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PmPhotographic
PmPhotographic
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Interchanging raw footage with FCP

Nov 30, 2011 8:32 AM

Tags: #mac #codec

Hi Everyone

 

I use CS5.5 on a PC.  When I upload my HDV footage from my Canon XHA1, it is saved as a mpeg file which is what I am calling its 'raw' state here.  I have tried passing a sample of this to another editor who is Mac based so that he can edit on the original file.  However, he cannot read the mpeg file.  Can anyone explain exactly why, and is it possible to overcome?

 

I've already tried to send an XML file, but this hasn't helped

 

Many thanks

478 Views   6 Replies   Latest reply: Colin Brougham, Dec 1, 2011 11:34 AM
 
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  • Colin Brougham
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    1. Colin Brougham,
    Nov 30, 2011 8:50 AM   in reply to PmPhotographic
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    FCP needs pretty much everything to be in an MOV container--FCP would usually capture HDV to Apple HDV in a QuickTime MOV--so the MPEG file is going to be a no-go. And unfortunately, there is no way on Windows to package up a QuickTime file with Apple HDV (or at least not that I've found).

     

    However, the Mac editor might be able to do this on his own machine. With MPEG Streamclip, he might be able to open the MPEG file, and then use the File > Save As > MOV option to rewrap these files in a format the FCP will accept. Unfortunately, I can't test this, but it should be a fairly simple process to try. MPEG Streamclip is free and requires no install.

     

    Alternatives would be to send the original tape, or to transcode to another QuickTime flavor that is less-compressed than the initial HDV compression; Avid DNxHD would be a possibility since it is free and available for cross-platform use.

     
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  • PmPhotographic
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    2. PmPhotographic,
    Nov 30, 2011 9:04 AM   in reply to Colin Brougham
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    Hi Colin

     

    Thank you for the suggestion, we're actually doing this to avoid passing tapes around, but can do so if necessary

     

    I will pass your suggestion to the other editor

     

    Regards

     
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  • PmPhotographic
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    3. PmPhotographic,
    Dec 1, 2011 8:53 AM   in reply to Colin Brougham
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    Hi Colin

     

    That does seem to offer a workaround, although the other editor is finding the conversion quite slow

     

    Many thanks

     
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  • Colin Brougham
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    4. Colin Brougham,
    Dec 1, 2011 9:44 AM   in reply to PmPhotographic
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    Are you talking about MPEG Streamclip? Hmm... I had hoped it would be quicker. Obviously, it's doing a recompression instead of a rewrapping.

     

    I might be on to something, though. Can you send this link to your fellow editor and see if he can work with the clip contained therein: http://www.mediafire.com/?bkrjwwq3cunyu98

     

    What that is is an HDV capture that I rewrapped to (I think) an Apple HDV QuickTime MOV. If it works, I'll send along some instructions--it's a totally lossless conversion!

     
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  • PmPhotographic
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    5. PmPhotographic,
    Dec 1, 2011 11:28 AM   in reply to Colin Brougham
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    Hi Colin

     

    This is what he reported back

     

    "No unfortunately didn't work - played in Quicktime but completely corrupt - and Final Cut didn't even open it..."

     

    Many thanks

     
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  • Colin Brougham
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    6. Colin Brougham,
    Dec 1, 2011 11:34 AM   in reply to PmPhotographic
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    OK, thanks. Let me play with it some more. I'm able to convert Apple HDV MOVs to MPEG-2 Transport Streams so that Pr will import them, so I think I can go the other way.

     
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