Combining two already editing sequences of different framerates

Hey everyone - thanks in advance for the help.

We've got two sequences that were edited a long time ago, one 25fps and one 29.97fps. Now we need to combine them both into a 29.97 sequence. If we simply copy and paste from the 25 into the 29.97 everything that is pasted goes out of time. Big gaps between clips, missing clips, and audio clips are slipped.

Both sequences are made up of various different formats.

ANy advice would be much appreciated - at this stage our best idea is to export the 25fps as a QT and convert the entire QT to 29.97

Thanks again,
Duff

"Now we need to combine them both into a 29.97 sequence"

why?
where are you going with this?

as you found out you cant really do it in FCP, nor should you.
FCP does not do frame-rate conversions.

yes you CAN put 25 fps material in a 29.97 sequence,
but FCP will just duplicate frames here and there to match the frame rates.

export the 25fps sequence, convert it, then use that in the 29.97 sequence
use Compressor, or Nattress Standards Converter, for the conversion
[www.nattress.com]


nick

thanks Nick ... these are short films that for some reason were originally edited in different framerates. They now need to be put together into a long form film and output at 29.97.
Will try it the way you suggested.
Cheers

is it for broadcast?

another approach with 25fps material is use Cinema Tools to "Conform" it to 24 (or really 23.976),
this is an instantaneous process, that simply changes the play-back speed.

then (somehow?? maybe Nattress?) add the necessary pull-down to convert it to 29.97

excuse my vagueness, i work in PAL most of the time.

if it's for DVD, then 23.976 is acceptable, i believe.


cheers,
nick

The cheap (free) and "consistent look/feel option" is what Nick suggested - to do the 23.976p route.

Check and see how this looks to your eyes and on a TV monitor (don't rely on the Mac screen).

1. Drop the 29.97 footage directly onto a 23.98p timeline and the 'Too Much Too Soon' Blend Fields filter (free*).

2. Use Cinema Tools to make the PAL 25 to 23.976 (~4% slowdown - allow for this in your running time**).

3. Drop the PAL 23.976 onto the same timeline add the 'Too Much Too Soon' Blend Fields filter.

4. Render it out and then export out as a 23.98p master file.

5. Transcode to 24p DVD in Compressor or whichever tool you most prefer.




* 'Too Much Too Soon' from [www.mattias.nu]

** You may also need a slight pitch shift up in Soundtrack Pro if girls/music sound too "butch" unless its Kathleen Turner playing the harp and singing.

Quote

another approach with 25fps material is use Cinema Tools to "Conform" it to 24 (or really 23.976),
this is an instantaneous process, that simply changes the play-back speed.

The other good thing about this approach is that each frame is represented fully and you don't get duplicated frames or blended frames across cut points.



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]