Answer 1

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 21, 2010 8:25 PM in response to fractalman

ProRes 4444 will choke machines at HD resolutions, much less 4K. I'd use Compressor to transcode everything to ProRes or even ProRes LT (depending on available drive space and amount of footage) and edit with that.

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Answer 2

fractalman Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2010 8:41 PM in response to Zak Ray

But won't that decrease the quality? I want to maintain the highest quality, but still be able to edit it.

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Answer 3

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 21, 2010 8:48 PM in response to fractalman

Yes it will decrease quality, but that is the nature of an offline/online workflow. If you don't want to spend more money on a faster solution, you're going to have to work this way. And it's not as if it'll be bad quality-- you may not even notice the difference, depending on the display you're working on.

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Answer 4

fractalman Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2010 8:57 PM in response to Zak Ray

So would you be able to notice the difference? If it is a dramatic lowering of quality, then if I go the other route and pony up some money, what would you suggest I would need (video card, new computer, etc)?

Am I even close with what I have?

Thanks again!

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Answer 5

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 21, 2010 9:01 PM in response to fractalman

You'd probably notice a small difference, but it's not really relevant considering you'll be re-linking to the full-qualiy files later, no?

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Answer 6

fractalman Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2010 9:07 PM in response to Zak Ray

Yes, I think that's what I want to do. Now the big question is how?

Do I do this in project settings, or if it's too long of an answer to explain, could you at least tell me what I would search for in the books/indexes/help files?

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Answer 7

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 21, 2010 9:12 PM in response to fractalman

It's really just a process of reconnecting media. Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you really editing an IMAX movie without knowing how to do that?

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Answer 8

fractalman Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2010 9:25 PM in response to Zak Ray

Yes, I know it sounds strange, but I'm a 3d graphics designer and model builder by trade. I've had a lot of interest in my HD renders, and the IMAX people want to see a demo (in full IMAX res). Then possibly a feature-length movie.

I have some experience in Final Cut, but I'm not a pro editor, I'm just trying to put together my first IMAX presentation.

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Answer 9

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 21, 2010 9:32 PM in response to fractalman

Well here's the basics of it, try seeing how much you can get out of this:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=91%2 6section=2%26tasks=true

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