If you are having issues working with Blackmagic URSA 4K footage in FCP 7/X, this post may shed you some lights on your trouble. It explains an alternative way to transcode URSA 4K footage to ProRes 422 for use in FCP 7/X smoothly.
The Blackmagic URSA 4K Digital Cinema Camera features a 3840 x 2160 resolution, global shutter CMOS sensor with 12 stops of dynamic range. The camera records and outputs in the 2160p format, a 16:9 standard with precisely four times the resolution of 1080p, often referred to as UltraHD.
URSA can record lossless CinemaDNG RAW and RAW 3:1 with film dynamic range at 4000 x 2160, as well as Apple ProRes 444, ProRes 422 HQ, 422, 422 LT and 422 Proxy at 3840 x 2160 and 1920 x 1080 with either film or video dynamic range. Although it is said the losslessly compressed RAW codec is designed to give you the greatest latitude for image manipulation in post production, and the Apple ProRes is employed for easier playback and editing in a wide range of video editing applications, users still have complains while editing URSA 4K footage in NLEs like the discontinued FCP 7 and its most recent version FCP X. If that’s the case, we would recommend transcoding URSA 4K footage to FCP’s favorite editing codec. Read on to find a simple guide on how to encode URSA 4K footage to ProRes 422 for use in FCP 7/X fluidly.
Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter for Mac
With HD Video Converter for Mac installed, you are able to convert URSA 4K footage to ProRes .mov for working with FCP 7/X smoothly. More than URSA 4K media, it also supports converting P2 MXF, XAVC MXF, XDCAM/XDCAM HD MXF, IMX MXF, AVCHD (.m2t, .m2ts, .mts), H.264 MOV, XAVC S MP4, XDCAM EX MP4, 4K video, MKV, AVI, M2V and more for your different final targets, such as editing, playing, sharing, and burning.
How to encode URSA 4K footage for editing in FCP 7/X flawlessly?
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter for Mac as a professional URSA 4K video to FCP Converter. When its main interface comes up, click ‘Add File’ to load source video to it.
Step 2: Select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format for opening with FCP 7/X
From the ‘Profile’ list, move to ‘Final Cut Pro’ catalogue, and select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as target format. Apple ProRes is the best suited editing codec for FCP 7 and its former version FCP 6 and the most recent version FCPX. When loading them into FCP (X), you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering. To create smaller files, transcode your source files to Apple ProRes 422 (LT).
Apple ProRes 422 – Higher quality than Apple ProRes 422 (LT);
Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) – Keep original video quality for editing in FCP;
Apple ProRes 422 (LT) – Get a smaller file sizes than Apple ProRes 422;
Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy) – SD levels – 480i/p and 576i/p. Used in offline workflows.
Apple ProRes 4444 – Edit and finish 4:4:4 material.
Important: If you’ve loaded a number of video clips to do batch conversion, please do remember ticking off ‘Apply to All’ option before you start.
Step 3: Adjust video and audio settings (for advanced users)
If necessary, you can click ‘Settings’ button and go to ‘Profiles Settings’ panel to modify video and audio settings like video encoder, resolution, video bit rate, frame rate, aspect ratio, audio encoder, sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channels. 3D settings are also available.
Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ to start URSA 4K files to ProRes MOV conversion.
Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes QuickTime files for transferring and editing in Final Cut Pro 7/X with optimum performance.
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