Snapz Pro and FCP sequence settings problem

[Paulo Jan]

This has happened to me too. Even though the video created by Snapz Pro *is* actually 30fps (or 25fps in my case), for some reason FCP detects it as 10fps. The solution I found was to use Cinema Tools to reconform the clip to the fps I wanted (it doesn’t alter the actual video in any way, from what I can tell; all it does is to “rewrite” the headers of the QT file to make really really sure that FCP detects properly the frame rate).

[John Hunter]

Thanks Paulo, I’ll give it a try and let you know what happens.

[John Hunter]

Actually, I’ve never used Cinema Tools before. Any tips on how to do that?

[Gordon Gurley]

I’m having a similar problem with Screenflick. Set it to record 30fps and it comes out as 30.03. FCP doesn’t deal well with non standard frame rates it seems. When I bring those clips into FCP, the frame rate gets very odd and seems to change to 2.3 fps for some reason.

Gordon Gurley
Director of Operations
Stanford Video

[Paulo Jan]

Open Cinema Tools. Ignore the initial screen where it asks you to create a database. Open the flip (File/Open), and then choose the “Clip/Conform” option.

Alternatively, if you want to do this to a lot of clips, you can use “File/Batch Conform”.

[John Hunter]

Ok, so I think I’ve figured it out.

Don’t use the Animation codec when saving your movie capture through Snapz. Instead, use the h264 codec at 30fps (frame reordering box not checked). Keyframe every 500 frames, choose Multi-pass encoding mode, and drag the Compressor quality to Best.

The sequence settings I used in FCP are shown in the attached picture. My export settings out of FCP are shown here as well. This may not be someone’s ideal method, but it worked for me and I’m happy…..for now!

[Alexandre Bouquin]

Thanks a lot Paulo,

Your post really helped me!
I confirm that Cinema Tools is the easiest and fastest way to get rid of the SPX captures being at 10fps when importing into FCP (even though they were captured at a higher framerate).

This has really saved me a lot of time!!!

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!

[Todd Wiseman]

I wouldn’t suggest using h.264 if you intend to edit in FCP. If you plan to snap a video and upload it straight away to youtube than h.264 might be suitable, but it’s a delivery codec, and Final Cut does not enjoy its taste.

I’d try to match what your timeline says (Sequence settings). If I’m working with XDCam footage, than I’ll save out my Snpaz to XDCam (then conform the framerate with CinemaTools, as was mentioned–which is very quick and a great solution). If I’m editing ProRes I export to ProRes, etc. Framerate is not hugely important (30 fps vs 29.97–I stick with 30 and can still play my imported Snapz clips fine after conforming with Cinema Tools without render)

One last thing I like to do that might help others, is restrict my SnapzPro recording size to a specific Aspect Ratio (4:3 or 16:9 depending). It tends to match the video I’m working with better that way.

Thanks to the others who have written this helped me and I hope others find what they were looking for.

[Roger Carruthers]

I’m experiencing similar problems and was pretty excited when I found this thread…
However, when i try to batch conform the Snapz files in Cinema Tools, it simply skips every file in the batch, and if I try to open one individually, I can play the file, but that’s all – all the buttons etc. are greyed out.
I’ve never used Cinema Tools before, so maybe I’m doing something wrong, but it doesn’t seem to like these files. They’re H264 (yeah, I know now) 15 fps, but FCP see them as 10 fps.
Ideally, I need to work on these files today, to show someone tomorrow – help!
Cheers
Roger

[Andreas Zeitler]

I have the same problem, but, unfortunately, don’t have Cinema Tools installed. I was wondering whether this problem could be solved differently? Especially now that this solution seems “outdated”. (with FCPX lacking Cinema Tools)

Thanks,
Andreas