How to Deal With Cinema DNG from BlackMagic Cameras in FCPX

 FCPX does not like Cinema DNG and does not understand it, period. It probably never will now that ProRes RAW is out in the wild.

So what do you do when you receive a ".dng" image sequence and want to edit with FCPX? You will have to go the Offline Route, and use Resolve to do it.

Not a bad thing anyway since you will likely grade and finish your film into Resolve anyway. Probably not the only option, but one that works for me.

STEPS:

• Import your footage into Resolve.
• Select a day's worth of media (or half day, whatever works for you.) Generate a new Timeline from the selected media. It's good Practice to create one Timeline for each day or half day of shooting. Name it in a way you know what's what.
• Optional: Into the Color Tab/ Camera Raw, set the Decode Using to Cinema DNG Default to make the image look somewhat normal as opposed to the washed out RAW look. If you prefer, you can leave the Setting to Camera Metadata for a log output, and turn the Log Processing to BMD Film in FCPX instead. From my experience it does not slow down editing in FCPX.
• Optional: You can add Timecode and Clip Name Burn-in, (or any info you need visible) from Workspace/ Data Burn-in Menu.
• Go to the Deliver Tab.
• Select Render to FCPX.
• Select Format: Quicktime, and Codec: Apple ProRes LT. You can choose whatever you want, LT makes things fast for me in FCPX.
• Select the Resolution of your choice, I use HD or UHD depending which I am finalizing into.
• I like to check Use Constant Bitrate.
• Browse /Create a New Folder, name it "FCPX Proxy Media" or whatever you want, it will be your export folder.
• Click Add To Render Queue. Resolve will add the Job to the Render Queue, Click Start Render.

This way Resove makes an XML that will open in FCPX and load all the low resolution/proxy clips that are a breeze to edit with in FCPX.

Edit away!

When you are done editing, Export an XML of your cut from FCPX. Import the XML into Resolve. Uncheck Automatically import Source Clips into media pool (we don't want Resolve to relink to the low res files.) Resolve will automatically link to the Cinema DNG files and populate the Timelime, ready for Color Grading / Finishing.

BlackmagicDesign DaVinci Resolve 15 Beta Is Mind Blowing!

 BMD just released Resolve 15 Beta and it's overwhelming! This great color grading tool has evolved into a full-on post-production in a box software.

Check the 19min. YouTube video below if you don't believe me.

https://youtu.be/84e7iCI9Jkk

Now it's very likely full of bugs and lacking many a functionality. And it doesn't have (yet) specific things we like FCPX for: Overall fluidity, Magnetic timeline, Roles, FilmStrips View, Smart Collections, etc.

Nevertheless, you have to recognize the beauty of this thing, and the beauty of where I think it's heading.

I see this new release as a full integration of all the steps in Post-prod with very advanced specialty tools just a button away: Media Manage/Edit/Color/FX/Sound/Delivery. No more clunky back and forth between departments. It's not only all under one roof, it's all under one app!

Now while we wonder and experiment with the shiny new Resolve, BMD folks will be working on Collaboration. As I foresee, editors, colorists, sound people, fx people, we will be working on the SAME Resolve project.

The editor will rough FXs in the Timeline, and "pass" them to the FX artist in an INSTANT. No more managing media, sending notes, screeners and rough comps, it's all in there!

While color, FX and audio people are working in their specialty pages, with auto-linking/management of each comp/media/project, BMD cloud will upload the newly created media in the background for all to see and use when ready. The Timeline will update AUTOMATICALLY at a push of a button, or as set in the prefs.

No more conforming as it is now BUILT-IN. And you will be able to choose when this happens: end of day, in the background, or right now!

Let's see how stable it is under stress, and where this new paradigm leads us. A lot to dig in!

Exciting times!