Stabilisation in Final Cut Pro X

[Craig Seeman]

Stabilization certainly works and the results can be quite visible and radical. As to how good it is, that depends. Compared to CoreMelt’s Lock & Load? FCPX stabilization does work.

The problem with statements like.

[Mark Worsfold] ” stabilisation does not seem to work”
Is that you’ve given no indication what you’ve tried. That leaves one with no recourse than doing an entire tutorial. I have no idea where to begin otherwise.

Try analyzing the video first. You can do that on import or you can select the clip and do that.
If you haven’t gone through the basics, please do read the simple explanation in the FCPX manual and we’ll know you’ve gotten that far. Then you can describe what you’ve done step by step and we’ll know what area you’re having a problem with.

[Mark Worsfold]

Thanks for the reply. Apologies that I have not been clear about the issue and the things I have tried.

To clarify what I have done;

I’ve undertaken stabilisation analysis at import of the files (AVCHD) ingest, which has then been transcoded to Apple 422 MOV files (within the transcoded directory).

The file I am looking at is a handheld recording of a simple sign. There is some motion but it is not very jerky, but is visibly moving and needs stabilisation.

In FCPX the file appears to still not be stabilised, I’ve turned on stabilisation and then adjusted the three controls (translation, rotation and smooth) to a maximum. The re-rendered file is smoother but is not as smooth as I am used to seeing with Smoothcam or the stabilisation tool within Motion 5, there is still a lot of motion.

I’m using the help screens within FCPX, but these contain little guidance on using the stabilisation techniques, they just say “use stabilisation”.

You mentioned an FCPX manual, where is this electronically ?

Mark

[Craig Seeman]

Is the shot in your Excessive Shake Smart Collection in the Stabilization folder?
If you enable Stabilization in the Inspector and move Translation, Rotation, Scale, do you see the clip change in the Viewer?

[Mark Worsfold]

The shot does not register as an excessive shake smart collection.

If I enable stabilisation, yes the clip moves (and similarly when I adjust the controls) but the track then has greater stabilisation issues.

I’ve prepared a 10 sec MP4 file showing the original file, FCPX stabilisation, Motion 5 and smoothcam results. The motion 5 analysis is by far the best, whilst the fcpx stabilisation is actually worse than the original. (each files is in one quarter of the screen).

Is there anywhere that I can upload this to let you see.

Mark

[Craig Seeman]

[Mark Worsfold] “I’ve prepared a 10 sec MP4 file showing the original file, FCPX stabilisation,
Motion 5 and smoothcam results. The motion 5 analysis is by far the best, whilst the fcpx stabilisation is actually worse than the original. (each files is in one quarter of the screen).”

I haven’t done comparisons but I’ve done file analysis in FCPX and in every case where there’s excessive shake, FCPX can improve them . . . assuming you make some tweaks. While it certainly may not be the best but I can’t see it being worse than the source file in any case. You have to use the controls. Even at its most rudimentary, it improves things within some limits.

[Mark Worsfold] “Is there anywhere that I can upload this to let you see.”

You can upload video or files to the COW directly. Look at the last two icons in the row under “Message:”
The settings you used are a factor.

You should analyze the file before using the FCPX Stabilization filter. I would think it needs that data.

[Mark Worsfold]

The video has been analysed, and I’ve adjusted the slider controls on the stabilisation by moving them all the way to the right. But, I’m guessing here because there is no guidance evident on how to effectively use these controls.

Most of my issue here is that I feel like the blind leading the blind. The manuals are incomplete and offer no guidance and hence I am experimenting to learn what works.

I’ve uploaded the file and you can see it at

https://reels.creativecow.net/film/comparison-of-fcpx-stabilisation-original-fcpx-motion-5-and-smoothcam

This contains the original footage, the FCPX stabilised footage, Motion 5 stabilisation and Smoothcam in FCP7. Looking at this it is obvious that the FCPX footage has been zoomed in, but not stabilised, hence the motion is extenuated further. The best of the lot is the motion 5 stabilisation with smoothcam just behind that. The FCPX stabilisation is very disappointing.

Apple if you are listening, I’d love to be able to send a clip to Motion 5 smooth it out and then embed this back in the timeline in FCPX. Alternatively give users the Motion 5 stabilisation functionality in FCPX. If it is already present in FCPX then please show us how to use it !

Any advice of help on how to use FCPX stabilisation better would be greatly appreciated.

Mark

[Sterling Fisher]

My results with Stabilization in FCP X have been disappointing, too – very much like Mark Worsfold’s. As a workaround, I find that exporting a clip to iMovie 8.0.6 , stabilizing it there and exporting it back to FCP X works well – but what a nuisance and time waster. I haven’t compared these results with those from Motion 5 or FCP 7 Smoothcam, but they are very good. Not perfect, but very good.

Apple, PLEASE take note.

Sterling

[Sterling Fisher]

[Mark Worsfold] “Apple if you are listening, I’d love to be able to send a clip to Motion 5 smooth it out and then embed this back in the timeline in FCPX. Alternatively give users the Motion 5 stabilisation functionality in FCPX. If it is already present in FCPX then please show us how to use it !”

I just discovered how to give Apple feedback on FCP X’s performance! With FCP X open, click on “Final Cut Pro” at the left end of the menu bar. Halfway down the dropdown list is “Provide Final Cut Pro Feedback…”
As they used to say, ‘if it was a snake it would have bit me’. I’ve sent them my comments.

Sterling

[Sterling Fisher]

Apple has a discussion group on this topic at
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3135035?start=15&tstart=0

A composite of several suggestions worked for me. The key seems to be that the clip to be stabilized should not be transcoded and analyzed during ingest – or if it was, delete that clip from it’s Event then reingest w/o transcoding & analyzing. Place the new trimmed clip in the timeline, then click stabilization in the Inspector: it is transcoded and analyzed at that time and stabilization works. You need not change scan from interlaced to progressive as one letter suggests.

If I haven’t been entirely clear, some of the letters posted in that group will likely answer your questions.

Sterling