How to transcode Canon 5D mark II H.264 video into something editable?

[fabriziorizzo]

QT Pro v7.5 plays my 5Dm2 native video files just fine. Premiere CS4 however... unusable. I've heard that transcoding the H.264 40Mbps videos to another format allows a better editing experience.

Hardware:
Dell Precision 690, 1 quad-core 3GHz processor, 12GB RAM, 15000 rpm SAS system drive, 1TB SATA video disk (non-RAID), 1TB SATA temp disk (non-RAID), Quadro FX 3500 graphics card (non-CUDA unfortunately)

Question is... what is the most efficient format to transcode into?

A tutorial on Vimeo for Final Cut Pro on a mac mentions HDCAM EX as a format to use. (http://www.vimeo.com/2373679)
I don't see that option as shown on the Mac from my Vista box using either Adobe Media Encoder CS4 or MPEG Streamclip v1.2.

If I start a project in Premiere CS4 using the HDCAM EX 1080p presets, what is the corresponding Media Encoder format to choose for converting my clips before importing to Premiere?

I'm currently testing the following output format in AME:
MPEG2 Blu-Ray: 1920x1080,23.976 fps, Progressive, Quality 5, no audio, VBR 2-pass, bitrate setings of 25 min 35 target 40 max.

Has anyone determined a transcoding process that provides full HD quality while maintaining any ability to scrub and edit Canon 5D mark II video in Premiere CS4?

[Maarten-HD]

I had the same problem, Adobe CS3 (or 4) is not capable of editing of Canon 5D HD footage!
Everytime the program crashed instantly....

I'm not going to waste my precious time and money on this software anymore!
today I have bought a eight core powermac with Final Cut Pro !

Adobe I want my money back! CS3 is NOT working as it should be!

By the way .....Pro's work with Mac's!

[the_wine_snob]

Welcome to the forum.

Everytime the program crashed instantly....

This is most likely an issue with your system, how it's set up, and other programs, etc., that are running.

Good luck with the Mac and FCP.

Hunt

[Maarten-HD]

Thank you,I'm using Adobe software since a long time,

First Premiere 6.5, then CS2, and now CS3

My system is a brand new Pentium Quad Core with 8 Gig memory PC with onlyPremiere installed on it.I never had problems with editing before, till I changed to HD footage, A lot of other people on the forum are complaining about this same issue, so do they also have bad PC's ?I don't think so, I have installed my pc over and over again, everytime the same thingAdobe CS3 doesn't like the footage of the Canon 5D mark 2.... period.It's Adobe problem now, on my Arts Academy were I study

we are changing our workstations to Apple with FCP.Why? because Apple makes software that does the job, Premiere can't deliver whatit should do....good luck with trying to save your companies reputation, for me

Adobe has made a very big mistake with their upgrade policy and bad software.....

 Adobe Encore can't even author DTS-HD files......Good luck!Best regards Maarten van Druten

[the_wine_snob]

I do not recall if it was during this thread, or another Canon 5D MK II thread, but Jeff Bellune was able to edit these files on CS4.1 on a PC, with no issues. Might want to look back, and also at other similar threads for Jeff's comments and possibly exactly how he did the editing with the test files provided.

Good luck,

Hunt

[PaulieDC]

Maarten, with all due respect, you're about 4 months late with the "no 5D2" support. I smoothly edit my 5D2 files with a simple conversion. Here's how:

• Open your 5D2 .mov file in Cineform's NeoScene. It's a $99 program, gripe if you want to, it works.
• With NeoScene, convert the 5D2 .mov file (which is 4:2:0) to an .AVI (it'll interpolate it to 4:2:2).
• Import your .AVI into Premiere and edit to your heart's content. Pretty straightforward. Use a 30fps HDV sequence. Works great.

Or use FCP and totally miss out on the seamless integration between Photoshop and Soundbooth and After Effects and Encore and Audition and Media Encoder and Fla.... shall I go on?

And you may write back and say that forums are griping that NeoScene messes up the audio so you have to re-time it, but that's been fixed as of August 12th. Your PC shouldn't crash, that's not an Adobe issue. If you do stay on Windows, get Windows 7, I can't stress that enough.

Hope this helps.

[Maarten-HD]

By the way It's Maarten (not Martin)I'm not going to pay another 99 euro's for another program only so I finally can edit HD footage in CS3.Adobe is NOT capable to make a software program now that works with HD footage, period.I rather pay 4000 dollars for a solution that really works without all the conversion rubbishTime is money.....Best regards,

Maarten

[Harm_Millaard]

Adobe is NOT capable to make a software program now that works with HD footage, period.

Another nonsense remark. A two year old program may not support all the latest codecs, but 4.1 does. HDV, AVCHD, P2, XDCAM, Red, in short all the common HD VIDEO camera's. That is does not support your still camera that came out after CS3 was introduced shows you are not realistic.

Hope you have a fat wallet when you go FCP/MAC, because MAC's are like hookers, they look sexy, they are pricey but not better. And $ 4K is not enough...

[Maarten-HD]

That right, the Canon 5D mark 2 came out after CS3, but were the free update patch?

Were is the professional service?
A lot of people already have paid a lot of money for the CS3 bundle, but it still doesn't do the job right....
Now we have CS4 and it still can't edit h264 mov files without problems!

I'm a student of a Art Academy Apple gives discount for students, believe me 4000 euro is enough
and I like expensive hookers, so long the do their job right

[Harm_Millaard]

4000 euro is around equal to $ 6K

[Maarten-HD]

....I forgot when does Adobe Encore finally can author DTS-HD files? Give me a ring when this is possible 

[the_wine_snob]

I forgot when does Adobe Encore finally can author DTS-HD files?

Though probably a subject best posted to the Encore forum, what is the issue that you are having with DTS audio in Encore.

First, you must remember that neither the DVD, nor the BD specs allow for DTS as a primary Audio stream. It can be used as a supplemental Audio stream only. I use it all of the time, with no issues, but use it as a supplementary Audio stream. Depending on what you are trying to do, this might be something that you'll need to take up with the various organizations that wrote the DVD and BD specs.

Can you not use DTS as a supplemental Audio stream? Have you tried with CPT files from the DTS encoder? What happens?

Good luck,

Hunt

[Maarten-HD]

"Normal" DTS files work in encore but not the DTS-HD encoded files....

Because DTS-HD is optional doesn't mean that Adobe shouldn't have to support it in their software!
DTS-HD is one of the best and frequently used audio codec so why not support it?

Once again Adobe seems to think what is good enough for us customers, instead of listening to
what we really want.....

[the_wine_snob]

What are the specs. on the DTS-HD files? That might answer some of it.

Good luck,

Hunt

[PaulieDC]

If you'd rather spend $4000 instead of $99, then the argument is over. Do what's best for you.

Also, I submitted my comment with your name spelled wrong, then immediately fixed it roughly 30 seconds later. Sorry I offended you.

I would say that seeing your interest is just complaining and not about what Adobe offers, continuing to post on this thread is pointless, you should go channel your energy into the solution you prefer.

Take care.

[Maarten-HD]

Your right, let's help all the other people on this forum that have trouble with editing their 5D mark 2 HD footage with Adobe software

That's were a forum is for, right?

[the_wine_snob]

Looking at the Minnetonka Audio site, it appears that the output files are either .CPT, .WAV or .DTSHD. Do the .CPT, or the .WAV, not work in Encore as an alternate Audio stream?

Just curious,

Hunt

[excited_Genie16B8]

I'm coming in to this late, so forgive if the topic has been covered.

Has anyone tried batch converting their 5D files to Lagarith for use in Premiere (using the MPEG hacked version of VirtualDub)?  It works fine for DV.  I don't see any immediate theoretical reason it shouldn't also work in this case.  But I have neither the media nor the interest to test it out myself.

[the_wine_snob]

Jim,

I do not recall anyone exploring this workflow. As there were also several other threads on the Canon 5D MK II files, maybe I missed it in one of them. Just do not recall mention being made.

Hunt

[Harm_Millaard]

By the way .....Pro's work with Mac's!

Nonsense, Pro's don't use still camera's unless they are photographers. Then they use PS, not PR.

[Maarten-HD]

the first feature-length film shot entirely on a DSLR camera.

http://searchingforsonny.com/about.htm

Welcome in the new age of photographing or is it movie making? 

By the way I'm also a professional photographer

[Guest]

Catmandog,

  Good find, thanks

-capt3450

[Korin Unka]

....

[frostedGSXR]

Hey everyone, here is a link to my blog going over the FREE workflow that I use[:

http://www.frosted.ca/2009/03/26/canon-5d-mark-ii-premier-pro-cs4-1080p-workflow/

Cheers,

Justin

[Bob_Dix_Photographer-E0Nmzu]

I agreee the video clips are stunning but, we use only PC. To render the clips for smooth running and editing is a pain but, it does work and makes the 5D look magic.

Any other ideas ?

[Bob_Dix_Photographer-E0Nmzu]

Mate,

You sure have a problem. Adobe Aussie tech says there is a problem with CS4 handling mov files from the 5d and a patch will be issued.

But, when?

I use a Pentium 4 3.2 GHZ running Premiere Pro 1.5.1 and the out put exported file to tape is stunning. But, I place all mov. clips on the timeline and render, it then runs smoothly, but, it takes 5 hours for 35 minutes of clips overnight.

I do need a quad core computer.

Ps. For any 1.5.1 uses still out there, if you have a c drive crash make sure the 1.5.1 upgrade is installed correctly otherwise it will not export to tape ???????