Import and sequence settings for 640 x480

[Tom Wolsky]

The media from this camera needs to be converted into a format that can be edited in FCP. The frame resolution is only one component. What is the codec and the frame rate? The material needs to be in an editable codec at a standard frame rate, Open the file into the QuickTime player and check the Movie Inspector to get complete and exact information on your source media. You can then use Compressor or MPEG Streamclip to convert it.

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop”

[Ty Ford]

Thanks Tom,

the raw MOV files say Apple MPEG4 Decompressor.

I have streamclip and have tried converting, but have run into the same issue; major render times.

I realize I’m one click away from success here, but I’m still in the weeds.

What do you suggest for a good sequence setting (to which I can convert from StreamClip) given these files?

Thanks,

Ty Ford

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[Tom Wolsky]

So what exactly did you convert it to in Streamclip? Simplest way to get exact information is to open the file in the QT player and look at Movie Inspector. What exactly does it say?

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop”

[Ty Ford]

Tom,

Got it!

I went for h264

Last question. Given the original format 640 x 480 standard def. QT, what would be a good sequence setting to shoot for to hold the quality but not waste any file size?

Thanks again.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Tom Wolsky]

The sequence settings are determined by the media. You match the sequence settings to the media settings. They should be identical in every respect, which is way it is help if you give complete and exact information on your media.

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop”

[Michael Sacci]

[Ty Ford] “I went for h264”
That is no good for editing. You need to go to ProRes or DV25. You need to reshape the pixel to 720×480 with a pixel aspect ratio of .9

H264 is not for editing, 640×480 is a square pixel conversion of video’s 720×480.

[Ty Ford]

Thanks Michael,

As a side note, I read recently that DV (as in the SD my Canon XL2 shoots) is not a good format to edit in.

File formats are even stranger than tape formats (from years ago.)

Is there a document that goes into the different file formats and their best uses?

Thanks,

Ty Ford

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[Michael Sacci]

DV is an editing codec, while is has smaller color space and more compression then ProRes, if your video is that format (or similar) it is fine to work with. If you are doing heavy graphics then ProRes would be better.

I’m sure if you googled “video codec” you can find the info you are wanting. But this is not a new thing. DV, DVCPro50 and DVCProHD are the only format where whats on tape and whats digitized is the same thing. Every other tape format you have to choose the right codec to digitize to.

Oh short answer, whenever possible choose ProRes.

[Ty Ford]

Michael,

Thanks for the well built training wheels!

1. Why did they bother to put h.264 (and others) in the sequence menu if they are not good for editing?

2. I saw at least 3 different variations of 422. plain, LT, HQ. Is there a guide to which of them will work best?

Thanks so much,

Ty Ford

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[Michael Sacci]

Don’t use HQ, overkill for video sources and it can introduce rendering, encoding issues. ProRes or ProRes LT if you can do with less bitrate. I just use ProRes.

All this info is out there, I would say there are at least a 100 post about H264 and FCP on the cow. Any can be set in FCP but that doesn’t mean that it should be set. You CAN edit H264 but you SHOULDN’T. It requires rendering almost every step of the way.

I know these things cause I read articles, if a new thing comes out, such as ProRes, I read the workflow and the white papers on it. When DSLRs started to pop up, I read about them, the workflow, the problems, the fixes to the problem. If you are going to be in this business you have to keep up with all these things. Sending time and a little money to keep up has to part of the professional’s life. Everything changes. I would not go to a doctor that has not read up on new medicines and procedures in the last 5 years. Would you?