A new plugin from Canon is available for Final Cut Pro and is free to download. Final Cut Pro users (versions 6.0.3 – current 7.0) will be able to ingest footage from the 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and 7D through “Log and Transfer”. This is a huge step forward for HDSLR shooters, because it greatly improves the workflow in FCP. Here is some basic info on what the plugin allows:

• Clips ingested using “Log & Transfer”
• Archiving
• Timecode Generation
• Auto File Import
• Auto Transcode
• Auto Data Input
• Selectable ProRes formats in FCP7
• Selectable ProRes formats in FCP6

Download the E-1 plugin on Canon’s site here.

AJA has just released firmware version 1.1 for the Ki Pro, and going up .1 turns out to be a major upgrade. Here is a list of the improvements :

- ProRes 422 LT and Proxy recording has been added. These formats are supported in Final Cut Pro 7, and allow for longer recording times at minimal quality loss.

- 720P variable frame rate support has now been added as well. This is great for VariCam users that want 720p24 (23.98), 720p25 and 720p30 (29.97) native recording.

- 1080p support has also been improved by enabling the auto-detection of 1080p 23.98, 1080p 24, 1080p 25 and 1080p 29.97 signals. This, along with PsF playback, gives the Ki Pro more functionality for high end users.

These updates, as well as a couple other new features, make for one big update. See the full release notes here, including a list of updates still planned for the future. Download Ki Pro Firmware 1.1 here.

Canon has a new HDSLR camera and a new Final Cut Pro plug-in. The EOS 550D (or Rebel T2i as it is also called) is their latest HDSLR camera, with an 18 MP APS-C size sensor and the ability to record full HD video. In terms of video, the specs are very similar to that of the 7D:

• 1080 recording at 24,25, and 30
• 720 recording at 50 & 60P
• Full Manual Video mode
• HDMI output
• Stereo Mic Input

The big differences from the 7D is a lower ISO range (100-6400), and it records to SDHC or SDXC cards instead of CF cards. The sensor is not exactly the same, so some comparison will have to be made, but the price is significantly different at under $1000. Read a full review of the new 550D at DPreview.

The other big news is that Canon is developing a plug-in for Final Cut Pro. It will allow importing of ‘EOS Movie’ footage into FCP through the Log and Transfer mode. The plug-in will convert the QuickTime movies created in Canon HDSLR cameras into Apple’s ProRes 422 codec at approximately twice the speed of Apple’s standard conversion. Additionally, users will also be able to add timecode, reel names and metadata to footage quickly and easily. This is great news for anyone working with Canon HDSLR cameras. A beta of the plug-in will be available in March.

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I recently traveled to Chicago to shoot a music video on an Sony PMW-EX1 camera. Much of the shooting was on greenscreen so I brought along the nanoFlash from Convergent Design to increase the quality of my recording. While the EX1 records excellent quality video, I really needed the bitrate and color sampling improvements that the nanoFlash offers. I shot both to the EX1 in XDCAM EX at 35Mbps, and to the nanoFlash in XDCAM 422 at 160Mbps. The quality difference between the two versions was significant, and I found that the nanoFlash footage was very easy to key. Watch the video to see my review of the nanoFlash, and the difference between the XDCAM EX footage and what the nanoFlash recorded. Update: The latest firmware for the nanoFlash also offers 24P pull-down removal.

Apple has just released a new version of Final Cut Pro and updates to several other programs in Final Cut Studio including Compressor, Color, Motion, and Soundtrack. There are so many updates that you’ll need to go over to Apples site to read about them. Visit their What’s New page for the details. Here are some of the big updates in FCP 7 that make me happy…

…continue reading Final Cut Pro 7 Released

You may have heard that the PDW-700 can shoot in 720P 60P. So of course many people ask about converting that 720 60p footage into slow motion. Well you can, but there are a couple of tricks. So here is my process for converting the 60p files into 24p files in Final Cut Studio 2.

…continue reading Slow-Mo PDW-700 Footage

A client who purchased a Panasonic HDX900 Camera from us noticed a problem when importing footage from his camera through firewire. He used a FireStore to capture footage on set and then brought it into Final Cut Pro. The problem was that his audio levels seemed completely off. In the field he had set his levels to around -18db and when he brought them into FCP they were significantly lower. He called me wondering what the problem could be and I wasn’t sure either. So I tested the same setup here and had the same problem. My levels were consistently lower despite setting Channels 1 and 2 to a signal generator. After turning off a couple audio channels I discovered the source of the confusion.

…continue reading Final Cut Pro Stereo Downmix Confusion