Final Cut Pro 6 Techniques: Editing with Canon's 24F

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Final Cut Pro 6 Techniques: Editing with Canon's 24F By Heath McKnight

When Canon introduced its professional HDV systems (the XLH1, XHG1 and XHA1), they featured three interesting frame rate features: 24f, 30f and the optional 25f. The "f" stands for full frame, and is very much like progressive-scan video (24p, 30p and 25p). This frame rate wasn`t able to be cut on Final Cut Pro (FCP) until recently. There are two ways to cut Canon HDV footage running at this frame rate with FCP 6:

HDV 1080i60
You can capture 24f footage via the HDV 1080i60 Easy Set Up and FireWire, edit, remove the pulldown if you wish (in Cinema Tools), then output to tape. If you removed the pulldown, Apple will re-insert it as the video goes to tape. If you're intended audience is television users, I don't recommend removing the pulldown. You can also make a progressive scan DVD and not re-insert the pulldown.

1080i60 Easy Set Up

If you're using a capture card, you can set the capture to 1080i60 (or 29.97), and edit in whichever codec you wish, be it ProRes 422, uncompressed HD, etc. The card, like an AJA, can convert the footage upon capture. DeckLink cards capture in 60i and you'll remove the pulldown in Cinema Tools

HDV 1080p24
Using the HDV 1080p24 Easy Set Up (via FireWire) will actually remove the pulldown upon capture, giving you 23.98 fps (24p) video. I had heard the occasional editor using this method, but for some reason, not a lot of Canon HDV/FCP users were working with this preset.

1080p24 Easy Set Up

Like with 1080i60, you can use a capture card to remove the pulldown as you're digitizing your footage. Also, if you go back to tape, both FCP and the card have the option of re-inserting the pulldown, unless you make a progressive scan DVD.

I've had no problems working with 30f footage in FCP, and it can be cut in both 30p and 60i; I haven't worked with 25f footage yet. One more tip; since Canon doesn't make decks and if you're worried about your tape heads while using your XLH1, XHG1 or XHA1 as a deck, pick up the great Canon HV20, which shoots in native 1920x1080 (opposed to 1440x1080) and 24p, plus can playback 24f footage shot on the professional Canon HDV cameras.

Special thanks to Greg Dillard of Grapeseeker productions (www.grapeseeker.tv)

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Heath McKnight is a filmmaker and author who recently co-produced the feature film DECEMBER, along with directing, producing and co-writing the feature film 9:04 AM. He was also a contributor to VASST's best-selling book, "The FullHD." You can find out more about Heath at his website at www.mpsdigital.com. and can be contacted at hmcknight@gmail.com

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