PACA Update – Part 3

Footage Workflow

Whereas Photoshop is the preferred software for high performance editing of stills, the software of choice for video is Final Cut Pro.  This is especially true for Canon 5D Mark all files.  The 5D uses the H264 codec created by Apple 4 years ago.  It uses a 4-2-2-compression which is more than adequate for HDTV.  When processing the file using software other than Final Cut is that the software will convert the H264 to its native codec and then translate it back into H264 when it’s done.  This could have undesirable effects on quality.  The end result could be better with more modern codecs but could also be worse.  When in doubt, stick with the original if you can.

(That said, since we are primarily a PC shop, we use Adobe After Effects with good results.  We are also looking into using i-Movie on a MacBook to do basic editing chores.)

To speed up your editing make a “proxy file” (a lower resolution and thus smaller file) to make your edits on.  When you have the EDL (your edit decision list) saved, substitute the full resolution file and run the processing.  Your edits will go faster this way.

The 5D uses Long GOP (Group of Pictures) coding, which takes a long time to process.  Do your batch conversions into proxy files overnight to save time during working hours.

DV Kitchen (http://dvcreators.net/dv-kitchen/) is an $80 program that will do this job.  Create .mov files for editing.  For example, you can export the original to Apple Pro Res HQ422 wrapped in the .mov extension.  We haven’t had time to try this yet but I was assured it works well.

Lightroom is a good program for managing the finished clips.  Capture 1 was mentioned as better than Light room for feathering clips.

A rule of thumb is that it takes about 4 times as long to edit footage as it does to shoot it.  This makes sense since you have to watch the clip first to see what to do with it.  You are already at 1X the time before you even begin making changes!  Next, make your time in and out decision, then color and other corrections.  Then there is also the keywording, which may require repeated viewing.