Proxies in 4.5k

[Martin B.]

Hello!

Can anyone tell me which should be the right sequence settings to play some M or H proxies of a 4.5ws 24fps footage? When I send the proxy to the timeline if I take the automatic settings it creates, I do not have the unlimited rt option and I cannot play the clip without render.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Richard Foster]

in FCP open a new sequence and drag in the M or H proxy and let FCP set the settings on the sequence when it asks. Then open sequence settings and you will find all is correct except for codec, which it usually sets to Apple Prores, so pull down the list and go to the bottom and select REDCODE, and you're good to go.

Remember however that FCP can't render in REDCODE so you can't see dissolves, etc., if you put them in.

 

[Martin B.]

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks!!!! Thank you Richard! Simple solutions are the best ones!

 

[Ben Brainerd]

...so pull down the list and go to the bottom and select REDCODE, and you're good to go.

Actually, setting the codec to REDCODE has no appreciable benefits, and numerous drawbacks. It's a read-only codec, so no FX, no background rendering and the potential for errors and crashes.

The issue with Unlimited RT is rooted in the fact that FCP *really* doesn't like non-standard resolutions. 4.5K H/M proxies both end up being a really wonky resolution, and despite FCP claiming to be resolution independent, it's not. If you feed it a weird res/aspect ratio, it will shut off RT.

It's not just a RED sequence thing, as I've run into it using ProRes sequences as well. Your best bet for 4.K is to render proxies (Yeah, sucks, I know) out of RC-X to a more "standard" resolution. 1080 is always good.

 

[Uli Plank]

I second this. Setting the sequence to REDCode is giving me all kinds of crashes.
If you have a few CPUs in your machine and you prepare a nice setting for generating proxies in RCX, it doesn't need to be so hard. Reduced de-bayering and resolution (even 720 HD is fine) and the ProRes LT and you're good to go. Don't forget to set a good number of export processes in the prefs, the default is one only.

 

[Martin B.]

Oh, good... well, so far I'm working on some daily editions using the prores from the previous day I log&transfer in prores during the night. I've had no problem so far, but I'm starting to worry now that I read your comments. I guess as far as I start having any kind of issues I'll do the big export to a more common resolution.

Thanks a lot for your opinions!

 

[David Battistella]

4.5 K is not a supported format in FCP.

I would render all of the footage to a QT media file in a 16:9 aspect ratio with FIT TO WIDTH set. This will preserve the aspect ratio (back bars on the top and bottom of the frame) within the 16:9 ratio.

When online time comes, then you can run a clipfinder workflow and create the sequences nessesary to send to Color and do your final grading and fit your 4.5 image into what ever aspect ratio you are delivering with 4K/2K (scope or 1:85), 1920x1080 HD or which ever it is.

David

 

[Martin B.]

Even though the sequence for the 2240x960 files seems to be working fine now?
Allright... then I should export from redcine or redalert, I guess that's the best way to go. The only problem is ... well, I'll have to write the shot log info (scene, take, comments) once the file is ready and imported in fcp.
I've tried once to convert from clipfinder, but the colour of the exported mov was different from the one that came from fcp, does it make sense?

Sorry about so much ignorance, and thanks agains for all the tips!

 

[Martin B.]

Rereading this thread I realize I begun talking about proxies and then I got worried about the prores files I'm working on...
I need to explain a bit more: I had the doubt about the proxies because maybe later I'll be working on a powerful computer that - I thought - may handle the proxies well. But right now I'm working log&transfering every good take to prores from fcp. Can this setting be problematic too in the future? Is it not normal that it seems to work fine?

If I should go a different way now (it's the first week, won't be soooo hard, just a lot of render to do) which program is best for that export work?
Thanks a lot again!

 

[Ben Brainerd]

But right now I'm working log&transfering every good take to prores from fcp. Can this setting be problematic too in the future? Is it not normal that it seems to work fine?

Erg. FCP's log and transfer has... Issues. Sometimes, anyways. One of the most common being occasionally incrementing a character in the file name, so A becomes B, 2 becomes 3, etc. Doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it can cause a lot of headaches when it comes time to conform back to the R3D for grading.

It's not that surprising that the proxies are working alright for you. There are a lot of people out there who don't use anything but the camera-generate proxies to edit. It's not a *terrible* workflow, and it's simple. The "gotcha" is that if/when you have issues with the proxies, the issues are usually pretty severe.

Ultimately it's a case of "Go with what works and what you're comfortable with". If proxies work for you and you'd rather not have the hassle of dealing with ProRes transcodes, more power to you. There are some definite advantages to the proxy workflow. Just be aware of the potential pitfalls.