Exporting

[Shane Ross]

[Sage DuBois] “What is the best way to export HDCam footage from Final Cut?”

That question is relative. Export for what purpose?

[Sage DuBois] “If I export to a QuickTime movie will that QuickTime file still be HD footage?”

Yes. The footage was captured AS a Quicktime file…it exists as a quicktime file on your media drive.

[Sage DuBois] “I need to get some footage to someone today so any help would be great!”

Ah…well then, are they using FCP as well? If so, then exporting a self contained Quicktime movie using the current settings will export a lossless file. It will be the exact same quality as the footage you are working with. Do this from the VIEWER and you retain the timecode information. If you exported from the timeline, it would retain the timeline timecode. OR, you can use Media Manager to make a COPY of the clip and that too will retain the timecode information.

[Sage DuBois] “if I burn that QuickTime file to DVD will it compress it or how should I transport the footage so she can work with it?”

Only if you compress it. You can’t drag a 18GB uncompressed HD clip onto a DVD and have it compressed to fit. And if you author that DVD with DVDSP, that WILL heavily compress the footage into a DVD format and then the other person would have to extract that thus adding multiple layers of compression and complete loss of timecode. No, best to get a hard drive to them with the footage at full quality. IF they are using FCP. If they are using another editing system, that makes the process a tad more complex.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Sage Dubois]

Shane,
I have about 14 HDCam Tapes that have been digitized into QuickTime files. I have imported each QuickTime file into FinalCut and I am organizing the footage into subclips so it is easy to access an exact location. Our ad agency needs a particular location to use for a campaign video and they want a few different subclips I have. So what I have done is gathered the subclips they want into my timeline and now I want to export this series of clips so that they have only the footage they need. (I can’t give them the original media files because there is about 14 different QuickTime media files and they only want little pieces of each file). They will probably be editing what I give them in Final Cut Pro.

So here is the process I have used so far:
HDCam Tapes > digitized to QuickTime files > imported files to Final Cut > Edited clips into my timeline > Export to QuickTime movie > burn QuickTime movie file to DVD. Is this correct? I just want to make sure the QuickTime file I give her is the best quality and still in an HD format.

I also have a question about the Easy Setup format I should be using in Final Cut Pro…could you help me with that as well?

Thanks for your help!!!

[Shane Ross]

[Sage DuBois] “HDCam Tapes > digitized to QuickTime files > imported files to Final Cut > Edited clips into my timeline > Export to QuickTime movie > burn QuickTime movie file to DVD. Is this correct?”

If you don’t care about time code and them getting a project file back to you that you can then link to the footage on your system…no. That will produce a standalone file with new time code. If that is what you want, go for it. But that isn’t what I’d do. I’d get it all onto the timeline then use the MEDIA MANAGER to copy the footage onto a new location, then give that footage to the client.

[Sage DuBois] “I just want to make sure the QuickTime file I give her is the best quality and still in an HD format.”

It’ll work for that, if you export as a Self Contained Quicktime Movie (not conversion) and use the current settings.

[Sage DuBois] “I also have a question about the Easy Setup format I should be using in Final Cut Pro…could you help me with that as well?”

Just use the Easy Setup that matches the format of the footage you were given. simple as that.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def