RedCamera/FCP workflow
by danielle wang
on
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:54:34 pm
Hi,
I will be starting to assist on a short film that was shot with a Red Camera. I have never worked with this before, so I am a little lost. I am also not the greatest at FCP, I'm more fluent with Avid. So, from what I have read, I should be able to just import the media into FCP? All the media is on an external drive, should I copy them onto a separate drive to work off of? Plus it's good to back these things up. Also, I read somewhere I have to download a codec for the media to work on my FCP, is that right? If so, what codec? Any help from anyone would be appreciated, I think I am a little over my head.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by Jerry Hofmann on May 1, 2008 at 1:22:40 pm
You'll need to download software from RED.com.. Get the Studio plugin, the log and transfer plugin, and might also want RED Cine, and RED Alert to boot... http://www.red.com these files are accessed from the front page of the site... You need to be running FCP 6.0.3 as well. A Kona 3 card will help with the workflow... got one?
You can import and edit the proxy files directly in FCP... you'll find these in each shot's folder, or you can log and transfer them in as ProRes, or you can use the RED Cine, and RED Alert software to transcode to the HD flavor of the month too, import those files into FCP and even finish that way if deliver is to be HD.
Post what your eventual delivery master format needs to be, and also post what format they actually shot.. i.e 4k? 2k? 3k?
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: "Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4" Click here
8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17" MBP, Matrox MXO, CD's
Re: 'nother thing... by danielle wang on May 1, 2008 at 4:23:09 pm
Thanks Jerry! That helps a lot. I just need to get in and do a test...right now I guess I'm just expecting the worst. I will find out what they shot..and honestly...I don't think they have thought about what to finish on..
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by Igor Ridanovic on May 1, 2008 at 4:58:18 pm
You can even start working right away without Log and Transfer plugin which is in beta. The least you need is the QT Redcodec for mac which you can download from red.com.
The camera records proxy QT files which will play back in FCP as long as you have the mentioned codec installed. You can edit with those. There are some inherent disadvantages in usign the proxies but for a short film you'll be fine.
Your finishing workflow will change depending on how you're mastering and finishing your show. If all you're doing is HD and you're satisfied with the qiality of the proxy files you can just offline edit and finish with those without ever going back to the 2k/4k R3D files.
If you are in Southern California look at my other thread about RED L.A. User Group meeting on May 10. There will be a lot of people who can talk to you about workflows.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 4, 2008 at 11:34:29 pm
Hi,
So I downloaded the QT codec, and imported a QT file into FCP as a test. The Red website said to import the an entire folder, and that's what I did. However, after the "import" I got an error message saying "# of files were recognized, 2 ignore, some unidentified". And when I tried to open a clip, it would crash my FCP. What am I doing wrong? I tried reinstalling it, but no luck there. I can review the clips if I just opened QTplayer, but no luck in FCP.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by Russell Lasson on May 5, 2008 at 12:19:53 am
First off, there are several different ways of working with RED. Here are some of them:
- Edit the RedCode proxy files in FCP in a ProRes Sequence
- Convert the R3D files to ProRes in FCP Log and Transfer beta plug in found on Red's support page
- Convert the RedCode proxy files to ProRes using Compressor
- Convert the R3D files to ProRes or other format using RedAlert or RedCine
NOTE: All of these require an Intel mac.
When dealing with Red files, the key is to not move anything out of the folders for each R3D file. This doesn't mean that you import everything in the folder into FCP. You only need to import one of the Proxy files.
As far as the crashes that you're having, my first thought is that you might not be editing on an Intel Mac. Also, what version of FCP are you using?
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 5, 2008 at 12:28:04 am
Hi,
I am working with:
FCP 6.0.1
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP11.005D.B00
SMC Version: 1.7f10
I tried compressing the _H QT in compressor to Apple ProRes HQ, and had it export the QT to desktop for test. When I tried to import the ProRes QT from desktop, it told me it couldn't find the R3D file. Am I suppose to leave both the _H QT in the original folder?
I also tried just importing the_H QT straight from the Raid drive into FCP, and it worked. Can I just edit with the _H Proxy? I think I read somewhere I should convert it to ProRes.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by Russell Lasson on May 5, 2008 at 12:44:21 am
[danielle wang]" Am I suppose to leave both the _H QT in the original folder? "
Yes. The RedCode proxy files don't work if they are pulled out of the original R3D folder.
[danielle wang]"Can I just edit with the _H Proxy?"
Yes, but I don't suggest it. If you do, you should set your sequence to ProRes. If you're going to try to play it out to a monitor over a capture card, then you should set your sequence to 1920x1080 and your RTextreme quality playback to low or medium.
[danielle wang]"I think I read somewhere I should convert it to ProRes. "
You read that from me:) What you edit in really depends on what you're finishing to.
As far as your performance in FCP, you might try updating to the latest versions of FCP and QuickTime. I just used the Log and Transfer plug in off of the Red website and I think that it's a great way to deal with the Red files.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 5, 2008 at 2:17:57 am
Hi,
Thanks for all the suggestions! This forum has kept me insane since I started this project.
As of now, we are finishing HD, so what do u suggest the best way is to edit. I can convert everything to Apple Prores HQ QTs, so I should put those back in the folders of the original QTs, with rest of the proxies? I was just worried it would get confused. If not, I can definitely do that. So from what I understand, here is my workflow:
-take the _H proxy into compressor.
-convert to Apple ProRes 1920x1080i
-put the converted files in the same folder as the R3D and other proxy files
-import the converted into FCP to edit with.
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 7, 2008 at 11:51:33 pm
Ok, I tried downloading the Log and Transfer program from Red, but it says I must have FCP 6.03. I have a project on this mac right now that I did with FCP 6.01, and I can't upgrade, b/c it will screw up my current project. I was hoping to do both at the same time. Does anyone know if I can download the programs with FCP 6.01 or is that a big no no?
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by Russell Lasson on May 8, 2008 at 2:31:28 pm
If you must stay in 6.0.1, then you need to either:
-compress the proxy files using a program like compressor
-use RedAlert or RedCine
-edit using the proxy files in a ProRes sequence (does this work in 6.0.1?)
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 8, 2008 at 4:08:58 pm
I have imported the _H proxy file into fCP and it worked, but I haven't tried to edit anything, someone on here told me it would be cuts only edits...I wouldn't be able to do dissolves or anything.
I thought I can't even download Redcine and Redalert with 6.0.1? I can compress the QTs in Compressor, is that any different than using the Transfer and Log program? If not, then I could just compress all of my QTs to a prores files and edit with those?
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by gary adcock on May 9, 2008 at 1:39:00 pm
[danielle wang]"I thought I can't even download Redcine and Redalert with 6.0.1?"
The RED apps ALL run as standalone.
As long as your OS / QT is correct for the version you are downloading they will run, It was only the FCP transfer plugin that will not install under 6.01.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Inside look at the IoHD
Re: RedCamera/FCP workflow by danielle wang on May 10, 2008 at 9:19:32 pm
Ok, I'm having a really hard time getting this to work, and I'm running out of time.
I made ProRes QTs in Compressor using Apple ProRes 422(HQ). I can import the clips fine and drop them in the sequence fine. However, when I try to add a dissolve or anything, it will not render, giving me a warning sign that says Codec not found, even though I downloaded Redcode and it's in my sequence QT playback setting. Does anyone have any ideas? I have tried everything, even using RedAlert to make a medium quality QT, that doesn't work in my FCP either. I am on a 6.01 with the following Mac info:
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP11.005D.B00
SMC Version: 1.7f10
