exporting from FCP to AE

[Michael Duff]

i feel automatic duck is a must have for what you are doing … it sends across your entire timeline, with transitions and some effects … and it links back to the original media, so you are not duplicating your media… then you can do all your grading .. then render out using the render queue.

without automatic duck … i think you pretty much doing it the correct way .. except I wouldn’t use the desktop to manage your media … create some folders that are easy to understand … the problem with exporting the entire doco as one clip means that you wont have control over individual shots … hmmmm, maybe someone else can suggest a good way to do it without the duck…

[Scott Di lalla]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems that I am importing and exporting the media correctly so I’m happy there. I will do some more research to see if I can find any tricks and tips about timeline issues.

As far as the saving to my desktop I am in total agreement. I just used that as an example for my question regarding exporting/rendering out of AE and into FCP.

Thanks again.

Scott

[Todd Gillespie]

Duff and Dave are spot on.
If you are wanting to create transitions with clips from FCP -in AE, then you will diffinately need Automatic Duck. You can manage to export/import when you are going clip by clip, but for transitions and color correction-you’ll need Duck.

To save on time and space, I usually would export a ‘by-reference’ (not self-contained) file out of FCP, then when you go back to FCP out of AE I would create an animation file, then downconvert in FCP. But the by ref file will only work if you are using the same machine for AE.

Todd at UCSB
Television Production

[Scott Di lalla]

“I usually would export a ‘by-reference’ (not self-contained) file out of FCP, then when you go back to FCP out of AE I would create an animation file, then downconvert in FCP.”

Todd would you be able to explain this part step by step? I’m using FCP and AE on the same machine. thanks

Scott Di Lalla

https://www.choppertown.net

https://www.brittown.net

[Todd Gillespie]

Hi Scott,

I’m not sure which part of the process you want explained…so I guess I’ll try to cover it all.

When exporting out of FCP, you DON’T need to create a self-contained file. Since you are going to use it in AE then render a new file out of AE, the FCP export file is really an intermediate file that will never be used on it’s own. Hence the quickest, smallest, and easiest file is best. When exporting out a ‘by reference’ (not self contained) file will be very small, it will export out faster, and the file will function the same as a normal self-contained file. By reference files can get you into trouble because they will always need the original files (digitized media) to play properly.

Out of AE I will usually render to the Animation Codec. One, I tend to have alpha channels, but more importantly the video/animation will look better when rendered out to Animation, then converted to DV in FCP. Plus, for us at least, we may only need a video in DV quality now, but maybe in a couple of months or next year, we might want the same video in a better codec. By keeping the ‘master’ video/animation in a higher quality, you are giving yourself better options down the road.

I hope I was clear enough.

Cheers,

Todd at UCSB
Television Production

[Scott Di lalla]

Thanks Todd for taking the time to explain it. Once last question. To export out of FCP as a ‘by reference’ file do I just unclick “make movie self contained?”

Thanks again,

Scott

Scott Di Lalla

https://www.choppertown.net

https://www.brittown.net

[Todd Gillespie]

Sorry,
I didn’t see the repost.

Yes, just uncheck self contained.

Good Luck,

Todd

Todd at UCSB
Television Production