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Final Cut’s Codecs
Hello Final Cut Guru’s!
I am writing with a question from someone without Final Cut. I’m handling the VFX work on a short film shot with a Sony HDV camera. It’s been cut on Final Cut using the “HDV 1080p24” codec (which is the format it was shot in). I took an external HD over to get the shots I need to work on. We exported from the Final Cut timeline “Export using Quicktime” and chose the “HDV 1080p24” codec. We watched the movies after export and even opened one in After Effects to make sure all settings were good. We dragged the files to my drive, it copied them over and I headed home.
When I got home and tried to open the movies on my system I got the Quicktime error saying Quicktime needs additional software to view this movie. I clicked the link to Apples 3rd party plugins page but didn’t see any codecs there that looked right. Some online searches yielded nothing either.
So my question… Does Final Cut have codecs that standard QT does not? Can you get them without having to buy Final Cut? Am I lame and totally missed that codec dowload page?
Help, I really don’t want to have to create way oversized files (Animation codec) just because I know they’ll work!
Thanks, Chris
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC -
10 Replies
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There is a difference between the plain vanilla quicktime that everybody has to download youtube and the Quicktime Pro that Final Cut needs to deal with the zoo of codecs that we now need to deal with.
Essentially you are dealing with a long-GOP format when HDV becomes involved… and you probably are not going to enjoy it in its native form especially considering that you intend to do VFX with it. It is very highly compressed, which is great for consumer-level hardware configurations. That is also its only advantage. Quicktime Pro is where you’re going to have to go if that is the route you’re committed to… or… expand it out to a codec where all the frames are real.
jPo
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Thanks for the info. I upgraded to QT Pro about a month ago (I should have mentioned that) but the file still says it’s missing software. And you’re right about hating HDV’s long-GOP.
Any “real frame” codecs you recommend? I’m still heavily isolated and using old school 720×486 NTSC at work. I need to get up to speed with all theses codec choices and conversion options.
Thanks, Chris
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC -
Several of the capture codecs that FCP uses are not available on machines without FCP…even another Mac will not be able to open this file unless FCP is installed.
Your best option is to export using the Animation codec, or look into the Sheer codecs by BitJazz.com.
Shane
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Read my blog! -
Thanks a lot Shane. I’ll check the site now.
Chris
Chris Heuer
Freefall FX, LLC -
Has anyone attempted to export from FCP using the Animation codec, millions with alpha and audio?
I tried and the alpha channel doesn’t want to come across.
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I’ve heard reports of the Animation some times no exporting the Alpha.
I’m unable to reproduce that. I always get the Alpha.
Rafael -
I found the answer on the Apple forum. When exporting to the “Animation” codec with alpha, be sure the sequence isn’t rendered. I blew out the render files for the sequence and exported it. Worked fine. FCP apparently uses the rendered files for export and most sequence setups don’t use codecs with an alpha channel.
Thanks for posting. I do appreciate it.
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Much too late now I guess, but for those that don’t know, if you want to use Apple HDV files on a non-FCP Mac then you can buy the decode component you need from Calibrated Software … it is included in their XD Decode component.
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[pete kremer] “anyone attempted to export from FCP using the Animation codec, millions with alpha and audio? I tried and the alpha channel doesn’t want to come across.
“You need to tell the app that you want an alpha. Set your output to “Millions+” to get the alpha channel.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows for the Digitally Inclined
Chicago, ILhttps://blogs.creativecow.net/24640
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This is a curious issue that have been commented here few times.
I’ve tried to duplicate it but no way.
Whatever the sequence is rendered or not, I always get the Alpha channel (QT and QT Conversion).
Rafael
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