FCP7 Editing 4K in smaller resolution and conforming it later.

Hi everyone, I have a question regarding editing my 4K footage on my FCP7.

What I do now is I transcode the 4K footage (H264) to 4K (ProRes) and edit away on a 1080 sequence - if the delivery asks for 1080.

The problem is that once I render the sequence and decide to change some small things around or add/trim clips, I have to render again for every step that I change and overall it can be very time consuming.

Is there a way to for example transcode the 4K original footage to a 720p small files JUST FOR THE EDIT and then once the sequence is a lock, conform the clips in the sequence back to their original size (4K) and export the sequence in 1080 and 4k in Pro Res?

Any other tips how to make this post production easier are appreciated!

Thank you so much.

Once you transcode to 720p you will lose a lot of the information stored into the 4K file. This information can never be retrieved; it is gone for ever. That means that if you edit on a 720p sequence and then transcode the locked output to 1080p or 4K you will end up with nothing but an enlarged 720p quality video. Provided that your sequence settings match those of your clips, rendering should not be an issue especially with prores files (h264 is no go). That should be kept to a minimum unless you apply effects on each an every clip. If this is the case I would suggest that you lock your edit first and then apply any effects whatsoever.

Thanks for the reply... rendering only is an issue when I drag the 4K files into the 1080 timeline and after 3 minutes of raw edit footage i would like to see the result i need to render which takes a whie and then upon that every single little change i need to render again...

FCP 7 does not support 4k. You can edit 4k if you convert the files to a max of 2k prores and once done conform your edit (via XML) to 4K for final output.

I have been told this information before, so how is it possible that I have a 4K pro res video, I import it to FCP7, drop it to a new sequence, say 'YES' - the sequence is now in 4K resolution, I do some edits and export and the exported file is a 4K file?

There is a great NLE that does not require rendering all the time. I am not saying its name, but it ends in X, and can handle 4K material just great

If you drag a 4K clip onto an empty new sequence the latter should conform to the clip's resolution and settings. Emphasis onto the "new empty sequence" part. Make sure the clips are converted to ProRes.

Which version of fcp do you have, is it 7.0 or 7.0.3?

Bear in mind that there may be issues as, as I mentioned, 4k is not really supported in FCP 7

I have FCP7 7.0.3

As I said, I have a pro res 4K video and can drag it to new empty sequence and edit away and export no problem...?

I'm more interested in how you transcode the 4K H.264 into ProRes?

Compressor or MPEG Streamclip.....

Have you considered trying a Proxy workflow in Final cut Pro 7?

no, could you please elaborate? Convert to Proxy instead of 422? and then bringing it back?

Before I start writing paragraphs on how to check out this nice video on Tapless Offline / Online Workflow from Shane Ross.

Creative COW FCP: Tapeless Offline / Online Workflow

It should give you a good idea and understanding. If you have any other questions after watching the video post your question here.

Cheers

Thanks for this video.

I have two questions:

1) My camera is Lumix-GH4 so how would you recommend me going about log and transfer because right now FCP7 is not allowing me to log and transfer the native footage from GH4 - is there a plug in like for the Canon 5D?

2) My workflow now on smaller scale projects is: take the original GH4 footage - transcode it to ProRes 422 LT, Import to FCP, create a 1080p Sequence, drop and edit - export and for some Transode to .mp4 ... Many editing experts told me that there is no visible difference between ProRes 422 LT and 422 and HQ if I am not doing any VFX/graphics/green screen, just pure documentary form videos. Would you agree?

Sorry I couldn't tell you if there is a plug for Final Cut Pro 7. I would have to do research myself since I stopped using Final Cut Pro 7 awhile back.

This is true that there "should not" be any visible difference for the eye when viewing the original transcoded footage.
ProRes LT is good if you are limited to bandwidth and hard drive space. Great in a Broadcast environment or a off-line to on-line process.
ProRes 422 will most closely match the original image quality.
ProRes 422 HQ is more in the direction RED, HDCAM, or HDCAM SR... overkill for DSLR.
I would go with ProRes 422 unless you are running on low drive space.

Take look at the Apple ProRes White Paper to give you a better understanding of the different flavours of ProRes.

Thanks.

Watched the online/offline workflow again, and since option 1 (log and transfer) is not working for my GH4 the only option is option 2.

The problem is that it still leaves me hassled how to go about the workflow. Please consider this -

ORIGINAL Footage - is in h.264 4K
CONVERTED Footage would have to be Pro Res 422 4K (I heard that dropping 4K into a 1080 sequence is better than downscaling your videos while transcoding?)

for the offline workflow I would then have to create THIRD footage - Pro Res Proxy Offline

This means that ultimately I would be chewing up even more space and time trying to work that way.

Maybe it's just best to convert once to Pro Res 422 and then drop it to 1080 sequence and deal with the rendering when needed?

Thanks

Your concern can be easily solved by purchasing this App called Final Cut Pro X for a affordable price.
You won't need a workflow since the application will do it all for you.

you will have to create Proxy separately in your situation there is no other way around this.

Why not edit the 4K H.264 directly? After the editing done, you can save it as 4k ProRes later.

I can't. FCP 7 won't let me import the files in...

"You won't need a workflow since the application will do it all for you."

Do you mean FCP X will allow me to edit natively in H 264?