Post-production software for a Documentary

We filmed the last shots of the documentary Saving Mimosa in Portugal in November, more than two years after the first visit there. So now, when everything is in the can, is it time to concentrate on post-production.

The post-production workflow and software we are using so far is as described below. 

Ingest

  • Copy media from cards to disk with Hedge, and save on one RAID5 disk and two additional disks for off-line backup in two different locations.

  • Rename all files so they have unique filenames with Adobe Bridge.

  • Import and transcode media into FCP and use Postlab to manage libraries. One main library plus one library for archive footage 

  • Use keywords to identify locations, set location, type of action for all media.

  • Sync separate audio recordings with video

  • Mark favorite clips.

  • Transcribe interviews with Simon Says and export as captions to FCP and Word documents

  • Update locations and talent in Yamdu to keep track of who has participated and where.

  • Postlab Drive to share media with collaborators.

  • Backblaze for backup.

Story edit

  • Check in & check out library via Postlab

  • Add temporary music from Artlist

  • Add stock footage from iStock and Adobe.

  • Cut camera and dialogue in FCP.

  • Export review versions to frame.io and comments back to FCP.

  • Duplicate project to create a new version of the time line, continue to edit.

  • Add score composed for this film.

Sound edit

  • Check-in & check-out library via Postlab

  • Export XML from FCP to X2PRO to generate AAF-file for sound edit

  • Share sound mix via Postlab Drive

  • Sound edit to be done in ProTools with iZotope RX9 advanced to clean audio 

  • Send back steams to FCP

VFX

  • Check in & check out library via Postlab

  • We plan to use Neat video to
    improve noice

  • Plugin to stabilize shots is still an open question

  • Plug-in titles from LenoFX

Color grading

  • Check in & check out library via Postlab

  • Color grading in FCP with Color Finale 2

  • Eventually use creative LUT's. To be decided

  • Export review versions to frame.io and comments back to FCP

Mastering 

Mastering to DCP is not yet decided how to do

Computers

The main computer for edit was updated to Apple silicon a year ago, with all the huzzles of software compability.

  • Mac Mini M1 with 16 GB RAM / 1 TB SSD

  • G-Shuttle external RAID5 with thunderbolt 3 and 30 TB avaliable disk

  • 27" BENQ monitor QFHD DCI-P3

  • 27" Apple Thunderbolt display

  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

  • Yamaha HS-7 monitors 

  • LaCie Rugged 2TB & 4TB external disks