Will Epic 5k or 4k footage roundtrip with Final Cut Pro 7 and Color 1.5

[Alex Joseski]

I've been approached to edit a commercial and they're planning to film in either 5k, 4k or 4kHD on a Epic camera.

In the past, I've worked with Red One and MX Prores LT transcodes via FCP Log and Transfer, reconformed within FCP 7.0 and round tripped to and from Apple Color 1.5 to do my CC.

I wanted to ask if anyone out there was able to do the same workflow using Epic footage and if their were any issues or bottlenecks with this approach? Due to budget constraints I can only use Color for the CC but I want to ensure that this is still possible as i've read conflicting reports that Apple Color does or does not support Epic R3Ds and access to the Red Tab for colour correction.

I'm unable to get sample footage to test out the workflow for myself at the moment but I would be curious (and very grateful) if people could share with me their first-hand experiences and whether it is actually supported or not.

My system's also currently got FCP Studio Red Installer V30.5.0 installed on it along with the latest RCX.

Cheers,
Alex Joseski
Supervising Editor
Alex & Jono Films
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Dunno, but last times i tried, epic footy didn't play well with color. Didn't spend a lot of time troubleshooting it, though.

If you have the option to go resolve, that is really nice...

 

[Gunleik Groven]

You could also go redlogfilm flat'ish to prores 4444 or dpx, btw. That is solid, but requires a conform/transcode... If the edit is soberly done, you'll be able to conform nicely into rcx. Depending on your needs, you could do a simple finnish in there. No tracking and layers, though...

 

[Alex Joseski]

Hi Gunleik,

Thanks for the advice. I also ran my own test for Epic support in Apple 1.5 yesterday and you're right, it can't access the 5k raw Red tab. Resolve isn't an option at the moment but I am looking into it.

I've had a few people also the redlogfilm approach and in your opinion, what is it like to CC with this way? Are there any major drawbacks CCing with redlogfilm?

Also, Just to be sure, If I were to go this route does that mean I would have to go about it in the following steps:

1. L&T and transcode within FCP
2. Do an offline edit with Apple Prores LT transcodes
3. Send an XML to RCX and reconform to redlogfilm from within RCX
4. XML this back to FCP and then Send To Color?

Cheers for the help and advice so far.

Alex

 

[Brian Merlen]

Is purchasing another program not an option? What about a free one month trial? Adobe can cut it native, same with Avid. Both intertwine well with the other aspects of the suite, grading, etc... Resolve lite is free. I too am in the same situation. I reluctantly jumped on board with other Apps and its great to have options. The work arounds still exist for FCP for now, but with time I imagine it will get harder and harder to work with it, and its not a bad idea to at least start looking for your exit strategy so to speak...

32 bit programming is dead, and as much as it pissed me off to let go of it, I am glad I mitigated to Adobe and Avid and now can work on most jobs between knowing all three (at least from a "I could cut it view point lol"), so its rather awesome having the options... I am about to download resolve lite and try to learn that too, in addition to honing my skills more on redcine

 

[Alex Joseski]

Hi Brian,

Cheers for the advice. I'd have to say I'm in the same boat; I'm keen on learning other systems at this time. I've got another system set up with CS6 on a PC and gave it a spin like you suggested - and it's pretty amazing to reach right into the R3Ds from the get-go. It's definitely won me over. I guess I was reluctant to go with CS6 first because I've always done Red One MX on FCP and angling another workflow feels like scaresville to me. My only question is what's the most appropriate way to export out a 1080p CCed HDCAM master? Do I do it from Premiere, AME, or a CC program like Speedgrade or Resolve Lite?

Cheers,
Alex

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Your workflowdescription is spot on for rlf in color...