Workflow for telecine'd film, downres to edit on older computer w/FCP

Hi guys -- well, I think this actually a non-issue and a mistake on my part -- looking at the original footage it is indeed 1920x1080 but when I made my sub-clips.... I used Half size" in the View menu in QTpro, and that made 960x540 turn up as the "current" footage size. Taking one of those subclips and just expanding it to "Full Size" View it's 1920x1080, and then going to half size again I notice there is a line noting full size is 1920 even while current size is 960... So! Disaster averted, I think.

Michael I'll try your workflow using the correct settings tonight ASAP if I get the chance between hauling my kids around and general chaos.

I appreciate your continued help and patience with this!!

regards

G

Hi Michael -- I went back in to Media Manager with my complete info and am not sure what I should be seeing in the MM window.

In the Media section, in the "Recompress media using" dropdown, I did not see a preset for my format, which is: ProRes 422 HQ 1080x1920 23.98 fps. I create a Custom setting and was able to match it in there, but then in the main Media Manager menu, it seemed to indicate that the footage would only be compressed from 7.0 to 4.2 GB. Whereas the earlier (incorrect I think) setting got the compressed footage down to 2.5 gb.

I am probably entering my data in the wrong areas, can you advise?

thanks!

G

Hi Michael, here's what I get selecting Apple ProRes 422 HQ 1920x1080 24p -- looks like the compression would make the file heavier?

Sorry for the confusion! -- I think we are talking about the same thing but to answer your questions:

1. I opened FCP, imported one clip, and hit command-9. The results are below. And yes I want to edit using proxy files that are lower res than the 1920x1080 originals. My computer can't play them back accurately because they are too large.

Hi Michael -- Ha ha, I think I got lost in the explanation but this makes sense now (I think):
So I can go ahead and enter a similar flavor of Prores proxy in the "recompress media using" area now,
THEN, on the return trip when I use Media Manager to move the footage back, in the Media section of the UI (referencing the screenshot you entered earlier), THAT is where it's crucial to enter my original footage specs (ProRes 422 HQ 1080x1920 23.98 fps, etc...)
Is that correct?

And yes, my test plan is to take two small clips, edit them together a bit, then send it back through the media manager and see the full-res results.

Here are my specs:
iMac OSX 10.5.8
1.9ghz PowerPC G5
1.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Final Cut Pro (studio) 6.0.6
I'm using a G-raid 1TB harddrive connected to the imac via firewire 400.

will do tonight, thanks again Michael!!

G

Update: even with the correct settings, I was going from (for example) a 7mb file to a 5mb file, didn't seem like much reduction but I did notice that the original, full-size files seem to play fine in the tiny Canvas and Viewer screens (which are prob. 1/16 original size). So, I figured I'd go ahead and use the files as-is and save the worry of reconversion later.

However -- probably a coincidence -- after spending a few hours organizing footage in FCP and syncing sound, some glitches flashed and I got a grid of vertical lines and rectangles -- the screen froze and after trying to restart a few times (unplugging the external harddrives first) the imac fan started going very very loudly and I realized that my machine may have reached the end of its life.

I kinda doubt it has anything to do with the large files -- but maybe?

Anyway, I guess it's time to take it in and see if I can salvage the old monster or if I need a new one.

G