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Problem exporting video from FCP to other video finishing systems
I’ve cut a project on FCP 5.1.3 that I need to export to the Quantel eQ finishing system for effects and grading, and then reimport into FCP afterwards. The source material is DV PAL, and I can’t use tape to transfer the material, I have to do it as a data file.
I figured that the best way to export the video would be uncompressed, so I chose the “uncompressed 10-bit PAL” QT export option from FCP, and it played back fine in QT Player on my Intel Mac afterwards. Unfortunately, when I import this file into the eQ, I get perfect audio but the video is solid white. I’ve also tried importing it into an Avid Adrenaline and a Premiere Pro 2, as well as playing it in a standard QT player on a Windows PC, and I get exactly the same result.
Is this just a simple codec issue? Could the fact that I chose the 10-bit rather than 8-bit uncompressed option have been the cause? Or should I forget about going uncompressed and just keep it DV all the way?
Any advice gratefully appreciated!
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3 Replies
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[GarethR] “I figured that the best way to export the video would be uncompressed, so I chose the “uncompressed 10-bit PAL””
If your final output is DV you do NOT want to do this. What will happen is that your video will be recompressed 5:1 DV by either FCP if you drop the final into a DV timeline or by your deck if you play out an uncompressed timeline to a DV deck. You ONLY do this if you are outputting to an uncompressed format like BetaSP, DigiBeta, IMX, etc….
If your final output is DV, stay in the DV codec all the way.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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[walter biscardi] “If your final output is DV, stay in the DV codec all the way.”
That adds a loss to the image if you export a DV timeline as DV again though doesn’t it?
Or is it ok for a generation or 2 like DVCPRO?
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[Borjis] “[walter biscardi] “If your final output is DV, stay in the DV codec all the way.”
That adds a loss to the image if you export a DV timeline as DV again though doesn’t it?
Or is it ok for a generation or 2 like DVCPRO?”
If you stay in the DV codec all the way you should not lose anything.
If you output to the Uncompressed Codec, and then come back into FCP to a DV timeline, you recompress everything 5:1 again. So you’re doubling the DV compression.
Or if you come back to an Uncompressed timeline in FCP but then lay off to a DV deck. Again. you’re recompressing everything 5:1 again.
Always best to stay in one codec for the entire workflow where possible.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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