How to edit 1920x1080 & 1280x720 & 720x480 footage in one project - HELP!

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How to edit 1920x1080 & 1280x720 & 720x480 footage in one project - HELP!

I just shot a documentary in which we used two different cameras:

Our A camera was a Panasonic Varicam 2700 shooting in 1280x720 (our desired format), mostly 30fps but at times 60fps for slow-motion sequences. We shot on P2 cards, and my computer says the native codec is ai1p.

Our B camera was a DSLR, specifically the Canon 5D Mark II which can only shoot in 1920x1080, 30fps. I've converted these files from their native H.264 codec to Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) for better workflow in FCP.

In addition, we have SD archival footage that is 720x480 and codec that is DV/DVCPro NTSC.

What is the best method for editing these three formats in FCP? Our desired output format is 1280x720 in the highest quality possible.

Therefore what should my sequence settings be? Do I need to down-convert the B-cam footage before editing or FCP will do this automatically once my settings are set? How do I deal with the archival footage?

I'm very new to editing with multiple native formats. Any help or advice you can offer will be much appreciated!

Daphne

iMac11,1, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Intel Core i7

Posted on Jul 9, 2010 4:22 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 4:28 PM in response to Daphne_615

You going to have to convert the DSLR footage, why don't you convert it right away to 960x720p30 using DVCPRO HD to match your Panasonic material.

As far as the SD material goes, it is what it is. Find some creative way to fit it into your HD sequence. Working in 720p if you do decide to blow it up at least you don't have to blow it up as much.

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Answer 2

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 5:08 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, thanks for your response. Should I use compressor to convert the DSLR footage? I see a DVCPRO HD 720p24 option but nothing for 720p30?

In FCP, my sequence setting is currently set to 1280x720 HDTV 720p and it seems to be fine when I drag the DSLR footage onto the timeline. Does this mean I can avoid converting the DSLR footage before editing? I've just done a lot of logging and don't want to spend the time converting it all again.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 5:15 PM in response to Daphne_615

Isn't your material DVCPRO HD? Why aren't you using the DVCPRO HD preset for the sequence? DVCPRO HD 720p60 I think is what you use. I haven't worked with it in a while. Maybe Shane will jumps. He knows this format well.

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Answer 4

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 5:43 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Right now when I drag the Varicam footage onto a fresh sequence and match the sequence settings to the clip settings, it automatically sets the compressor as "Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)". It seems to render both cameras fine in this setting. However, when I change this to DVCPRO HD the timeline turns red.

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 5:47 PM in response to Daphne_615

How did you get this material into your system?

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Answer 6

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 5:51 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

We connected the P2 card reader to our Mac and Log & Transfered the files through FCP.

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 6:12 PM in response to Daphne_615

So what exactly did you shoot on your P2 cards. I made the assumption that you shot DVCPRO HD, which was wrong of me. I guess you shot AVC-Intra. OK then go to to that format. HQ conversion for this media was unnecessary. ProRes would have been sufficient. You've gone to HQ so convert the DSLR media to that.

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Answer 8

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 6:40 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Ok great. Yes we shot on avc intra. I have converted all the DSLR footage to ProRes, but the dimensions are still 1920x1080 whereas the Varicam footage is 1280x720. Do I need to change this? It seems to all work fine together on the timeline (which is set to 1280x720).

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Answer 9

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 6:44 PM in response to Daphne_615

If you're heading for 720p then it would be more efficient to convert the DSLR to correct format and frame resolution when you're converting it. If you're using the Canon transfer plugin you don't have that option, but it may be easier to convert with a different tool. I'd try to get everything into the same format at the beginning rather than work with multiple formats. It may take more effort and time up front, but I think it's worth it in the long run.

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Answer 10

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 7:03 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I'm very new to this so you'll have to bare with me - how do I convert the frame rate of the DSLR footage down to 1280x720? On compressor, the ProRes option just says "settings based off the source resolution and frame rate" ... I'm not sure how to down convert?

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 9, 2010 8:34 PM in response to Daphne_615

Duplicate the HQ preset. In the Inspector in the fifth button Geometry change the frame size. Also check the frame rate of your Panasonic material and in the second button Encoder make sure the frame rate matches. In the third button Frame Control set the Deinterlacing.

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Answer 12

Daphne_615 Author

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Jul 9, 2010 10:54 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks a lot Tom! I really appreciate your help.

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Answer 13

Tom Wolsky

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Jul 10, 2010 3:58 AM in response to Daphne_615

Realized this morning. No deinterlacing. The DSLR stuff should be progressive already, no?

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