FCP | MAD editing workflow on macOS

MAD editing workflow on macOS

Conclusion

Extract and Format

origin: mkv (HEVC & FLAC)
mkvextract: HEVC FLAC
(Permute: edit FLAC with wrong timestamp)
ffmpeg: ALAC
mp4box: mp4 (HEVC & ALAC)

Import

For me, a MAD producer, import mp4 (HEVC & ALAC) into FCP (copy original media to library) and then create proxy media with mov (ProRes 422 Proxy & PCM).

Advantages

• Output with the best quality What I import has the best quality. So, output has the least loss. I can even use ProRes 422 or ProRes 422 HQ to export my project.
• Great performance when editing video The performance will be satisfying by creating proxy media instead of directly using original media to edit.
• Less space and Faster encoding time Contrast to ProRes 422, encoding ProRes 422 Proxy is faster and spends less space. Creating proxy media also allows me to use half frame size, which save storage more. Also I can delete all proxy files after finishing the project without affecting original media. After deleting these proxy media, if I want to restart the project I can easily recreate proxy media.
• No error if original media disappear I choose the option copy to library so I won’t be worried if original media moved or deleted.

Export

Upload

mp4 (HEVC & AAC) with the best quality

Archive

mov (ProRes 422 & PCM) with the best quality

Original Media

mkv (HEVC & FLAC)
incompatible with Compressor and FCPX

Transcode and Re-format

mkvextract: HEVC FLAC
(Permute: edit FLAC with wrong timestamp)
ffmpeg: ALAC
mp4box: mp4 (HEVC & ALAC)
**See script at **my GitHub repo

Import

Import only

not recommend

Transcode then Import

Compressor: mov (ProRes 422 / ProRes 422 LT / Prores 422 Proxy & PCM)
If you really concern about the quality, use ProRes 422 or ProRes 422 HQ. Otherwise if you don’t have enough disk storage, ProRes 422 LT or ProRes 422 Proxy is also good for video editing.

Import then Create proxy media

FCPX: Create proxy media mov (ProRes 422 Proxy & PCM (less bits)) with the same/lower frame size.

Export

Upload

mp4 (HEVC & AAC) both the best quality, automatic

Archive

mov (ProRes 422 / ProRes 422 LT & PCM)

References

About Apple ProRes
关于 Apple ProRes
Media formats supported in Final Cut Pro
Create optimized and proxy files in Final Cut Pro
What’s new in FCP 10.5