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iTunes movie into FCP – how to convert?
Hi, I have a TV episode that I bought from iTunes that I need to bring into FCP. (It’s an episode that I cut, and I want to use a bit in a showreel, so it’s all quite kosher).
Of course, iTunes has its copy protection code embedded in there, so it won’t import. Is there some reliable software that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg that will let me bring an iTunes movie into FCP7?
Thanks.
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6 Replies
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Alas, I cut it at a production house that has a new policy of not giving out DVDs of its shows. They suggested I take it from the network’s website, which is not possible, as far as I can tell. So my only option was iTunes.
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They don’t give out DVDs of the show for REELS? And yet if they wanted to hire you to edit they’d want to see a REEL of your work? I have run into this double standard here in LA, and I get around it by pointing that fact out to them.
“Well, if you wanted to hire me and wanted to see my work, but the last job said that I couldn’t get a copy of my show…I wouldn’t be able to show you anything. And if they said ‘buy it on iTunes,’ sure, I can do that, but then it ONLY works on my machine…I can’t give it to anyone else to watch. And I can’t use that file in any editing application because it is so heavily DRM’d by the network that converting it is impossible. And you say that it is viewable on the network website…OK, but that is streaming video, not a file that I can download…again, heavy DRM’d video stream. And the shows aren’t online forever, so I can’t just point a potential employer to the website and say ‘watch this please.’ So where does that leave me? Would you hire me if I told you that you needed to buy my episode on iTunes for $2.99?”
God…a DVD with timecode or some sort of watermark would be fine. Potential employers can overlook that. But no, there is no way to take the movie from itunes and make it into something you can edit. MPEG STREAMCLIP won’t work, Handbrake won’t. And using screen capture software…HA!
Wish I knew….wish I knew. I am using a version of a show with temp audio and low res video because that is the only version I have available to me. Same situation.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
You make very good points.
I’m happy to report that I DID find some software that does what I need. I tried two or three other trial downloads, none of which worked. But this one did.
https://www.kigo-video-converter.com/m4v-converter-mac/
So $40 later, I have the episode in my FCP now.
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[Dave LaRonde] “Forgive me for asking the obvious, but if YOU cut this TV episode, don’t you have the original video some place so you wouldn’t have to try to hot-wire iTunes?
“Without permission from the original production house, it would be bad form to simply take a copy of the video for your own use. Even for a demo reel, all folks who work for me have to get permission from the Producer in order to take a copy of a project.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author.
Credits include multiple Emmy, Telly, Aurora and Peabody Awards.
Owner, Biscardi Creative Media featuring HD Post
Biscardi Creative Media“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” now in Post.
Creative Cow Forum Host:
Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple Color, AJA Kona, Business & Marketing, Maxx Digital. -
Well, the company DID give me permission, in that they said, “Try downloading it from the network’s website.” They just weren’t going to give me a DVD of their own, “for legal and financial reasons.”
However, as another update to this saga, I emailed some of Shane’s arguments (without his name) to my liaison at the company, and they have now agreed to send me a DVD of the other episode I cut (the one that I didn’t buy from iTunes). So thanks, Shane for your good points!
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[Duncan Sinclair] “I emailed some of Shane’s arguments (without his name) to my liaison at the company, and they have now agreed to send me a DVD of the other episode I cut (the one that I didn’t buy from iTunes). So thanks, Shane for your good points!”
Glad that they worked. Yup…the company I worked for was pretty much “no, we won’t do that” until I explained it just the way I said. Then a day later I got a call that they were sending out a DVD. But the arguement didn’t hold water with another company, who’s answer was “tape it when it airs.”
“Then know when my reel hits your desk again and it looks like crap, the reasons behind that.”
Some people…
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
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