Each XML file corresponds to an FCP sequence, including video, audio, and select transitions and effects, that can be opened in the timeline. Some unsupported effects are marked with comments indicating what you have to rebuild in Smoke based on the original offline edit.

FCP XML supports 720/24p, 720/30p, and 720/60p output from Varicam to create XML files. The timecode of the source is always 59.94, but the timelines can be 24p, 30p, or 60p.

Smoke can conform XML (23.976/29.97/59.94) from Varicam material (23.976/29.97/30/59.94/60). Smoke can also remove flagged (non-active) frames when capturing Varicam media. The source material must be at the same framerate as the sequence (for example 23.97 in a 23.97 sequence).

Before importing XML that contains any MXF P2 content, ensure that the P2 recording devices that are used are set to record clip metadata in Type 2. This allows important metadata, such as the User Clip Name, to be assigned properly in the XML file.

When importing FCP XML files that were created in SD resolution and that need to be conformed in HD, you need to reformat the clips. See Reformatting Clips.

After importing an XML file, you recapture the footage from the original tapes using the Recapture tool. You can also reload file-based media. Once all the media is captured, imported, or soft-imported, you can relink it to the sequence.

To import or soft-import an FCP XML file:

1. In the clip library, from the Interchange Format box, select XML.

   
   

2. Click Import.
3. In the file browser, navigate to an XML file exported from FCP.
4. If you are importing FCP XML that contains media files, and your files are stored on other computers, you can use Wiretap^® to access them. Enter the host or group name, as configured in the sw_wiretap_path_translation_db.xml file.

   
   

   The Wiretap Server must be configured properly to recognise the different hosts that you want to retrieve media from. See the Autodesk Stone and Wire Filesystem and Networking Guide or contact your system administrator.

   If you do not enter a value in the Source Host Name / Group field, any paths contained in the FCP XML file will be interpreted as pointing to your Smoke workstation. You can change the path in the Recapture dialog box when relinking.

5. If you are importing FCP XML that contains media files of the format and resolution that you want to use, enable Link with video files and/or Link with audio files.

   
   

6. If you are importing FCP XML that contains media files of a different file type or resolution than what you want to use (for example, when trying to relink to source media after working with proxies), then enable the Skip Recapture button.

   
   

   Upon clicking Load, you are taken to the Library menu, where you can apply a Reformat action (through the Tools menu) to your timeline, and then use Recapture to load your source media.

7. Click Load.

   If you did not enable Skip Recapture, the Recapture menu appears.

   
   

   (a) Clip List: List of Clips on Tape (b) Tape List: Recapture From File  (c) List of Segments Referencing Files For Recapture  

8. If you are importing FCP XML that references media clips on tapes, a list of clips appears in the Clip List. A list of source tapes also appears in the Tape List. This is the same tape list as logged in FCP. See Recapturing Media From Tape.
9. If you are importing FCP XML that contains media files, a list of files appears in the List of Segments. This is the list that you need to relink. See Relinking to File-based Media.