Batch export trimmed R3Ds using FCPX

[Robert Hofmeyr]

I'm hoping someone can help me with a workflow for batch exporting trimmed R3Ds. I'm using an old Mac Pro (2x2.26 quad Xeon, 23GB RAM) and my 50fps 5K footage Doesn't even play back at 1/8 res in RedCine. If I bring it into FCPX, playback is much smoother (even without proxies). All I need to do is a quick colour correction, set in and out points, and export trimmed R3Ds. Is there any way to export trimmed R3Ds from FCP? Alternatively, can I set my ins and outs in FCP, go back to RCX, and batch export the trimmed R3Ds from there?

 

[Bob Gundu]

Your bottleneck might be your storage.

 

[Bob Gundu]

Also, in theory you can edit your original r3d sequence in fcpx. Then export an XML file from fcpx. Import this into Redcine. Then export trimmed r3d files.

 

[Robert Hofmeyr]

Thanks Bob. Yes, my storage is not so speedy. But FCP does seem to playback much better than RedCine from the same drive. I'll try copying some media to my internal raid and see if that improves things. I also tried exporting an XML from FCP. I mark some clips ins and outs in the event library, then I export the event with "General View" selected. When I import and relink the media in RCX, the in and out points are gone. Any ideas?

 

[Bob Gundu]

setting in and out points from FCPX will not work. I would set the in and out points and actually put the clips in your FCPX timeline. All the clips will be one after another on the timeline. Then export XML. In Redcine, all the clips will also import into the Redcine timeline. Then Select the option to export all the clips in the timeline separately as Trimmed R3Ds.

 

[Bob Gundu]

How is your drive connected? FW800 is definitely slow. Especially with 5K material.

 

[Bob Gundu]

BTW, I just realized that this may be an efficient way to archive projects and retaining R3D format. Trimming to just the used clips will save space on those long takes.

 

[Robert Hofmeyr]

Genius. Thanks Bob. That helped a lot. It's all working now.

The footage is currently on an external eSATA drive. I did try on my internal drives as well, but it still chokes. Playback of 25fps material is just possible at 1/16 on my system, so I shouldn't be surprised that it struggles with 50fps.

 

[Robert Hofmeyr]

Yeah, now that I can roundtrip with XML, it's pretty easy to skim through the footage, choose the bits I want to keep, then go back to RCX to batch export the R3Ds. I'm even going to leave FCP overnight to render proxies so it is even more snappy.

 

[Bob Gundu]

Glad to help out.