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550D H.264 Format
I have just recently learnt that I should not be editing with H.264 format. I understand that I shouldn’t but not really why!
Anyway, the reason for my post to find out the steps that will get me the best results when editing in final cut pro.
I generally film in 1920 x 1080 which is full HD and anamorphic. Sometimes I shoot in the 50 fps setting on the 550d for slow motion
Before editing should i compress the footage to apple pro res or something similar? Doesn’t this downsize the images to 720 x 576? Will this degrade the quality?
Is the best way to do this to import all of my rushes, place them on the timeline then send to compressor?
If the 50 fps rushes were compressed to apple pro res, would this automatically convert them to 25fps? I normally use cinema tools for this and would like the option of keeping it in 50fps or at least having a backup at 50fps and one at 25fps so that I have the option 🙂
You must excuse my naievity, I am predominantly a cameraman but have started to edit my own projects now.
Thanks guys,
Ric
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14 Replies
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The thing to do is use Canon’s utility to import the media into FCP, which converts it to ProRes as it does it.
Now, that utility is meant for the 5D/7D and you have to do a little fix to make it work with the 550D (basically opening a file and adding a text line to it). I did it 4 or 5 months ago, and I’ve forgotten exactly what I did, but it was quite easy. I’m pretty sure that it’s come up on here before though, so have a search around for the appropriate thread (maybe Google it as well). I’ll come back and post what I did later when I’ve had time to hunt around for my notes.
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will do, thanks for getting back to me!
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To change the codec in FCP do I compress the images or just change it in the sequence settings because if the cip settings don’t match the sequence settings it can takes ages to render?
Do I change the sequence settings then when I am ready to export, compress to apple res then export?
Or do I compress before I start editing?
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#1- search this forum for your answer.
#2- watch this tutorial to learn proper workflow.
#3 buy FCP X when it’s released.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
Hi Steve,
Have already searched the forum, found some answers but others not quite specific enough with regards to change the compressor to apple pro res in the settings or actually send the footage to compressor and change it there before importing it back into fcp?
Which tutorial?
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h.264 is a great codec – it doesn’t take up much space and it looks great.
But for editing it is almost useless. It uses pretty recent technologies to compress every frame in a very complicated way. For your computer to play back the video it has to work pretty hard to uncompress the file just to show it on your screen. When it comes to cutting the file and adding effects to the file it has to work even harder.
ProRes is a range of codecs that have been designed for speed. Your computer doesn’t have to work as hard and although the files are larger your computer doesn’t have to work as hard.
ProRes can be any resolution (Even 2K) so I don’t know where you got your info. And also 1920×1080 is not traditionally an anamorphic resolution – I think you might just be confusing the term anamorphic with widescreen (1920×1080 is a widescreen resolution).
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FCP and Avid Technical Support
Air Post Production
Shoreditch – London -
You did not search! if you did, you would have found your answers. The FCP manual also has all your answers. That would be in the HELP tab.
https://library.creativecow.net/ross_shane/tapeless-workflow_fcp-7/1
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
Just edit with H264 and you’ll find out why you shouldn’t. Sooner or later.
Even in Premiere.H264 will come back at ya sooner or later.
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[Richard Brooks] “I generally film in 1920 x 1080″…”You must excuse my naievity, I am predominantly a cameraman but have started to edit my own projects now.”
I was wondering what ‘film stock’ you use in a 550D?
The answers to all your questions are actually in the manual. Since your new to editing and predominantly a “cameraman” it would be in your best interest to read it in its entirety.
I also agree with a Steve Eisen in that it would be impossible to not find this info on the forum as it is one of the most over-asked, redundant topics covered in the last 18 months.There are lots of things that are “so easy a caveman could do it”, but editing and cinematography are not really on that list.
Scott Sheriff
Director
https://www.sstdigitalmedia.comI have a system, it has stuff in it, and stuff hooked to it. I have a camera, it can record stuff. I read the manuals, and know how to use this stuff and lots of other stuff too.
You should be suitably impressed… -
[Paul Jay] “Just edit with H264 and you’ll find out why you shouldn’t. Sooner or later.
Even in Premiere.”Yes, do – you might be surprised. 😉
A decent Mac will allow you to edit H.264 fine. Is the scrubbing buttery smooth? Absolutely not, but many people find it more than acceptable. It’s a personal opinion that you make based on time saved (by not transcoding) vs. edit experience, though many disagree with me.
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=premiere_pro
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