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Best HD Codec for Final Cut Pro 7
I am in the process of converting an HD dvd of mine to be used in Final Cut Pro for editing. I usually use MOV for my file formats, when I am capturing footage from tape. But in this case, should I be using H.264, or MPEG 4? Or an entirely different format? When I am encoding the dvd it gives me the option to encode into MOV as well, but the encoder will either be H.264 or MPEG 4 for the MOV file. Basically, I have no idea what to choose. The footage is 1920 X 1080 and I want it to be the best quality it can be (without majorly slowing down FInal Cut Pro). I am using the latest 15 inch Macbook Pro, with an Core i5 Intel and 4 gigs of RAM. Anyone have suggestions?
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7 Replies
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Use MPEG Streamclip to convert the DVD files to ProRes. Edit using that format… It’s a free download, just google it.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann
DVD:https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup
8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX Cinema Displays
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Thank you, it’s good to know exactly what format is the best for this. Now is Apple ProRes 4444 the one I should go with? I noticed a 422 and other options under this name. I’m kind of late into the HD came, having filmed SD broadcast for so long.
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Here’s the read on ProRes!
https://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper_July_2009.pdf
Basically it’s a scalable very modern editing format made to make sense of all the acquisition formats. There’s so many it’s stupid, so this visually lossless codec will allow you to marry all of them happily with FCP. It’s great stuff. But read about the different uses on that white paper, and you’ll get a sense of it all. ProRes 4444 is likely overkill… I work primarily in 4:2;2 HQ, but am amazed at just how good LT looks, and “Proxy ProRes” is a fabulous offline workflow. (smaller files).
It’s optimized for FCP’s real time playback of unrendered effects architecture and it can display 4 times as many colors because it’s a 10 bit codec, not 8…
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann
Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.
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Now that’s an answer! Thank you, that answered all my questions and I even learned some new things about the architecture of it all. Much appreciated!
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Mr. Hofmann,
I seen your post about best Codec to use. Was wondering if you could help me out. I import files as pro res into FCP7 when i go to export and i want to burn it to standard dvd what is the steps to encoding it to get the best image? Do i use quicktime conversion and use H.264 or do i use something else. Please help
Thanks
John -
You need to compress your project to MPEG-2 for a DVD.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann
Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.
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Thank you sir, I was wondering could you please tell me how to get it into a mep2 format from FCP 7 or do you have a link you can point me to.
Thanks
John
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