Final Cut and P2 question
 

For whatever reason, I can't Copy to HDD in 1394 Host Mode, so I was able to do a 1394 Device Connect mode and I have the two cards as NO NAME on my Apple desktop. I decided to just copy the files to my hard drive, but how do I import them into Apple?

Barry, et al, any thoughts?

Thanks,

Heath

"host mode" is for using a dedicated hard disk, not copying to a computer.

For copying to a computer, "device mode" is the right way to go.

Copy the contents of one of the cards (the "contents" folder and the "lastclip.txt" file) into a folder on the Mac hard disk. Each card gets its own folder, don't mix 'em all into one folder.
Then run FCP 5.0.4 (make SURE it's 5.0.4!) and use the appropriate "easy setup" to start a new project, then just go to file->import->Panasonic P2. Point to the folder where you copied the cards to, and the clips should show up. Choose which clips to import, or "import all".

View my tutorial at www.proapptips.com/shane

It is called P2 INTRODUCTION.

Shane and Barry,

I followed your instructions, esp. Shane's tutorial, but when I select my folder that contains the contents and the .txt file, it tells me "Selected Path Does Not Contain a P2 Volume". Any thoughts?

heath

ps-I did download and install the plug-in on Shane's site, and re-started, but no luck.

hwm

That plugin is so your computer will recognize the P2 card when mounted on a Powerbook, or via the camera. If all this is on a hard drive, you don't need that software.

Hmm...running FCP 5.0.4 and QT 7.0.3?
\

FCP 5.0.4 and QT Pro 7.0.4.

heath

Go to the actual CONTENTS folder and open it. Verify that there are five other folders including PROXY, VIDEO, VOICE, ICON, AUDIO, VIDEO.

Then open the VIDEO folder. Anything in there?

There are six folder, including VOICE (which is empty). VIDEO is not empty.

hwm

Create a new project. Use the Easy Setup that matches the setting you shot as.

Then try the import again.

And make sure you haven't changed the name of the contents folder or the lastclip.txt file either...

If I shot 1080i 24p, what should I set it up to? 1080i60?

Thanks!

heath

I had re-named the folders and changed the name back and bingo, I got it up! Now, is 1080i60 okay?

heath

RENAMED THE FOLDERS! Ahhhh.

Never ever do that. Now you know. Now hopefully others will know. YOu can name the folder you drop the CONTENTS folder into, but you cannot rename that folder or things won't work. Glad you got that working.

1080i 24p? Uhm...interlaced AND progressive? No no no. it is either 1080i60, or 1080p24. Try a 1080p60 timeline and see what happens. I haven't used that format (since the camera is a 720p native camera, I don't see any reason to go 1080p).

Well, the camera isn't exactly 1080p24--it's 1080i with a 3:2 (or is it 2:3) pulldown that does the 24p "thing," for lack of a better word.

However, 720p 24pn is something interesting: true 24p, not 24p in a 29.97 fps signal a la the DVX100a, etc. Not that I don't like the DVX100--it's my favorite minidv camera and I've shot or been a part of nearly 70 short films shot with it.

heath

I'll admit that I haven't touched the camera for more than a week, but I have worked with it. 720p24 24PN is true 24 fps...because it isn't going to tape, there is no pulldown to remove. Why would there be pulldown to remove at 1080p24? Is there no 24PN setting for that? Guess not.

Then shoot 1080p24 and edit in a 1080p60 project.

I don't have it in front of me, but it's 1080i 24p only. Barry, can you fill us in on this, please?

heath

Why don't you play a bit with the settings instead of waiting for an answer? If you don't see a nasty green/red/orange colour at the top of your timeline you're good.. ;-)

I wasn't in the office today, so to speak.

h

The reason there is no 1080pn24 and why 1080p is encoded into a 60i stream (as 480p24 is on the DVX100) is conformance with existing standards. The HVX200 uses the DVCPROHD codec, which allows for 720p and 1080i There is no support for 1080p directly, thus the 24p stream must be delivered over 60i. Creating a new version of DVCPROHD to accommodate 1080p would create a rift of incompatibility in the industry with the existing standard.

When you shoot 1080p, you still get true 1080p, you just need to run the proper pull-down to eliminate the duplicate fields and assemble progressive frames. The video is encoded over a 60i timeline, but the actual image data itself is NOT interlaced. There's no reason to take a 1080p24 project into a 1080p60 timeline unless you're intending to make use of the 60p frame rate for your project. However, since DVCPROHD does not support 1080p AND no support for 1080 at 24fps, you will have to transcode your video to another format like Avid's DNxHD or even uncompressed frames before you can work with your project in 24p.

I don't believe Apple has proper 1080/24p support yet. I believe Adam Wilt posted some technique for using cinema tools to remove 1080/24pa pulldown.

I don't think Avid has 1080/24p support either.

Canopus Edius does, and so does Raylight (but Raylight supports only 1080/24pA).

hi shane,

watched your tutorial. brilliant. however, wondering though about capturinng (streaming) straight from camera to harddisk, ie. without P2 cards. have you tried this? what sort of experience?

cheers

tim

It can't be done without a firestore.

hwm

It can be done without a Firestore, although I hear only in Video Mode, not Film Mode. But I might be mistaken.

No, I haven't tried it. Haven't had the need. The P2 cards work well for us. Plus I don't own the camera, my producer does. I just get handed the footage.

thanks shane,

we own the camera but not the P2s....just not cost effective for what we're trying to do. so, waiting for the firestore!

meanwhile....

just tested running straight to hard disk through fcp on a powerbook g4. it seemed to work fine (used video mode) both as firewire host and firewire device...is one of these better?

this seems to create a quicktime file in the fcp capture scratch folders, though doesn't save the whole thing as an fcp project....even though i save it as such in fcp itself. not a problem really as we've got our footage - works out at about 2min/gb.

so, tests seem to be going fine....will see if film mode works.

another thing: shooting direct to disk seems to work fine with OS.X.10.3.9 though you mention in your tutorial that it should be 10.4.3.....just an observation.

thanks again.

tim

I am talking about importing from P2, not direct to disk.

Although I have been told by many a folk that they were still running 10.3.9 and were able to import footage. I guess it is only the FCP 5.0.4 and QT 7.0.3 that are really required.

shane,

yeah, i think you're right. makes me glad i'm not importing from P2!

one thing that we did discover when shooting direct to disk (hard drive not firestore obviously) that was odd is that it seems to make no difference to quality of footage whether shooting in 'host' mode or 'device' mode. makes no difference to how FCP copes with it either.

any opinions as to which one we should go with?

thanks again

tim