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Editing a ProRes file
I have to admit right off the bat, that I’m not an expert in editing or understanding codecs and whatnot. Here is my issue.
It was recently suggested to me to do my editing in ProRes 422, and I have run into an issue.
I started with some .avi files (all kinds of weird codecs) and have used MPEG Streamclip to convert them to a Quicktime .mov with ProRes 422.
My question is this, why do some files work just fine upon importing into FCP and other files need to be rendered (showing up with red bar upon import and dragging to timeline)? It doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
Also, why would I prefer to edit in ProRes than in DV Stream which is what I previously used?
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11 Replies
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Use Compressor to convert (see Advanced Format Conversions). MPEG Streamclip requires you to set your own settings, which don’t be offended, you aren’t ready for.
ProRes to DV is like saying coffee table book to newsprint.
Richard M. Harrington, PMP
Author: Video Made on a Mac, Photoshop for Video, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio On the Spot and ATS:iWork
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Thanks for the response, I have some new info..and questions.
By coffee table book to newsprint you mean it is THAT much better to work in? I was always taught to edit in DV and just recently found out about ProRes. Have I been being taught wrong all along?
Second is the new info that might change your answer.
While messing around with my files, I found that if I open a new project and import the SAME EXACT converted ProRes file, it works no problem without needing rendering.
It is only when I import it to the project I am currently working on and drag it down into the timeline (which already has edits at the beginning of the timeline of different files (some of which are ProRes) does it say that I need to render it.
Could this be part of the problem? And why?
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1. Yes its that much better. But if you’re shooting on DV it makes no difference GIGO
2. Look up sequence settings. You need to match them to footage
Richard M. Harrington, PMP
Author: Video Made on a Mac, Photoshop for Video, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio On the Spot and ATS:iWork
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1. Thanks
2. I’m trying to match them up and haven’t had any luck so far…but thanks for letting me know what the problem was!
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Unfortunately, when I go to change the sequence settings to that they match the new video, it wont let me change the FPS, which is the major issue I think. It is set to 29.97 and the video file is 25..but the “editing timebase” field cannot be changed.
Would it just be best to use up my time recompressing these files with Compressor as you said before?
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Make a new sequence… Copy and paste
ALSO
Please consider watching our Cow podcast, pick up a few books as well.
Richard M. Harrington, PMP
Author: Video Made on a Mac, Photoshop for Video, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio On the Spot and ATS:iWork
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I’m new to the forums here, I didn’t even know there was a podcast, but I’ll be sure to check it out!
In terms of books, do you have any recommendations?
Most of what I do is just editing of my vids that are part of my art. I am a video/performance artist and so I do lots of weird stuff in terms of editing, but I’m really interested in codes and formats for exporting and all that stuff. But also in getting source material from a variety of things (old archival vids, old vhs vids, new hi-def footage and shhhhh even some copyrighted material – of course I use it in a way that I have permission to).
And the problem with new sequence, copy and pasting, is that when I put the old edited material together with the new material (either way, by putting the new into the old, or bringing over the old sequence into the new) I still will have to render in the end.
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Don’t editing and rendering dv sd footage in ProRes provide results superior to editing and rendering in dv??
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DV = GIGO
For books..
Apple Training Series
Final Cut Studio On the Spot
Final Cut Workflows
Video Made on a MacI am biased 😉
Richard M. Harrington, PMP
Author: Video Made on a Mac, Photoshop for Video, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio On the Spot and ATS:iWork
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I’ll definitely look up those books, thanks!
So as for DV. If you are starting with DV footage (which I’m not, I’m just curious). Would you recommend compressing it into ProRes or something else before editing? Or will it not matter really?
As for my former issue with these files. I’ve given up on re-compressing them and trying to get them to work with my current timeline. I’m just going to have to edit them in a separate sequence, then combine, and then wait for the render.
Thanks for the help everyone! Special thanks to Richard!
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