I connect my HD videocamera to the iMAC and I import the tape via Final Cut.
Final Cut put all clips in a folder. (There’s no compression here: clips are same quality then the original tape – HDV1080i)
Then I import in AE the file that I want to work from that folder.
I make movie with best settings and looseless (quicktime movie and compression settings HDV 1080i).
As said before, I see artefacts on the rendered movie.
Thanks again for your interest in my problem.
Debbie.