Best HDV workflow in FCP 5

Hello Cow People,

I am working on a dual 2.3Ghz Power PC G5, with FCP 5.1.4. I've shot 20+ hours of footage on a Sony Z1U and have been importing it to a G-raid 1TB with the Apple Intermediate Codec.

I've read a number of posts looking to answer the following questions:

1. Apple Intermediate Codec seems to create a look with more recognizable vertical field lines than the HDV native clips (if I import them that way) on playback. I usually view these clips in Quicktime Player. Is that just due to the fact that I am seeing them on an Apple monitor (I don't have an external CRT)? I have done some render tests in the timeline, using multiple codecs, and selecting "upper field dominant" as well as "none" dominant in sequence settings.

2. I know current conventional wisdom says the best work flow is to import HDV native to save space, and render in ProRes422 with FCP6 (read Dave, Shane, and Chris' thread inputs). However, concerning the investment and my computer (Power PC), am I best of sticking with FCP 5.1.4 and the Apple Intermediate Codec to edit a 20 minute documentary, or should I really spend the loot on Leopard and FCS2 upgrade? How much hassle/potential quality loss am I dealing with by using the Apple Intermediate Codec as opposed to ProRes?

3. I'm looking to have the highest quality program I can as an end product, and will eventually want to convert the 60i to 30p (potentially) for broadcasting and showing at festivals, etc.

4. In FCP 5, a colleague (who cuts a lot of HD for the networks) told me to get my footage out of HDV and into an i-frame codec as soon as possible for editing. Is this good advice?

5. Chris and Shane's notion of renaming of clips in the finder window after capture, then dragging into FCP browser works great with AIC files as well--thank you.


Thank you, and I'll take my comments of the air. I appreciate your input.


Burk Finley
FCP 5.1.4
PowerPC dual 2.3 G5
4.5GB RAM
23" Apple HD monitor