Multicam clips and resolution - gold standard?

Hi guys,

I work on a tutorial video that is shot with two cameras in 1080p. The final output only has to be in 720p so I have some extra space to play around with.

When you build a new multicam clip, you are asked about its resolution. I am not sure which way is the best to go, can you help me?

So far I did some tests. Made one multiclip 1080 and another one 720. Zoomed into the original material directly inside the multiclip (set it to 150%).

I put those two multiclips into a 720p timeline and had it put out into 720p. There seems to be no difference between the result of the 1080 multiclip and the 720 multiclip.

Now say I want to later zoom into the clip in the original project. So not put the source material inside the multiclip to 150% but just put the multiclip in the project timeline to 150%. What would be the perfect way to go?

I am really insecure here and would be very thankful for any advice!

Thanks,
Sebastian

Wether you work in multicam or in a regular timeline the clips on your timeline always reference your source media (be it original or optimized). So wether you zoom in on a clip in a multiclip or you zoom in on the entire multiclip on the timeline won't make a difference. Setting your Project to match your final destination format (720p) is a good way to go.

- Ronny

Thank you, Ronny!

So just to make sure for a non-native speaker:

It doesn't really matter in what size I create the multiclip or where I enlarge my footage. As long as I have a 720p timeline on and don't bring the video above 150% (be it in the multiclip or in the browser) I will get a decent result because FCPX always uses the original footage as reference?

That's good and easy.

Then why are we asked what resolution we want the MC to be in, anyway?

Thanks again,
Sebastian

Because we sometimes use clips with different resolutions on the same timeline.

- Ronny

Can you give an example of where it would make a difference if I had the multiclip done in either 1080 or 720?

I mean, even if the MC was in 720 and I would edit it into an 1080 timeline, it would come out nicely if the source was 1080, am I right?

So I don't understand why this decision has to be made, anyway.

Sorry to bother you but I'm really trying to understand this.

Good night from Berlin,
Sebastian

If you made the multicam clips as 720p clips, you are in effect resizing your clips down to 720p. If you then cut that into a 1080p timeline, then it would resize it back up to 1080p. There's no real reason to do this.

Perhaps you saw no real difference because you're not looking at the footage on a large enough screen, because 720p resized to 1080p is generally fine and a lot of people won't be able to tell the difference.

If I were you, I would just go ahead and make 1080p multicam clips and cut the whole thing at 1080p. Then when it comes time for delivery, just output at 720p. Or you can make a 1080p master and use compressor to resize it to 720p, your choice. You never know when you might want a higher rez version. It just seems simpler this way to me.

Of course the other option is to put everything in a 720p timeline, in which case you can use 720p or 1080p multicam clips and it wouldn't really matter.