importing mpeg

[Matthew Brunn]

You need Mpeg streamclip. Go here to get it.

https://www.squared5.com/

FCP won’t import the audio with the video. You need to convert the file to quicktime.

Hope this helps-
Matthew
Quad 2.5 G5
OSX 10.4.X
Ram 4GB
FCP 5.1/AE 6.5/DVDSP4

[Fulana555]

i do have stream clip and it’s great. I also can render with my vegas program. Would you happen to know of a freeware batch converter. Also, is .avi considered QT? Which is better to edit with? .mov or .avi? Eek! so many questions…mac noob ;(…. Thanks for your help!

[Matthew Brunn]

Don’t apologize about being a Mac noob, I’m a PC noob.

You can have an .avi codec in a .mov quicktime movie. AVI just stands for Audio/Video Interleave. The audio and video are muxed together, such as an mpeg or indeo codec. Neither is “better” to edit with in my opinion. It depends on image quality. The codec plus the frame size go together to create differing qualities. I edit mainly in DV which is a mpeg variant. What is your final quality needs and audience? That determines your shooting and editing needs.

Sorry, I don’t know of a free converter.

Hope this helps-
Matthew
Quad 2.5 G5
OSX 10.4.X
Ram 4GB
FCP 5.1/AE 6.5/DVDSP4

[Fulana555]

so if I use streamclip and export to dv instead of qt or avi I will be able to get both audio and video tracks when I import to fcp? My problem is that I do not have fcp in front of me atm. I need to convert a huge amount of .mpg files on my pc prior to sitting down in front of the mac which I won’s have access to for another week. I would like to get it right the first time as it will take me many hours to convert all the files. we are editing footage to stream on web and the raw footage came from a dsnap so quality is already compromised…

[Matthew Brunn]

Yes, Streamclip will give you audio and video in DV codec. Do a test convert first, make sure your PC is out putting the files as DV NTSC 720X480 29.97 16 bit 48khz. The .mov is just a wrapper that the DV is in, .mov is telling the computer how to use the file. Do you have QT on the PC? You should be able to test if QT will read them if you install QT on the PC. I would do it that way.

Hope this helps-
Matthew
Quad 2.5 G5
OSX 10.4.X
Ram 4GB
FCP 5.1/AE 6.5/DVDSP4

[Fulana555]

Yes! you have been so helpful! one last question (or three)…sigh…What compression format would I use? in streamclip I can export to dv or export to qt (when exporting to qt it gives me a large range of compression options) would I use the apple dv-ntsc option or the “default” motion jpeg A?

When I export to DV not QT the final file format renders to .dv…Is this the option you were reffering to in the last thread?

I am now understanding that the .mov is just a wrapper but what compression format would I use if I was going to export to QT?

Gosh, now I wish I could buy you beers 😉

[Matthew Brunn]

Sorry, I don’t drink, but a root-beer, your on. Anywho, the .dv extension is a DV stream file. the same kind of files that iMovie makes. The .dv file may play without rendering if you can make sure that the settings meet the FCP requirments. If you have a choice of codecs of Apple or DVCPro, go with DVCPro, but Apple’s should work as well. But if you make a QT, DV NTSC .mov it should import and play without rendering. Just remember that ALL the things must line up. DV NTSC 29.97, 720X480 16bit 48 khz audio and field order lower first. With those settings, the .dv or the .mov should work without problems.

If you are editing everything in M-jpeg then I would say to transcode it to that, but still you have to get the settings exactly right to play without rendering. Frame size, rate, field order yata, yata, yata. M-jpeg has better color reproduction. DV is a 411 and M-jpeg is a 422 color space. It takes more drive space and horsepower to play it.

Your going from small mpegs, DV is plenty of quality for that.

Hope this helps-
Matthew
Quad 2.5 G5
OSX 10.4.X
Ram 4GB
FCP 5.1/AE 6.5/DVDSP4

[Fulana555]

Mathew Brunn…YOUR THE BEST!

Thank you!