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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy mp.4 buggy for editing?

  • mp.4 buggy for editing?

    Posted by Adam Elder on August 22, 2007 at 6:51 am

    Apple told us that the reason why
    none of us could read the raw 1920 x 1080i @60 fps mp.4 native files was because QuickTime 7.2 is buggy so we had to go back to version 7.1.6… Which fixed the ability to read the files, but they stutter about 1/sec during playback, and the motion in frame is about 1/2 speed.
    I have reviewed all the 620 clips, and have narrowed down (in anticipation of doing an
    assembly/rough cut), to 320 clips. I am using a brand-new MacBook
    Pro 17″ with 7,200 RPM hard drive, high resolution panel connected to
    a 23″ HD Apple Monitor. I am also running Final Cut Studio Pro 2.

    I need your thoughts:

    CURRENT PROCESS:
    Right now, I am:
    1. Opening up the file in QT.
    2. Select “Share” command (which does a great job at a decent speed
    of compressing the clips into viewable files suitable for email).
    3. Putting the resulting file in a separate folder.
    4. Dragging the files from the folder in 3 directly to the timeline.
    I plan to:
    5. Create an initial edit (through to Fine- at the point of adding
    the music)
    6. Make notes as to which clips are used in the edit and (to some
    extent) note the in and out points just like normal logging
    7. Batch convert at highest resolution JUST those clips needed for
    the Final Cut.
    8. Bring the files created in step 7 into the timeline and create the
    Final Cut.

    WHAT I NEED:
    How can I QUICKLY convert these gangly files (some are as large as
    1.2 Gb) into viewable, non-stuttering video files that play in the
    timeline smoothly so I can generate a cut-list (at least determine
    how to weave the story). Remember- I don’t need any audio or even a
    decent visual- just to see how I want to cut. The next step would be
    to convert to highest resolution just those files that I need to make
    the cut. That way I don’t waste any time rendering huge files I will
    not use in the Final Cut.

    QUESTIONS:
    – Why does it seem like I am not using tools in FCP correctly or
    efficiently? (as in there is some selection or checkbox I am missing
    or something)
    – Isn’t RTExtreme supposed to do this?
    – Someone suggested using the ProRes codec- what are your thoughts-
    good or bad move

    Walter Biscardi replied 18 years, 9 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • Walter Biscardi

    August 22, 2007 at 9:27 am

    [AdamElder] “- Why does it seem like I am not using tools in FCP correctly or
    efficiently? (as in there is some selection or checkbox I am missing
    or something)”

    Mp4 is not an editing format, that’s probably the main reason why they stutter. MPEG Streamclip might be able to convert them for editing, but they may still be unstable for playback / editing.

    [AdamElder] “- Isn’t RTExtreme supposed to do this?”

    RT Extreme is a realtime effects engine for supported formats. It does not do anything special to make Mp4’s playback better.

    Walter Biscardi, Jr.
    https://www.biscardicreative.com
    HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

    All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

    Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

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