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H.264 footage
Hi, I am about to start editing with footage in a format I have not used before. I want to make sure my timeline and workflow are perfect before I begin. (We have only recently started editing HD formats on this suite.)
Most of my footage has been supplied as .Mov files. H.264, 25 fps, 1920×1080. I have imported these directly into FCP.
I will be including some HD animation, some HDV footage and some SD Pal footage but I would prefer the finished product to be in HD.In the past I have always allowed my timeline settings to default to match the footage I am using.
The person who supplied the H264 footage tells me they edit on FCP without problem, however I have read on your forums that H264 should be converted to Apple Pro Res 422. If this is right, at what stage would I be doing this? Should I convert all the vision before importing to final cut (so many hours of footage!) or is it just a matter of setting the timeline up as Apple Pro Res?
I am flagging problems already as I have so far had Out of Memory errors, the spinning wheel of death, crashing out of Final Cut, very slow renders. (This may be due to a large backup I have running in the background which will need another 24 hours.)
Please keep it simple for me!
Cheers,S Bedford, Western Australia
FCP 6.0.6, Mac OSX 10.6.6
2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
6GM 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM -
19 Replies
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[Shannon Bedford] “Most of my footage has been supplied as .Mov files. H.264, 25 fps, 1920×1080. I have imported these directly into FCP.”
BUZZ!!! Wrong answer. No no no no no no no no no no no no no… Never do this. This has GOT to be painted in BIG BRIGHT RED letters on the top of every forum out there:
H.264 IS NOT AN EDITING CODEC.
It is a shooting and delivery codec, but it should NOT be used for editing. It is highly compressed thus taxing on computer processors. It must MUST be converted before you work with it. ProRes is the standard codec to use. ProRes 422 if for broadcast, ProRes LT if for web or DVD.
[Shannon Bedford] “The person who supplied the H264 footage tells me they edit on FCP without problem, however I have read on your forums that H264 should be converted to Apple Pro Res 422”
Good for them. It should be converted if you want guaranteed no problems. Some people report no issues, but more people report issues. IF not with editing, when they are done and export a final.
[Shannon Bedford] ” If this is right, at what stage would I be doing this? Should I convert all the vision before importing to final cut (so many hours of footage!)”
Yes…BEFORE you bring it into FCP and start editing. Step #1. Sorry it is many many hours, this needs to be done. BE WARNED…ProRes LT takes up a lot more space than the originals. This is what you get for working with a highly compressed format. To make it workable, it needs to have a higher data rate. It will be about 4-5 times larger, so plan your storage accordingly.
[Shannon Bedford] “or is it just a matter of setting the timeline up as Apple Pro Res?”
Convert.
[Shannon Bedford] “I am flagging problems already as I have so far had Out of Memory errors, the spinning wheel of death, crashing out of Final Cut, very slow renders”
See? SEE? Told ya.
[Shannon Bedford] “(This may be due to a large backup I have running in the background which will need another 24 hours.)”
Well, that is ALSO a big issue. Those processors, that are needed to deal with this format, are busy doing something else too. Still, gotta convert. YOu can try without this process going, but I wager it won’t be that much better.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thank you Shane for saving my arse in BIG RED LETTERS. Now for the stupider questions. .
Just how do I go about converting footage??
I have Compressor, the latest version of Episode, Cinema Tools – am I on the right track?I’ll also need your advice on best settings to use.
Another quick response will be a life saver as I need to get this running now so it can chug away overnight.
ThanksS Bedford, Western Australia
FCP 6.0.6, Mac OSX 10.6.6
2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
6GM 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM -
[Shannon Bedford] “Just how do I go about converting footage??”
Compressor…MPEG STREAMCLIP. Those are the best options.
[Shannon Bedford] “I’ll also need your advice on best settings to use. “
What will your final master be on? BluRay? DVD? Some form of HD tape? For broadcast or not? Web?
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
No not for broadcast.
The client will be showing this in a presentation, probably on a HD screen or projector of some kind. I’m going to try to persuade him to put it onto media player, otherwise he will probably embed it into Powerpoint.
(Can you give me some advice on maximum frame size for powerpoint? I have always assumed it is best to give them the biggest file their laptop is able to run. Am I right to assume media player is best?)
It will also be going on the web and played on either DVD or Blue Ray in their front office reception.You’ve been a big help. Fingers crossed I can start the conversion now and it will be ready and waiting for me in the morning.
Cheers,
S Bedford, Western Australia
FCP 6.0.6, Mac OSX 10.6.6
2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
6GM 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM -
[Shannon Bedford] “(Can you give me some advice on maximum frame size for powerpoint? I have always assumed it is best to give them the biggest file their laptop is able to run. Am I right to assume media player is best?)”
NO idea about powerpoint. Never use it. When I see people give demos, they step out and play a QT file, then go back. But ask the client what they want.
I’d use ProRes LT in this case.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Looking at the Pro Res 422 setting right now. Can’t see “LT”.
What does that refer to?S Bedford, Western Australia
FCP 6.0.6, Mac OSX 10.6.6
2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
6GM 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM -
Cancel that…you have FCP 6. That is an option in FCP 7. Sorry.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
No prob.
I’m finding compressor can’t handle more than a few clips at a time without crashing. Most I’ve been able to do is 30 but I’ve had it crash with only 10.
Is my workflow right?
Add file – select a bunch of files.
Select all – Target, new target with setting. Apple ProRes 422
Select all – Destination.
SubmitS Bedford, Western Australia
FCP 6.0.6, Mac OSX 10.6.6
2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon
6GM 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM -
Powerpoint needs a wmv file.
It’s not embedded into the presentation just linked, so the wmv video file needs to be included in the folder for presentation.Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/ -
[Shannon Bedford] “I’m finding compressor can’t handle more than a few clips at a time without crashing”
That’s a limitation of your computer.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group
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