Hi Alan et al -
I just did a little test here, since we're weighing up using converted files or PDR's shadow files. I understand from Alan's posts that the .MOV files from his dashcam take "too long" to generate shadow files... hence considering conversion in a separate application.
I don't know what the camera is so I don't have sample files to test. Instead I used 6 short 4K/UHD .MOV clips from Canon DSLRs - 5D MkIV, 6D MkII & C200. The clips range in VBR from 520 - 2,298 Mbps (so they'd be demanding to edit in that form). Total duration of the 6 clips is 00:01:57:26.
In Handbrake (free & does batch conversion), the 6 clips were converted to 1080p MP4. It took
5:50, after an initial scan time of ~30sec.
I imported the same clips into PDR, with shadow files enabled. It took
5:55.
From that little test, there is no time advantage. Other converters may do the job faster.
Alan - for your final production, do you intend to use the original clips or the converted ones? If original, you can do that with file substitution shown in
this little tutorial. If not, don't click that link
Cheers - Tony
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