FCP and Quantel

Hi,

This was one of the biggest news at IBC last September:

"At IBC 2008 Quantel announced the full integration of Apple?s Final Cut Pro into the Quantel Enterprise sQ server-based production environment. The solution brings the exact same workflow advantages with Final Cut Pro workstations as they have with Quantel?s native editors.

With this development, FCP editors have full access to both rushes and metadata as well as to edited sequences generated on Quantel desktop and craft editing workstations.

Now, the FCP editor works directly with media held on the Quantel server; there is no requirement first to import the media, and output can happen the moment the edit is completed. Similarly, Quantel editors can access stories started on Final Cut Pro. In both cases, edits remain live throughout the system right up to playout.

Key benefits to FCP users include:

Instant playout of a published edit

Browse workflow ? edits started on Quantel workstations using lo-res media are instantly available in broadcast media for finishing on FCP and vice versa

Final Cut Pro users can now publish direct to a newsroom computer system, just as Quantel editors can, speeding stories to air."

Does anyone knows any info about this "full integration"?

Thanks

Rui Barros
Editor Colorist Trainer
Lisbon, Portugal
RTP Post-Production
Apple Certified Trainer FCP 7
Apple Certified Pro FCP 7

Sound slike a useful evolution; Quantel IQ has supported QuickTime for years now; this is a neat step.

- Loren
Today's FCP keytip:

Copy a clip, Paste Overwrite with Command-V, but
Paste Insert with Shift- V !

Final Cut Studio 2 KeyGuide? Power Pack.
Now available at KeyGuide Central.
www.neotrondesign.com

We need to get a Quantel person on this thread. Anyone know anyone there?

Michael Horton
-------------------

Hi Guys

Trevor Francis, Worldwide Marketing Manager for Quantel Ltd, has very kindly agreed to take any questions that you all may have with regards to FCP integration with Quantel's product line.
Please go ahead and post any specific questions you'd like to put to him. If necessary I'll pass them on and post back with the replies, but more likely he will answer the questions directly. (Awaiting LAFCPUG account activation I think)

So go ahead and post away.

Cheers
Andy

Bump, for those who might otherwise have missed their chance ...

If there are no takers I'll let Trevor know he's off the hook.
Cheers
Andy

What's a "Quantel"

Seriously...Quantel is mainly a European choice. There's not many users in the US. I learned the editbox in school with the filmstrip editing & compositing...thought it was the coolest thing ever and thought I would come out & specialize everywhere. I couldn't get arrested.

I would be interested in hearing about this.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

I think Quantel is a bit larger budget than this crowd tends to go. Myself included.


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
[itunes.apple.com]

I only know of one working Quantel in my town. It's a pretty specialised unit. It's hard enough staying up to date with the top two NLEs these days, let alone ones you almost never get asked about.

They are apparently very good though.

Hi everyone,

First let me wish you all a happy and a better new year. I've been away due to the extra amount of work.
Since 2000 that i've been working with Quantel systems, NewsBox, EditBox and later the eQ.
Perhap's the biggest upgrade from the old systems to the eQ is the "Undo" function.

Quantel has annouced the so called "full integration of Apple?s Final Cut Pro into the Quantel Enterprise sQ server-based production environment".
I did wanted to know more about this feature but until now neither the Quantel Sales or the Quantel Tech from England or Portugal gave me a precise answer.

Trevor Francis, thank you for your time, my questions are some in many.

- The TV network where i work has 4 eQ's and 2 sQ servers, how can we connect a FCP system to the Quantel systems?
- Will FCP work with the same servers functions, "Localise and Publish"?
- Can we use the FCP's multicam with the sQ servers?
- Since Quantel System are "Frame Based" and FCP "File Based" do we need to install some hardware or software on the Mac?

Thank you very much.

Rui

Rui Barros
Editor Colorist Trainer
Lisbon, Portugal
RTP Post-Production
Apple Certified Trainer FCP 7
Apple Certified Pro FCP 7

Hello to everyone on the LAFCPUG,

I am very happy to answer general questions about Quantel's workflow solution with Final Cut Pro. Sorry to sound 'official', but I can't answer specific questions in a public forum relating to one of our customers' systems. If you'd like to see this feature added to your Quantel system - start an internal discussion and then call your local Quantel rep. We'll help you work out the best way forwards.

I'll try to answer your questions, and I'll start with the last one.

Internally, Quantel systems are frame-based as you say, but we do have technology which can make the content appear as files. That's how this FCP Gateway works - it makes the clips stored on the Quantel server appear to be Quicktime files. So when it's working, the FCP thinks it's connected to a normal filing system and the Quantel server thinks it's talking to a Quantel editor. So they're both happy.

This will require some hardware - a PC - to join the Macs to the Quantel server and it will require a plug-in, which we're writing, to be installed on the Mac.

When Quantel announced this new workflow at IBC we said that the FCP user would operate in the usual way, using media stored in the Quantel server, stored in a local Mac network or imported from tapes or cameras.

Any files on the server are available instantly, without importing, even files in record. When you finish your edit you'll use the familiar dialogue to 'publish' it to the Quantel server. Then it can be played out.

I know there are going to be hundreds of questions. I'm really pleased to see so much interest. Some of the fine details are still being worked out and tested, but we will be releasing more information soon, as we promised at IBC.

Best regards,

Trevor Francis
Quantel

Hi everyone. I thought you might like to know that we're now starting to demo this workflow. There's still some more tidying work to do, but it's looking good. Anyone interested, please get in touch.

Trevor Francis

Hi everyone,

Good work Trevor, can you please send me more details about the demo and the workflow.

Thanks

Rui

Rui Barros
Editor Colorist Trainer
Lisbon, Portugal
RTP Post-Production
Apple Certified Trainer FCP 7
Apple Certified Pro FCP 7