Just making sure: Converting AVCHD (h.264) to MOV (h.264) via FCPX before editing in PPro means one generation quality loss

[Gary Huff]

[Yair Bartal] “As far as I know re-wraping means no transcoding from one codec to another.”

That is correct, the file extension changes while the actual data inside the container remains as it was.

[Yair Bartal] “Then you export from ProRes to QuickTime with h.264 codec, that means you transcode again.”

That’s correct.

[Yair Bartal] “Once you ingest into the library, you do transcode once from h.264 to ProRes.”

If you select “Create optimized media”, which you do not have to do unless you are having performance issues editing the H.264 stream of AVCHD. Is that what you did? Because, if so, you didn’t actually trash the original re-wrapped clips. In fact, if you right click on one of the clips and tell it to “Reveal in Finder”, it will be the original, re-wrapped AVCHD. That is, if you did the steps I just did on ingesting AVCHD.

[Yair Bartal]

Well, the guy who did the AVCHD to QuickTime conversion probably did use “Create optimized media”.
I’ll have to check the other way. Thanks.

[Yair Bartal]

So I’ve asked on FCPX forum here:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/344/44104

I still don’t think I have a definite answer.

[Gary Huff]

[Yair Bartal] “I still don’t think I have a definite answer.”

I gave you the definitive answer. Part of editing doesn’t involve just putting clips next to each other on the timeline, but following workflow best practices and having a fundamental understanding of what the process is and how it works. I even went so far as to duplicate, and yet your flow of information seems very constricted and I am at a loss why you still seem to be at a loss.

[Yair Bartal]

Well, the reason is I get other responses elsewhere, like in Apple’s formal support forum here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/30597623?ac_cid=op123456#30597623

That guy says that there IS re-compressing in the export process which involves a quality loss.

[Gary Huff]

[Yair Bartal] “Well, the reason is I get other responses elsewhere, like in Apple’s formal support forum. That guy says that there IS re-compressing in the export process which involves a quality loss.”

Yes, because if you re-compress with the export, then you will invoke quality loss. But this was already explained to you. And Tom explained it to you to on that link. Why can’t you understand what is going on? What is the problem as to why you cannot grasp this concept? Why do you need to export instead of copying out the re-wrapped clips from your FCPX library? You have failed to do anything but continuously repeat yourself, you have not gone back and rechecked what both Tom and I have told you to check. You have failed to report on anything you have done since you were given new information. Why is this?

[Yair Bartal]

OK, I got you now.
I’ll try that non-export procedure when I’m back at that Mac.
Thanks.