Hypothetical Adobe Workflow

[Peter Osinski]

OK,

So FCP was the first Pro app I learned, but when I got my computer and was planning the post production for a surf film I was working on last year and the year before, I decided to get CS4 production premium because it had all the tools I needed and they all worked together so well.

That was with DV, and now that Adobe has native support for R3D files I plan on staying with it.

I have developed a workflow for editing scarlet 2/3" footage and I would like to know what some of the adobe/red users think.

1. Transfer footage from recording media to Raid
2. Rename original r3d files to more useable clip names (or if this is a bad idea, update metadata for clips so that I can use it to identify clips the way the renaming would have)
3. Import footage into Premeire Pro for edit on 3k timeline
4. Complete edit and basic color correction using source settings on Premiere Pro,
5. send necessary segments to AE for FX work via "replace with after effects composition" tool in Premeire Pro. Use AI and PS to make titles and raw material for effects
6. Edit Soundtack, Dialogue, and Effects using adobe soundbooth as needed
7. Combine all sequences into a master sequence in Premiere Pro
8. Highlight that whole thing and select "replace with after effects composition
9. Do color grading of entire project in AE
10. Save the composition so that the combined master edit sequence in Premiere reflects the color grading
11. Export at 2k (DCI), 1080p (Blu Ray) and whatever other formats I need from Premiere Pro

The reason I want to go back to Premiere Pro at the end is that I heard that AE has problems using more than one processor for rendering certain effects and the same effects get rendered using all cores through premiere pro and media encoder and the whole process is much faster that way.

For a start to finish post production workflow this seems pretty straight forward. Are there any obvious problems with this I don't see? I know AE isn't great for grading, but it's a powerful tool and will fit my minimum grading needs. I won't be doing much anyway because I mostly do sports filming and documentaries.

I have a 2008 model mac pro with 2x2.8ghz quad core processors. I will have 10-18GB or RAM, possibly more, and while right now I am using a nvidia 8800 GT graphics card for my 2 monitors, I plan on getting a 2nd Card for use with a 3rd monitor which will be for previews and color correction.

I am still working out exactly which raid I will be using and how that will be set up.

 

[MichaelP]

I would never rename an original R3D file - only after it has been referenced in the editing system do I give it more editor friendly names.

Michael

 

[Tai Wah Lim]

9. Do color grading of entire project in AE

How or with what do you intend to do color grading in AE - Lim

 

[D Fuller]

How or with what do you intend to do color grading in AE - Lim

Color Finesse within AE is a pretty capable tool for grading.

But regarding your #10: I'm not sure you need to go back to Premiere. AE makes excellent use of multiple processors if you have sufficient RAM for them. (2 Gig per core is about right.) I could be wrong about this, but if a plugin is unable to use multiple cores in AE, I doubt that it would be different in Premiere. Not a big deal to do a simple test would provide you with the answer. Of more consequence is that the scaling technology in AE is among the best. I'd be interested to know if Premiere can match it; none of the other popular editing systems (Avid, FCP) come close. This is really a very big deal if you're going to work from 3K or 4K R3D files. The quality of scaling will have a very real impact on your final product.

 

[Peter Osinski]

ok, so I'll leave it in AE

Yes, I was planning on grading with color finesse

why shouldn't I rename my original R3d file? For example with my surf films, I shoot the footage, capture clips, and rename them with the surfers name, the date, and which number wave it was for them that day (1,2,3...etc)

 

[Brad Allen]

How big are these projects Peter?

I would be very cautious when thinking about using dynamic link for anything greater than a 5 minute project. It may improve with CS5 and 64-bit but currently it's seems to never work as nicely as advertised on longer project lengths. I will pretty much always find myself exporting raw files from AE (or whatever intermediate codec takes your fancy) and then pulling these back into Premiere.

This has a real advantage if you're going to be doing multiple exports from Premiere in that you've only had to render that AE Comp once and not once for every different export you make.

Also, I think it's probably going to be worth upgrading your suite from CS4 to CS5 given that you will be editing RED footage on it. The new mercury engine will help speed up your editing efficiency dramatically. Note that this will probably mean you upgrading your graphics card also

 

[Peter Osinski]

Brad,

I am no longer planning on sending things back to Premiere. When I am done with the final edit I will send it from Premiere to AE for color grading and then export my final master from there.

I definitely plan on getting CS5. I just graduated, but when I was in school I got the production premium cs4 for 599 from adobe. I have later learned I could have gotten it for 299 from school. I will still have friends there by the time cs5 comes out so I will have someone buy it for me and I will pay them back for it.

It will be cheaper than the cost of the upgrade

edit: and the projects will be anywhere from short 30 second spots up to feature length