What are the best export settings for clips going to After Effects?

[John Fishback]

I think you could export in DV/DVCPro as choosing a higher-quality codec won’t improve your images. However, if you’ve added graphics in FCP, then using a better codec like ProRes (LT or 422) will maintain the graphics quality. As for what codec to use out of AE, again, I’d choose ProRes. Also, you should switch the Compressor Setting in your Sequence Setting to ProRes so you maintain the AE quality when you bring it back into FCP. If AE’s on a Windows platform I’m not sure if you can work with ProRes. If not, I’d use DVCPro50 or 8-bit uncompressed.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Patrick Bronte]

Thanks John,

Since the footage has been captured via DV, the footage is in its DV/DVCPRO format. After taking your advice, I changed all the settings to AppleProRes 422HQ. But when I drag it into the timeline in preparation export I get a pop-up saying the source material needs to go back to its original format – DV/DVCPRO. Is there away around this without having to recapture the original footage? How can I export a short clip from DV/DVCPro to AppleProRes 422HQ? or can it only be done in Compressor?

for future reference is it a good idea to keep the sequence and capture settings at Apple Pro Res 442HQ but make sure its HDV Apple Pro Res 442HQ when capturing HD1080/50i ?

Your advice is much appreciated.

[John Fishback]

Don’t use ProResHQ. It’s only intended for 2k and above resolutions. In FCP in a DV/DVC Pro timeline do your edit. Then Export a ProRes or uncompressed Quicktime. Do not use Using QT Conversion. Import that into AE and do your work. Then export a ProRes or uncompressed QT from AE. If you need to bring this into FCP set your timeline to match your exported AE movie.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN