Compression Delete?

[Chris Blair]

Can’t Episode load the original mp4 files without having to first go through Final Cut?

If you don’t have the original media, the only way to do it is to re-compress to the other codec, although you won’t get improved quality in this case since you’re compressing an already heavily compressed file.

In my opinion, unless the file size is significantly smaller, I wouldn’t bother with the conversion. About the only reason in this case to do it is if end users are having a hard time playing back the original file (either on a website, on their computers etc.)

Chris Blair
Magnetic Image, Inc.
Evansville, IN
http://www.videomi.com

[Daniel Low]

[Richard Walton] “My problem is I do not have the original media. “

Forget about it then.

[Richard Walton] “What happens if I bring the .mp4 files into a FCP timeline and export the files using QT conversion choosing “none” under the compression setings – then take the resulting QT mov and put it through Episode? “

Utterly pointless – compressed to uncompressed does not add any quality, it only increases the file size, you’ll just be compressing and transcoding too many times

Chis is right, there’s no point in transcoding twice unless your first pass was at ultra quality (not delivery quality).

p.s I love your videos – really superb stuff!

__________________________________________________________________
Sent from my iPad Nano.

[Richard Walton]

Daniel and Chris:

You confirmed my gut feeling that whatever would happen with my lame “workflow” idea it would
not be a good thing! As I mentioned it arose from my assumption that my original media was gone.
(Another story involving a LaCie Quadra). The good news is I FOUND the “original” tape – some of it was actually shot in analog and transferred to DV many moons ago. So while it will take me some time I have what I need to get the job done.

Necessity may be the mother of invention but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a pretty baby:)

Many Thanks!

PS – Thanks for the kind words Daniel!

Dick Walton
Natural History Services
https://www.rkwalton.com

[Chris Blair]

Richard,

Not sure what happened to your Lacie drive, but there are lots of good recovery software apps out there that have actually brought failing and corrupt drives back to life for us.

One that has worked on multiple occasions is SpinRite. It’s only $89 (last time I checked) and is worth every penny. The drive cannot be dead, meaning the bios still has to see the drive and the mechanisms inside have to still be functional. But we’ve used it on drives that wouldn’t mount, that were making horrible clicking noises…and it restored our data.

It doesn’t work every time, but it’s worth a shot if your data is important. If the drive is dead, meaning it doesn’t even show up in the bios, then SpinRite can’t work on it and you’d need a recovery service, which can cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Anyway…$89 and a couple hours of your time would sure beat having to recreate an entire video from the raw footage!

Chris Blair
Magnetic Image, Inc.
Evansville, IN
http://www.videomi.com

[Richard Walton]

Chris:

Thanks for this info. I think I’ll give SpinRite a try when I come up for
air. I’ll let you know what happens!

Cheers,

Dick

Dick Walton
Natural History Services
https://www.rkwalton.com