XD to FCP first attempt

I have been reading a lot of posts about FCP an XDCam and there was always something missing in the "how-to" of XD to timeline.

It seems easier to understand when you have it front of you. I thought I'd try to narrate the blow-by-blow for those looking for more detail.

The background details:
I used a G5 Dual 2.5GHz with 4.5gig RAM with FCP v6 from the studio 2 suite.
Shot 1080 60I on a Sony PDW330
It was 2:30 in the afternoon.

Days before the test....
The XDCam camera comes with a disk. None of the software on the disk was useable for us Mac G5 users.
In my haste on various user groups I missed the important what to download from the Sony site.
I know from the topic threads that there was something to download but It was not apparent on the Sony site - I visited for a an hour trying to find the right download. I have a trash bin of .exe and zip files not usable on the G5.

As is normal on the web I failed to follow through on what I was looking for and left this detail to the last minute during the test. Certainly not anyone to blame but myself.

2:30Pm test day
I opened a new project and used the easy setup to load preset for the XDCam 1080I project.
This is when I realized my "what was I looking for" web misadventure. I plugged in the iLink or firewire cable to the camera and the computer. It did not show me a drive on the desktop as I expected nor did I get an import option identified as XDCam. My computer system disk utilities saw the firewire cable and correctly identified the camera connected.
I'm now stuck. FCP was not "seeing" the camera or the files on the disk.

Time to hit the web for answers.

I finally found a post that linked to
www.sonybiz.net/xdcam for the download of the correct file for FCP use.
The XDCam HD cinealta user group at DVinfo.net was very helpful for this info.

3:10pm
I had the software installed. I had my project already set now for the recommended procedure.
Before I launched FCP Plug in the iLink or firewire cable to the camera.

On the desktop I see an Icon of a XDCam disk with a numeral for a name.
Select the icon and "apple" + "I" for the information box. Use this box to rename the disk.
This is for your sanity so pick a short descriptor.

After renaming the disk, eject it from the desktop. This will eject it from the camera. Reinsert it.
The desktop icon will reappear with the new name. Now you are ready for the FCP import.


Launch FCP, go to the Menu "File" - "Import"
now I see the XDCam option. small celebration again.

When I choose the XDCam option the new transfer software launches.
The first time there are set up options
Things to consider for your set up --Choose wisely grasshopper.--
1. Lo rez proxy and data file destination and storage- lives on your computer til delete do you part.
2. full rez file destination and storage- bandwidth is critical for these files.
3. export temporary files - not big files and temporary only

After selecting your setup options the software quickly populate the window to mirror the XDCam files in the deck.
another celebration.

This software is useful for a producer or a paper edit. I saw a question posted about what to give a producer with a Mac.
My guess is that you can duplicate the low rez proxy and data file home with the Mac producer.

I imported a few files and timed it. It took nearly 2/3 real time to transfer the data. It runs in the background so it feels quick.
I like the way the software allows you to keep working on selecting or trimming clips.

by 4:12pm I had edited a 1:00 sequence with the new XDCam footage.
I was ready to export.

More on the export next time.

Cheers!

Reflectmedia on the timeline

I now have a quick update on the timeline portion of the test of my new reflecmedia flexiable bkg, light-ring and dimmer.

I'm using Final Cut Pro 6 the new Studio 2 version on a G5 Dual 2.33MHz
The Demo disk did not have a Mac version of the reflectmedia free plug-in "mattenee"

I emailed them about a Mac compatible plug-in. They were prompt to reply and very helpful. They sent me a demo plug-in that they are no longer supporting. It is too bad because...

After I installed the plug-in I was able to drop in the mattenee filter and viola the background was gone.
Of course the reflecmedia logo was pasted everywhere but it worked easily and quickly.

I thought, ok I can't use their plug-in but I can use the green screen key filter. I tweeked the settings here and there in a matter of moments I was able to get a very nice key.

I spent 10 mintues with the bkg and light-ring for a very easy useful chroma key effect.

I'll post a video sample of the raw footage andthe NLE key.

I have every expectation that when I have to use the Reflecmedia system for a client it will a time saver.
AS we know time is money.

Cheers!
-Nicky

Greenscreen Reflecmedia my review

I thought I'd offerr my blow by blow on setting up and using some new equipment.

I saw some tech podcast highlight the reflecmedia and was really wowwed. The marketing worked cuz I bought a flex and light kit. It came with a small gadget bag to hold the light-ring, dimmer and the power cables. The flexible chromaflex fits in the large black bag under the other stuff in the photo-see my photos.

The bag was a surpise bonus for me. I snapped a still shot with the flash on so the reflective qualites of the background can be easily seen. This shiny silver will be green when the light ring - mine is green - is mounted to the lens of the camera and is turned on. It really is quick and easy to set up. I unpacked the light-ring and mounted it to my 82mm lens thread, turned it on and got instant green screen. I did not have to light the screen.

I didn't even light my subject during the trial run. I was able to put it on the NLE timeline and drop out the screen with little effort. And no lighting the subject or bakcground. I'm use to a more time on the lighting and using a waveform/vector scope to get the bkg lit jsut right. Not anymore. I set up a light for the subject and let it spill on reflecmedia background in the second test. I thought it would wash out the green reflection and skew the results on the timeline. As a second test I light the subject and did not let it spill on the reflecmedia bkg.

I have yet to put it in the NLE timeline to see the results but in the playback there was no difference to my eye in the green background's even lighting. I will post the two NLE results soon. For set up and lighting it took me less than 12:00 to get an image ready for green screen compositing. I didn't time it but I did look at the clock after three or four test records and thirty minutes had gone by. More on the NLE resluts with the reflecmedia light-ring and bkg.

more to come on the post side
-Nicky

Globe shooter

I was invited by some random chance to join a NING group by the name of globe shooters.
I think i might be fun to get to know a new group of guys.

That is one thing about being the only LATINA doing this in my area. Everyone knews of me.
Being a chikc in this industry has some advantages. My height is not one of them.

See you in the movies.
nicky in durham