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Quality Question
Hello and thanks for taking the time to read this post.
1) Using FCP 5, I have some footage I logged (.mov files). I guess when you log footage from DV tapes the default is Quick Time fils? *QUESTION 1a* (Not sure why they aren’t DV,or is that DV? *QUESTION 1b* If there is a conversion to make DV source footage .mov files will there be also a quality loss? *QUESTION 1c*)
2) Using Ditital as a medium, I thought there was no quality loss, but I’ve seen it with DVD to FCP and back to DVD for editing Reels, re-editing INDY films, etc…
So knowing there is quality loss between ditital to ditital sources, my final questions is this:
3) I have a 20 Quick Time file I logged from Mini-DV, but I only want about three 2:00 minute takes to reduce storage space, and plus the other footage is junk.
So instead of a 20 min 4 gig file, I’d like three 2:00 minute half gig files. Is there any way to chop up larger files into small ones without losing quality? *QUESTION 2*
Note: I know how to edit then export in FCP, I’m just concerned about losing quality, resolution, frame site (Normal, Anamorphic, etc…)
Any expert advice from people that really know, not just speculate, would be some fine and needed help indeed and I thank you for it.
Will Keir
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4 Replies
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[Will Keir] “1) Using FCP 5, I have some footage I logged (.mov files). I guess when you log footage from DV tapes the default is Quick Time fils? *QUESTION 1a* (Not sure why they aren’t DV,or is that DV? *QUESTION 1b* If there is a conversion to make DV source footage .mov files will there be also a quality loss? *QUESTION 1c*)”
FCP captures everything as a quicktime file no matter the format. as far as I know there is no such thing as a “DV” file.
[Will Keir] “2) Using Ditital as a medium, I thought there was no quality loss, but I’ve seen it with DVD to FCP and back to DVD for editing Reels, re-editing INDY films, etc…”
It’s call compression. The DVD is an MPEG-2 compression, very heavy compression for video. You capture from a DVD to FCP you’re capturing a very heavy compressed video. Then you make another heavily compressed MPEG-2 file to go back to DVD. You end up with ugly video. It’s not a “digital” lossless format.
[Will Keir] “So instead of a 20 min 4 gig file, I’d like three 2:00 minute half gig files. Is there any way to chop up larger files into small ones without losing quality? *QUESTION 2*”
Sure, it’s called logging before you capture. Log the shots you want before capturing. Short of that, create Master Clips or export self-contained movies of the footage you want to keep. But with DV media, you have very small files so I can’t imagine you running out of space with only a 20 minute clip.
[Will Keir] “Note: I know how to edit then export in FCP, I’m just concerned about losing quality, resolution, frame site (Normal, Anamorphic, etc…)”
Capturing DV via Firewire is lossless, that is you do not lose any quality from the original. Capturing from a DVD or bringing in the MPEG-2 original video clips is lossless but from a very compressed source.
Basically, the higher the quality of your original footage, the higher the quality of your final product. My High Definition projects look absolutely incredible in a way that my DV projects will never achieve. But they are both lossless and retain their original quality.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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[Will Keir] “1) Using FCP 5, I have some footage I logged (.mov files). I guess when you log footage from DV tapes the default is Quick Time fils? *QUESTION 1a* (Not sure why they aren’t DV,or is that DV? *QUESTION 1b* If there is a conversion to make DV source footage .mov files will there be also a quality loss? *QUESTION 1c*)”
Walter, I believe he is referring to .dv files, which is now iMovie captures. FYI, iMovie captures as quicktime too, only the .dv wrapper, as opposed to the .mov wrapper. FCPs way of capturing is much beter.
Shane
Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net -
[Shane Ross] ”
Walter, I believe he is referring to .dv files, which is now iMovie captures.”Ah, I never use iMovie, i had no idea it would do something like call a quicktime movie a .dv.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Hey thanks for the info Walter, but one questions is left unanswered.
My question is basically this. I was rushed to capture a mini-DV tape before I handed it off to my partner, who lives 8 hours away. So I didn’t get the chance to individually capture the takes I wanted.
Instead I captured the whole tape. Now I have a huge, long file which I don’t want in it’s entirety. Instead I want to pull a few takes that worked and trash the rest of the file. And let’s just say I have several tapes like this. Now… all my human error’s aside, is there a way to create smaller files from the main one without losing a bit of quality?
That’s why I’m asking the questions; I am not going to do this If I lose quality when I take the smaller clips and export them as their own files. I’m also not sure if this method will change any video options. I assume if I have the file logged, anamorphically, then I edit on an anamophic timeline and export it with the built it properties then there should be no video changes.
The main concern I have is quality, will I lose quality doing this?
Thanks again for any help,
Will Keir
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