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Convert DV AVI to DV MOV and retain timecode
How can I convert a DV AVI created on Windows to something that Final Cut understands? I can import the AVI directly into FCP, but I lose the timecode and I need to render it. I can convert the AVI to MOV, but I lose the timecode information in the file. Any recommendations on what software can do what I need? I have tried MPEG Streamclip and QT Pro. I can record to raw .dv files if needed. It also needs to be a lossless conversion – just basically looking to change the wrapper so that FCP understands the file.
I also have this posted at https://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9609667#9609667 if you want to see what has been discussed so far, but I really haven’t gotten anywhere. Anyone here have an idea?
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15 Replies
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[Brent Hilgenkamp] ” It also needs to be a lossless conversion – just basically looking to change the wrapper so that FCP understands the file.”
Not only you loose the TC, but also the conversion is lossy. In every QT “Exporting” there is re-compression. QT do not re-compress only when you “save as..”.
The est option for no losing quality is to export in 8b Unc or better codec.
About the TC, you can use in FC the function “Modify TC”.
rafael -
I know how to assign new TC to a clip, but without a painstaking process of manually looking for a good sync point on the clip and the tape to find what TC I need to manually put in I don’t know a better/faster way.
The biggest issue is that if my TC does not match exactly frame for frame what is on tape then I can’t imagine trying to get the footage re-captured from tape if the file gets corrupted or deleted. I already know the answer to that – “be sure to always back up your data”. Yes, but for us the video tape is the backup. File gets deleted? No problem. Right click, batch capture, insert tape, wait the capture time, done. If I don’t have matching TC then I would need to backup all of our footage daily, which is out of the question due to the amount of footage we have and the cost associated with that.
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I need to use an application that runs on a PC using either Windows or Linux.
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PC people can manage DV QT if they have QT Pro, Linux people no idea.
rafael -
Here is what I’m trying to do:
Capture a live feed directly off the firewire output of a camera to a PC that is recording the file to a DV AVI (type 2).
Next I want to bring this AVI into FCP to edit.
The problem that I’m having is that the AVI clip’s timecode starts at 00:00:00;00 in FCP, but on a PC NLE the timecode remains correct (for example the clip starts at 17:04:34;12).
What I need to do is somehow have FCP recognize the correct timecode in the clip rather than just starting at 00:00:00;00
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Why must you capture on a PC? Why can’t you capture via firewire on a Mac?
If you want to use footage in FCP it is best to capture it with FCP. This is one reason why.
Now, if this is a live camera feed, are they also recording to tape? Is that why timecode is so important? Or are there multiple cameras and multiple PCs and you need to group them?
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I would prefer to use a PC for the low cost mainly, plus we have a few PC laptops sitting around not doing anything. Buying a Mac, AppleCare, and FCP Studio is quite an investment compared to a $500 laptop doing what amounts to the same thing. In addition to that if a laptop gets dropped or damaged in some way a PC would be a lot cheaper and easier to replace.
Correct, the cameras are recording to tape.
One reason I need TC is for multicam shoots. I know I can set an in point for multiclips in FCP, but the TC option is much easier, faster, and pretty much fail proof as far as the syncing goes.
The second, and most important reason I need TC is so that if I need to capture one of the clips then all I have to do is put in the tape and capture.
How does the rest of the industry deal with these types of scenarios? I would imagine that quite often footage from one system needs to be finished on another. If the EDL or XML points to certain timecode locations in the clip, but the NLE cannot “see” that timecode how would one get around that?
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Well, to me it makes no sense to say that a $500 laptop is a better investment when it doesn’t work with your setup. Yes…it is cheaper and yes you can record DV AVI…but those don’t work in FCP without effort. So how is that a viable option?
Even if you had Adobe ON LOCATION on the PCs, that would capture as AVI…that being the PC format.
What would I do? Well, I’d roll tape and then capture tape. If I didn’t have the budget. There exists footage capturing software for Macs, like VeeScope Live, but that would mean that you need TWO firewire connections, and the cheap MacBooks don’t even have ONE. The expensive ones…now called the MacBook Pro 13″, has one. ONE. But, you might be able to daisy chain. I know a guy who shoots the LAFCPUG meetings and he and another guy both roll tape and use VeeScope with their MacBook Pros.
But that is beyond your budget.
Given your budget what I’d do is either capture the tapes later, or convert the AVI files and then change the timecode manually to match.
[Brent Hilgenkamp] “How does the rest of the industry deal with these types of scenarios? I would imagine that quite often footage from one system needs to be finished on another.”
It doesn’t come up all the time…occasionally yes. And it all depends on the NLE that you are going from and too. Automatic Duck now converts Avid sequences and media to work on FCP, and vise versa. And it has a MEDIA BATCH tool. But from Premiere or Vegas to FCP? Got me there…I am the Avid/FCP guy.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
An EDL needs both t/c and a reel number. A live captured file doesn’t have a reel number so recapturing off tape via an EDL will be a problem.
Why don’t you capture as a .mov on a PC. They can do it.
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