The best way to import a 45″ TV ad from DVD to FCP

[Russell Lasson]

My favorite way of doing it involves a Decklink or AJA card. Digitize it over component video from the DVD plaer. It’s the fastest and most reliable way I’ve found.

Of course if you don’t have a card, then you’re stuck with software. I hate doing this way because it takes forever and it always seems like I’m playing with settings to get it right.

So if someone knows of some great software to do this, I’m interested too (though I’ll still just use my AJA or Decklink card.)

-Russ

[Colin Mcquillan]

MPEG Streamclip.. its free,, works great, and is very fast when converting for DV-NTSC, and not too bad at all converting to 8-bit uncompressed,, havent tried it with HD formats though.. just scan your DVD, set in and out,, and export to the format that matches your FCP timeline..

https://www.squared5.com/

If you have a decklink or AJA card,, that would no doubt be the best solution,, but if not,, then this software is great.

Colin McQuillan
Vancouver BC

[Rennie Klymyk]

Google “streamclip” it’s free and is about the best sw for mac and it’s fast.

[Jcbtoche]

Thanks to all you! I just install it… there is a lot of options 🙂
I try with “Export to Quicktime” uncompressed 8 bit… but the movie size is too big.
I try with “Export to DV” (DV 25) PAL. It’s better but the bitrate is too high (57 mbits in Quicktime player) compare to the 9 mbits of the DVD… no? (i’m a beginner…)

When my project is done, I’ve to make an MPEG2 4:2:0 Program Stream with audio Mpeg layer 2. I will try with MPEG Streamclip too.

[Colin Mcquillan]

what is your project/sequence settings?

if your Final Cut project is say,, DV-PAL then use the Apple DV-PAL export settings,, if your FCP sequence is 8bit,, then use 8bit export setting..
then import the .mov that mpeg streamclip makes, do what ever it is you need to do in final cut,, then export the finished sequence as an mpeg 2

dont worry about the bit rate while working in final cut.. worry about it when you export the mpeg-2 from final cut.

Colin McQuillan
Vancouver BC

[Rafael Amador]

What you get with MPGStreamclip when exporting to DV is a DV Sequence the same kind that the used by iMovie, not a .mov. If you are putting together good quality amimation from Motion, export your clip with a good quality codec from MPGStreamclip (8/10b Unc or at least DVCPro50). High data rate, but they are only 45″.
Capturing with your AJA you won’t get any improvement over exporting the clip with MPGStreamclip, just the same.
Cheers,
Rafael

[Jcbtoche]

My Easy Setup is DV-PAL 48kHz
My Sequence Settings are:
– 720×576 CCIR601/DV PAL (5:4)
– APL – CCIR 601 (720×576)
– Lower (Even)
– DV-PAL 100% 48kHz 16bits Default

My DVD is a film shot with a DV cam (it’s a viral film, so the quality is bad)

In MPEGStream, my export is DV PAL 720×576 25fps 4:3 Frame Blending, Better Downscaling Deinterlace Video

The film is much better now in FCP and my FCP doesn’t crash anymore. So again Thanks 🙂

Now, i’ve to export it in MPEG2 Program Stream muxed.
– The source must be “Source Aspect Ratio” and “Tagged in the header”.
– MPEG2 4:2:0 Program Stream.
– 7500kb/s video bitrate
– GOP 1 B frames Between Reference
– 2 P frames in Gop
– Audio Mpeg layer 2 384 kbps

Any idea how to do that?

Next i’ve to export it on YouTube. I’ve already done but i don’t know if it’s the best way… Export my FCP to 8 Bit uncompressed (i guess DV was fine too) and then export it with MPEGStreamclip in H264 320x 240 120kbs mono… (it’s uploading now)

Toche