FCPX Raw from DaVinci Work Flow

So I have been editing for years but just short a short film for the first time in 4K. Little confused about the easiest way to get the footage to FCPX.

SO FCPX does not import blackmagic raw files right? Only Red Camera Raw with a plugin?

So I'm guessing I have to go to davinci resolve first, create a XML, then go to FCPX. Is this the right process? Problem is, when I do a XML from DaVinci, it seems to create the individual clips as a timeline. That doesn't work when you have sc. 2a to 2f. Or do you just export all the clips from DaVinci and bring them in FCPX and forget about the xml?

Do you do it scene by scene in Davinici or do you do all the scenes at once, then export the xml, load it in FCPX and organize. Also, I would assume you sync the audio in FCPX and not DaVinci. Does anyone have any tips or has edited 4K before. Any help or your experience would be great!

Hope this makes sense to everyone

This is a complicated process and there are many ways to go about doing this.

This is some of the best information I can point you to and in addition to these articles, there is an iBook that was released that goes into the detail of this type of workflow.

www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/1617-h...l-cut-pro-x-part-one

Hey Julian,

There are a few publications and training resources (some free and some paid) that talk about this workflow in detail—or the workflows—because there isn't just one. Ripple Training comes to mind. It took me a while to "get it" because most training courses focus on Resolve as a whole, not how it plays with other apps.

My birds eye view of the process is like this:

1. Use Resolve to make ProRes files for "offline editing" which FCPX will use to cut
2. Export an XML from FCPX (when editing is complete) and import the XML into Resolve
3. Relink the media from those offline clips to the original Raw clips and color grade
4. Export final from Resolve, or round trip back into FCPX via XML where it will import a new project with new media rendered. You can do this if you intend to do more audio sweetening or mastering. *Most people suggest rendering out 2 second handles on all media in case you want to adjust the edit slightly inside FCPX without having to go back to Resolve.

What gets a little more complex is you need to decide a few things first:

- Do you apply a base grade in Resolve before rendering media to edit inside FCPX? This is more for a reference so you don't edit a flat image, but you don't want to waste time color correcting offline clips to then grade in resolve from scratch.

- If you do go into FCPX with a flat image, some Color Board adjustments go back to Resolve via XML. So you could begin there, but to me, making initial changes in Resolve is easier—especially color matching.

- You may also opt to do initial color correction and render ProRes HQ or higher and never go back into Resolve. This would give you ProRes files as masters and save space since RAW files tend to be larger. But, you would be throwing away the raw files.

- Some people like to sync audio in Resolve, which would save time from that labor in FCPX. So when you get into FCPX to begin editing, you have your video and audio already synced and patched. That could be helpful too. I'm actually not sure what most people prefer when dealing with dual sync sound before getting into FCPX when Raw is concerned.

So with all of this, you need to look at how many times you want Resolve in the workflow:

Resolve - Import and Export Offline Clips
FCPX - Edit
Resolve - Color Grade
FCPX - Final Mastering

Resolve - Import and Export Offline Clips
FCPX - Edit and Master Audio
Resolve - Color Grade and export master file

Resolve - Import and Export New Working Originals (ProRes)
FCPX - Edit, Color Grade and Master

You begin to see how many times you may round trip via XML from Resolve to FCPX. Some of the editing features (to me) have been added so you don't need to go back out to an NLE. But, this is a common practice.

Ok, I think this all makes sense. I am going to do this:
Resolve - Import and Export Offline Clips
FCPX - Edit and Master Audio
Resolve - Color Grade and export master file

Thanks for your time! Really hope one day FCPX will just import the raw files

So one last question, if I have the clips from davinci resolve as proxy, then I add in FCP and then sync the audio by Synchronize Clip (essentially creating a new clip), then create the xml when the project is done, and go back to DaVinci for color, does the new audio get brought over in davinci through the xml?

I'm ready to start editing, just want to make sure that is the right thing to do before I start and get screwed later on