Help- Importing m2v files to FCP

[Adam Schmidt]

Do you have the QT mpeg 2 extension? Also there is a free program:
https://mm2d.sourceforge.net/index.php

I would move the files to DV there and then import to fcp.

Adam

[Meesta Joe]

Adam,

Thanks for the quick reply. I downloaded the program you suggested,

The MM2 program converted the files to QT, but the files cames back a different length (shorter) than the AIFF Audio that goes with each m2v file. This was the same as the reults I achieved using Compressor. The only way I get back a DV file that matches the audio in the FCP Timeline is by using FCP, however, FCP (4.5) often crashes as soon as I batch import the m2v files!

To back track, I’m delivered a batch of m2v files with the AIFF files that go with each video. I need one long DV video to go with these same AIFF files (from the FCP OMF export) for Audio Post. When I line these up in FCP (I usually get 20 at a time) they are exactly the same in length in the timeline. When I export the Timeline (Video Only) to FCP, it comes back the same length and I’ve been working successfully in this mode. However, FCP often crashes when I batch import m2v files, so working this way is tedius, considering I’m dealing with a couple of hundred files that are delivered to me a dozen or so at a time.

I too figured that I should probably convert these to DV first, but as I reported, in both Compressor and MM2, they come back a different length than the audio!

Why does FCP react this way to m2v files sometimes, and then works perfectly, sometimes?

Another thing,,, if I have a bunch of DV files in FCP and then import a batch of m2v, it always instantly crashes the program, where, if I start with a new Project, it will let me import (and export) the m2v’s.

Any clue?

Thanks!

-AG

[Todd Beabout]

OK, I’m gonna get way over my head here very quickly, but…
MPEG files are generally not really very “editable” in FCP. (Has something to do with the way GOP ‘group of pictures’ works.) This is also why it is difficult to place markers at a specific timecode in DVDSP. I have also brought .m2v files into FCP with very similar results to what you have described.
One other thing: if you are inserting the MPEGs into a DV timeline, FCP might kernel panic on trying to process whatever frame you are on. I guess you could try to create an MPEG-2 sequence before dropping the .m2v files in it. From there you would export a QT movie with DV compression. Man, this sounds complicated…
Maybe there is a program out there that will edit MPEG natively?

BTW: FCP5 seems to have overcome some of the GOP/MPEG issues as it can edit in various MPEG formats “natively”. Very cool…

-Todd Beabout
Vazda Studios

[Meesta Joe]

Todd,

Thanks so much for your advice:

“I guess you could try to create an MPEG-2 sequence before dropping the .m2v files in it. From there you would export a QT movie with DV compression. Man, this sounds complicated… ”

This actually sounds like a good solution for my needs. After all, I’m just trying to string together a bunch of m2v files and export 1 DV file. I’ll give it a shot.

AG

[Todd Beabout]

If that doesn’t work out for you, here is a link I just found in the DVDSP forums:

https://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html

You could always go with a program like that (I think there are alot of them out there) to convert to DV outside of FCP. This is if you are still having FCP crash issues.

Good luck!

-Todd Beabout
Vazda Studios

[Meesta Joe]

Thanks again Todd,

This app looks great! I really dig the Squared 5 people (person?). He writes great free apps. I use his Miro DC30+ drivers for 4 of my audio stations. It added OSX functionality to these 5 year old cards and they work great in G4 Pro Tools Rigs for Audio Post.

-AG (Audio Guy)