Final Cut Express vs Pro for Cineform at DVinfo.net

Anmol Mishra · August 20th, 2010, 03:08 AM

At time, I am using iMovie fora rough cut and then using XML import to prevent rendering the files.

I do not foresee using any effects, and the Cineform Color corrector is fine for me.

Hence, I would like to stick with FCE.

Are there gotchas about working in FCE with Cineform ? I will simply export the iMovie XML and open it in FCE to preserve the iMovie basic edit and then use FCE to render.

David Newman · August 20th, 2010, 09:13 AM

I don't believe FCE works with any outside codecs -- camera native only.

Anmol Mishra · August 20th, 2010, 06:08 PM

So FCP is the only option for MAC Cineform-native editing ? Is there any other NLE ? PPro ?

David Newman · August 21st, 2010, 09:44 AM

On Mac OSX Media 100 is native CineForm, and PPro CS5 support is only week aways with betas in a few hands already.

Anmol Mishra · September 10th, 2010, 02:35 AM

Hi David. So the only options on OSX for native CF editing are CS5 Premiere Pro, CS5 After Effects, Final Cut Pro and Media 100.
Am I missing something here ?

David Newman · September 10th, 2010, 10:23 AM

That is pretty good already, but it also works in tools from iMovie to Iridas Speedgrade, and just announced at IBC DaVinci Resolve now has native CineForm support (2D and 3D.) The only two tools not supported are the intentional closed Apple apps, FCExpress and Color.

Anmol Mishra · September 10th, 2010, 05:45 PM

Hi David. iMovie transcodes to AIC irrespective of the codec that the raw footage is in. iMovie definitely does not have a Cineform workflow.

David Newman · September 10th, 2010, 10:32 PM

There is way to make iMovie work, I seen it working without a transcode. Although it may not have been the latest iMovie, maybe 08 or 09 worked. If iMovie is important to you (really?) contact support.

Craig Davidson · September 13th, 2010, 10:29 AM

You can leave the clips in CineForm format in iMovie '09. When you import a movie, uncheck "Optimize video..." and just "copy" the files. After copying the files iMovie creates a motion JPEG thumbnail, but the source is still CineForm. I just tried a clip which was in 3D. On a 13" Macbook Pro, it drops frames under QuickTime, FirstLight or FCP, but plays smoothly in iMovies since iMovie requests a lower resolution decode.

August 20th, 2010, 03:08 AM	#1
Anmol Mishra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 401	Final Cut Express vs Pro for Cineform At time, I am using iMovie fora rough cut and then using XML import to prevent rendering the files. I do not foresee using any effects, and the Cineform Color corrector is fine for me. Hence, I would like to stick with FCE. Are there gotchas about working in FCE with Cineform ? I will simply export the iMovie XML and open it in FCE to preserve the iMovie basic edit and then use FCE to render. __________________ mishra.tv Productions A Sydney-based group for dance movement-based video and film productions.

August 20th, 2010, 09:13 AM	#2
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	I don't believe FCE works with any outside codecs -- camera native only. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

August 20th, 2010, 06:08 PM	#3
Anmol Mishra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 401	So FCP is the only option for MAC Cineform-native editing ? Is there any other NLE ? PPro ? __________________ mishra.tv Productions A Sydney-based group for dance movement-based video and film productions.

August 21st, 2010, 09:44 AM	#4
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	On Mac OSX Media 100 is native CineForm, and PPro CS5 support is only week aways with betas in a few hands already. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 10th, 2010, 02:35 AM	#5
Anmol Mishra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 401	Hi David. So the only options on OSX for native CF editing are CS5 Premiere Pro, CS5 After Effects, Final Cut Pro and Media 100. Am I missing something here ? __________________ mishra.tv Productions A Sydney-based group for dance movement-based video and film productions.

September 10th, 2010, 10:23 AM	#6
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	That is pretty good already, but it also works in tools from iMovie to Iridas Speedgrade, and just announced at IBC DaVinci Resolve now has native CineForm support (2D and 3D.) The only two tools not supported are the intentional closed Apple apps, FCExpress and Color. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 10th, 2010, 05:45 PM	#7
Anmol Mishra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 401	Hi David. iMovie transcodes to AIC irrespective of the codec that the raw footage is in. iMovie definitely does not have a Cineform workflow. __________________ mishra.tv Productions A Sydney-based group for dance movement-based video and film productions.

September 10th, 2010, 10:32 PM	#8
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	There is way to make iMovie work, I seen it working without a transcode. Although it may not have been the latest iMovie, maybe 08 or 09 worked. If iMovie is important to you (really?) contact support. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 13th, 2010, 10:29 AM	#9
Craig Davidson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 142	You can leave the clips in CineForm format in iMovie '09. When you import a movie, uncheck "Optimize video..." and just "copy" the files. After copying the files iMovie creates a motion JPEG thumbnail, but the source is still CineForm. I just tried a clip which was in 3D. On a 13" Macbook Pro, it drops frames under QuickTime, FirstLight or FCP, but plays smoothly in iMovies since iMovie requests a lower resolution decode.