color not working

Question

Level 1

20 points

color not working

I am fairly new to Color and have done some grading work with it successfully. I've just started a new project and when I send a sequence to Color via FCP7, color grade it then send it back to FCP, the video is only a fraction of the audio as you can see in the attached image. It doesn't play normally and is stunted and choppy as though a ton of frames are missing. This is just SO frustrating. It makes me want to just get Magic Bullet Looks and be done with it. The round trip process with Color and FCP is incredibly convoluted. Any thoughts on why this is happening?

Thanks.

Mac Pro 2.8GHz quad 12 GB RAM 320GB SATA 500GB SATA, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Macbook Pro 2.4 GHz 4 GB RAM

Posted on May 23, 2013 7:54 AM

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Answer 1

May 23, 2013 8:26 AM in response to wunwspirit

what are your source settings and what are your sequence settings. In particular what are the frame rates and codecs? I'd suspect that your source clip frame rates do not match your sequence settings. Never a good idea.

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Answer 2

wunwspirit Author

Level 1

20 points

May 23, 2013 8:52 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the note. The footage is from a Nikon D7000 and was shot at 23.98 FPS

When I start a project in FCP7 and drag a clip into a new sequence I get the popup warning asking if I want to change sequence settings to match clip settings and I always click 'yes' ( i learned this method in a FCP tutorial by Ernie Schaeffer ).

My 'easy setup' for FCP looks like this:

I'm not sure if this is the right way to go or not. The footage I edit are from Nikon DSLRs ( in .mov wrappers ) and a Panasonic HMC40 which I ingest into FCP via 'Log and Transfer'.

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Answer 3

May 23, 2013 8:55 AM in response to wunwspirit

most dslrs shoot h264 which is NOT suitable for editing in fcp and needs to be converted to prores. Is all footage shot at 23.98 and is your sequence at 23.98?

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Answer 4

wunwspirit Author

Level 1

20 points

May 23, 2013 9:07 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Should I change my easy setup to 'format: ProsRes 422'?

Yes, all footage is shot at 23.98 FPS and the sequence is set to same. I have successfully graded footage before via the Color roundtrip process and have been quite happy with the results . I've also had this issue that I'm having now before and I am baffled at why this is occurring. It seems a steep learning curve here. I've got the 'Apple Pro Training Series' manual and DVD for Color so maybe it's back to the book and a process of trial and error. Ughh.

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Answer 5

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

May 23, 2013 9:22 AM in response to wunwspirit

You should convert your material to ProRes before you start your edit.

Color really only works with ProRes. It converts anything else to ProRes and that can cause problems. 99% of the problems people have with Color can be traced to not following the recommended procedures to prepare your sequence before sending it.

This means -

ProRes material

No retiming

No effects

No transitions

That you got away with it before in no way means what you have been doing is an acceptable or repeatable work flow. Color has its roots in a Unix based app that is inflexible with regard to formats and equipment. Follow the rules and you'll get great results. Don't follow the rules and things just won't work.

Good luck

x

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Answer 6

May 23, 2013 10:01 AM in response to Studio X

so since you've already done your edit, you may be able to media manage to prores within fcp. I'd do a short section as a test to see if it works properly. Post back if you have anyu questions about this workflow.

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Answer 7

wunwspirit Author

Level 1

20 points

May 23, 2013 11:45 AM in response to Studio X

Hi Studio X,

Thanks for the input. Converting the original footage from the Nikon HDSLR to ProRes 422 via Compressor and making sure to have no effects or transitions seems to have solved the issue. I'll add this to my future workflows.

Dennis

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