Exporting QT movie problem in FCP 7

[Michael Kammes]

So, the MTS files you are using were converted to MOV? What flavor – ProRes I am assuming?

How do you get dropped frames on export? Dropped frames is when you play in Real Time, not during export. Do you mean you get dropped frames on playback?

Are you doing all of this off an internal drive in your MBP, or an external drive (firwire 400/800 or eSata)?

What do you need to export FOR? (i.e. what do you need to deliver)

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
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[Carol Phiniotis]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the response. Yes, ProRes is correct. And yes, I mean dropped frames on playback. They don’t seem to be consistenly in the same place either. I’m using an external 1TB Lacie hard drive. The export is for playback on a computer using QuickTime which will be projected onto a large screen.

I have been told that part of my mistake is that I tried to output via a ProRes codec, which I’m told isn’t designed for playback. I’m trying H.264 again now to see if I can get that working properly. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Michael Kammes]

Is all of your media on the external drive? It’s not connected via USB, is it? That’s BAD.

It sounds liek you are dropping frames because one or more of the following:

–Your media doesn’t match your sequence settings (codec, size, framerate)
–You external drive cannot keep up with the data rate the media requires
–Too many effects on the clips.

Here is the correct workflow:

Convert MTS files to ProRes 422 or ProRes422 HQ.

Edit ProRes in a ProRes timeline, either at 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080, depending on the frame size you encoded the MTS files into. To help, you amy want to ensure your AUTOCONFORM is selected in your prefs, then start a new timeline, and drop your ProRes file on the timeline. FCP will then ask if you want to adjust the timeline automatically to suit the ProRes file. This is an easy way to get your timeline settings correct.

Now, once that is done, you should be able to play the ProRes timeline back with no issue, provided you have the media on an external drive, either by some flavor of firewire, eSata, etc.

Whoever told you ProRes is not designed for playback is on crack. Is most certainly is, H.264 is NOT designed for editing.

Now, you can export whatever file you need to into any format you want.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com
.: twitter: @michaelkammes
.: facebook: /mkammes

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[Carol Phiniotis]

No, not USB. Firewire. I’ve never had a problem with my external drive with other projects that were more resource heavy. I have no effects on my clips. I’m only exporting short test clips at the moment.

I converted to ProRes 422 and edited in a ProRes timeline at 1920×1080. I had no trouble playing the footage back in FCP, only in Quicktime after exporting a Quicktime movie. I think what they meant was ProRes is not designed for playback outside of FCP. I can’t get them to play properly in Quicktime. When I look at my original footage (the .mov files in my capture scratch) using Quicktime it plays back in a herky-jerky fashion. This is the same thing that happens on export.

What would you recommend as the best compressor to use on export? H.264 or something else?

Thanks.

[David Roth weiss]

[Carol Phiniotis] ” can’t get them to play properly in Quicktime. When I look at my original footage (the .mov files in my capture scratch) using Quicktime it plays back in a herky-jerky fashion.”

The problem is QT Player. It doesn’t play all frames of video in realtime, and never has. Even Streamclip (freeware does a better job).

h.264 is the standard these days for delivery via the Web.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.

[Carol Phiniotis]

Thanks very much for the assistance. I am now exporting Using QuickTime Conversion (instead of Quicktime Movie) and selecting H.264 at current settings and it seems to be working alright. Though Quicktime 10 seems to insist on playing it back as 1440×1080 instead of 1920×1080 for some reason I don’t understand. Otherwise it seems fine though.

[Michael Kammes]

Thanks for the assist David, wasn’t in front of the computer to respond 😉

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com
.: twitter: @michaelkammes
.: facebook: /mkammes

Hear me pontificate: Speaking Schedule .

[David Roth weiss]

[Michael Kammes] “Thanks for the assist David”

No problem! Always glad to help if I can, but you don’t require very much help.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.