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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy export quality

  • Posted by Aine Ni fhaolain on September 7, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    Hi
    I am having trouble with the quality of the footage i am exporting. When i go to Export – using quicktime conversion – options, i never know which compression to use under settings. Obviously i want the highest quality picture for whatever i am doing so i have tried using UNCOMPRESSED 10 bit, but this turned out to be 33 GB on a half hour long piece. The thing is the quality was beautiful and i really dont want to loose this. I have tried using some of the others but the quality isnt so good.
    What i really want to know is what are all the different compression rates for, for example when shoudl you use DVCPRO 50- PAL, MPEG 4 VIDEO, H. 261 and all the other compression opions they give you. They really confuse me!
    Most importantly which one should you use to get the best quality but that will also fit onto your DVD and which is compatible with i DVD.

    Thanks!!!

    Michael Sacci replied 19 years ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
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    September 7, 2007 at 3:41 pm

    [Aine] “en i go to Export – using quicktime conversion – options, i never know which compression to use under settings”

    Don’t export using quicktime conversion, choose File – Export – Quicktime Movie and make sure you select current settings. This will output a file that is the exact same settings as your timeline thus preserving the quality you have.

    [Aine] “Most importantly which one should you use to get the best quality but that will also fit onto your DVD and which is compatible with i DVD. “

    Don’t use any of the options you listed for a DVD. Ether take your exported file and bring it into compressor or export directly from FCP using compressor, and use compressor to make your DVD ready files. Then bring those into DVD SP.

    I always discourage professionals from using iDVD, and because these are professional forums I will assume you producing professional video.

    WHY GIVE YOUR CLIENT A DVD THAT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE HIS 10 YEAR OLD KID JUST MADE. IT MAKES THE VALUE OF YOUR WORK LOOK BAD.

  • Michael Sacci

    September 7, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    There is no substitute for quality being large file sizes only compromises.

    First the question is what do you want the Exported file for? Generally when making the QT files out of FCP you want to just use “Current Settings” which means your timeline setting, This is just a copy of the final edit. So if you are editing DV it will be DV. If you are going to DVDSP the file can be encoded before hand or in the program, not sure about iDVD but you can bring in the Current Frame movie into iDVD, the only codec that ends up on a DVD is m2v (mpeg2)

    Stuff like H.264, Mpeg4, Mpeg1 are final delivery codecs that are highly compressed and are used for posting on the web and CDs. (For the most part). You probably need to do some reading of the manuals for explanations. May want to look through Compressors help just so you get a handle on this.

  • Aine Ni fhaolain

    September 7, 2007 at 4:41 pm

    Hi ZRB 123

    Thanks so much for your quick response, the truth is im a student and i havnt been able to obtain a copy of DVD studio pro as of yet so unfortunatly i have to put up with iDVD. I will be trying out your advise straight away.

    thank you!

  • Aine Ni fhaolain

    September 7, 2007 at 4:44 pm

    Thanks for the advise, its all a little daunting for me!

  • Michael Sacci

    September 7, 2007 at 7:42 pm

    Slow down and read! You’re trying to go to fast for the turns ahead.

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