Mixing Formats

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Mixing Formats

I have begun using my Nikon D800 to shoot video to good effect given the use of the good f2.8 lenses I have. I am editing this in FCP7 without issue so long as using clips from this one source. However, when trying to use other clips from my consumer level AVCHD camcorder in mixture with those from the DSLR I am have some playback syncing issues in the time line, even when exporting and reimporting what I think is similar coded versions of the video from the camcorder. I know this is simply a matter of finding the right common code for converting the video shot on the camcorder, but wondering if anyone has had and solved the issue before, before I reinvent the wheel in my exploration?

I am shooting at 25 fps on the DSLR, while I assume the Sony consumer AVCHD camcorder is using 30 -- but I tried to convert the latter to 25, and then mix, but without solution. I need to check the audio for the source of the issue, and just have not had time to plow through it all. I do know the bit rates are very different on the captured clip from the AVCHD camera from that shot on the DSLR, and suspect that is where I need to explore next?

Ernie

Posted on Apr 21, 2012 8:13 AM

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Answer 1

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Shane Ross

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43,110 points

Apr 21, 2012 12:03 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

You need to NOT use the format the cameras shoot. FCP does not work with them well. Convert everything to ProRes 422. Yes, the file sizes will increase...by a bit. But that's what FCP works with. If you want to work with the cameras native format, you need to look at Adobe Premiere Pro.

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Answer 2

Ernie Stamper Author

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37,591 points

Apr 21, 2012 5:43 PM in response to Shane Ross

Shane,

Thanks for your reply. Log and Transfer from the AVCHD camcorder results in Apple ProRes 422, Linear PCM, Timecode -- used in exclusion previously no problems resulted in FCP7, so what would/should I convert it to? It is compressed to 1440 x 1080, so should assume the transcoding would make it full 1920 x 1080, and that that would be a good thing?

From the D800, a file can be imported that is H. 254, Linear PCM -- used in exclusion has resulted in no issues, but I note a plug-in for video from Canon DSLRs that allows Final Cut to Log and Transfer from the memory card from the DSLR as it would from a camcorder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DZO0fOW80U&feature=related

This short tutorial echos what you have posted, does it not?

Do you think there is, or will be, a plugin for Log and Transfer from the Nikon hardware, or from files already imported in H.264? Or must I convert it more manually, say with MPEG Streamclip?

Ernie

Message was edited by: Ernie Stamper

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Answer 3

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Apr 22, 2012 12:06 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

>Log and Transfer from the AVCHD camcorder results in Apple ProRes 422, Linear PCM, Timecode -- used in exclusion previously no problems resulted in FCP7, so what would/should I convert it to?

If they are already ProRes, then they are done

>From the D800, a file can be imported that is H. 254, Linear PCM -- used in exclusion has resulted in no issues,

Convert that to ProRes. FCP does not work with H.264 files properly.

Convert everything to ProRes. Use a ProRes 1920x1080 sequence...if the footage is 1440x1080, it will unsqueeze to fill the 1920x1080 space.

>o you think there is, or will be, a plugin for Log and Transfer from the Nikon hardware, or from files already imported in H.264?

there isn't, as far as I know, so you have to use MPEG...

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Answer 4

Ernie Stamper Author

Level 8

37,591 points

Apr 22, 2012 4:28 AM in response to Shane Ross

This full explanation explains some other behaviors, I think, including having rendering following use of SmoothCam on the video imported as H.264 to not persist.

With the AVCHD, despite being H.264 following Log and Capture, shoulld I be sure to have the same frame rate as what I shoot with the DSLR, assuming that is not changed during the needed transcoding?

Ernie

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