Can't Roundtrip between DR and FCP with BRAW

This hasn't been working for me for so long that I just started doing a time-consuming workaround, but it's time for me to see if I can find a solution.

Any time I'm working with BRAW files, which is 95% of the time, FCP will not import the XML back from DR. I will get some slight variation of the following: "The XML document sent from application “Final Cut Pro” could not be imported. The media could not be imported. (The original media on asset with id r67: /fcpxml[1]/resources[1]/asset[65].) Inappropriate file type or format" The asset is always a BRAW clip. If I remove this clip it will just error-reference the next one.

Here's my current workflow:

1. Shoot BRAW on my BMPCC 6K G2.
2. Import BRAW into DR (currently 18.6.6 Build 7 but this issue has been occurring for years). Create a timeline named for my project only intended to make the proxies. Export all footage as 422 Proxy.
3. Import all proxies into FPC (currently 10.7.1 but this issue has been occurring for years) via drag-and-drop. Make my assembly edit. Export XML (currently 1.9 but this issue has been happening since at least XML 1.4).
4. Import FCP XML into DR and grade my clips. Export selects as 422 HQ.

What I'd like to have happen is that I can import the XML from DR and all my newly graded clips will be in place on my timeline.

Instead I get the error above, which means my workflow becomes:

5. Drag and drop my new clips onto my existing FCP timeline and disable the previous, non-graded clips. This is very tedious when I'm replacing hundreds of clips in a large project.


Some background info: DR and FCP have full disk access, iMac 5K 2020 3.8 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i7, Sonoma 14.4.1. I had the same issues on my previous 2013 iMac.

Did you try this great helper: https://brawtoolbox.io ?

Did you try this great helper: https://brawtoolbox.io ?

Are you suggesting this as a solution to my specific error or as a way to avoid round tripping? Because I'm not going to color grade my BRAW in FCPX.

I don’t suggest grading in FCP-X, but simplifying the workflow.
This may give you some hints too:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/26popkz9 ... m0rtp&dl=0
(Use DeepL for translation)

I'm not going to color grade my BRAW in FCPX.

How about editing your BRAW in Resolve?

Yeah I may do that if I have to but first I'm seeking to solve my problem with DR, FCP and XMLs if I can.

For starters, I shoot BRAW in 6K and I'm going to assume editing from those files is not going to go nearly as smoothly as 1080P 422 proxies.

Second, I'm not anxious to spend $80 on BRAW Toolkit and change my workflow (see above) as a first attempt at a solution.

I don't think you should assume that. Unless you're shooting Q0 60 FPS, BRAW edits super smooth.

I don't think you should assume that. Unless you're shooting Q0 60 FPS, BRAW edits super smooth.

Does 6K BRAW edit more smoothly than 6K 422?

BRAW files are smaller than ProRes at the same resolution.

Try it out on your system. See how well they work.

BRAW files are smaller than ProRes at the same resolution.

Try it out on your system. See how well they work.

Does BRAW Toolkit have a trial period?

I don't know what BRAW Toolkit is.

But you don't need it to edit with Resolve.

I don't know what BRAW Toolkit is.

But you don't need it to edit with Resolve.

Gotcha sorry I hadn’t read your previous suggestion carefully enough

Does 6K BRAW edit more smoothly than 6K 422?

I think Jim has the right idea. There's also nothing stopping you from editing 6K BRaw in an HD timeline, and I bet that will play back pretty well on a lot of systems. Once you're done, switch it back to 6K (or even 4K) for the final render.