CAn we import flash (fla & swf) files into FCP?

[Craig Seeman]

Perian works with FLV but not with swf.
SWF can play directly in a browser with the swf plugin but that doesn’t help if you want to convert it to .mov.

[Brian Pitt]

that explains it…thanks.

[Petter Brox]

You can import SWF files directly into FCP, even drag them on the timeline, but if your QuickTime version is 7.1.3 (or beyond), you’ll have to enable Flash in the System Preferences (QuickTime > Advanced > Activate Flash).

More info: https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304445

Best regards,
Petter Brox

[David Roth weiss]

[Petter Brox] “You can import SWF files directly into FCP, even drag them on the timeline, but if your QuickTime version is 7.1.3 (or beyond), you’ll have to enable Flash in the System Preferences (QuickTime > Advanced > Activate Flash).”

Wrong. As I stated above that only works with Flash MX, not with Flash 8.

I tested that again just now with FCS2 and the results are the same.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

[Petter Brox]

Well, I’m testing it now with anything between Flash 5 and 9, playing it directly in QT Player and importing it into FCP. I’m using QT 7.1.6 and FCP 5.0.4 so maybe that makes the difference (or any weird ActionScript in your Flash file?).

[Petter Brox]

OK, I’ve experimented a little more.

If I create a new movie in Flash 8 and export it as SWF maintaining the default settings, QuickTime won’t play it.

If I export it removing the option “Compress movie”, then I can play it in QT and import it into FCP without any problems.

I believe Flash 8 might be the only version that use the option “Compress movie” by default, at least CS3 don’t.

Hope this can help.
Petter Brox