tokun1
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Q: Editing GoPro Footage Final cut pro 7

Hello,

I've shot a lot of footage recently on my new GoPro (30p)  2704 × 1520, (.h264) and I need to convert for editing with Final Cut Pro 7 so that my system can handle it.   My question is, what is the largest format size Final Cut 7 can handle for editing high resolution files from a GoPro (or other camera such as 2.7k, 4k formats?)  I"m going to assume I need to convert down to Apple Pro Res at 1440 x 1080? Is that correct size and codec?

 

Thank you for your assistance!

 

-Tony

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 1:32 PM

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Q: Editing GoPro Footage Final cut pro 7

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 29, 2016 1:34 PM in response to tokun1
    Level 10 (119,369 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 29, 2016 1:34 PM in response to tokun1

    Might be some tips on the GoPro website to help you >  https://gopro.com/support/articles/final-cut-pro-tips

  • by Shane Ross,

    Shane Ross Shane Ross Aug 30, 2016 11:57 AM in response to tokun1
    Level 8 (42,989 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 11:57 AM in response to tokun1

    What will you be delivering? 2K? 4K? 1080?  1080p is 1920x1080....2K is 2048x1080....4K is 3840x2160.  Your footage is somewhere between 2K and 4K...not 2.5K as that is 2432x1366. Is that like 2.7K?  and it is 16:9? Or some larger 4:3 format? That's an odd size...why did you shoot that, might I ask?  And where will you be delivering this, and what resolution will that delivery method allow for? 

     

    1440x1080 is not the choice, BTW. That's HDV dimensions...anamorphic. You want full frame ProRes, but you might need to crop the footage to fit into some of the standard delivery formats. unless you are OK with the image being squeezed a little. 

  • by tokun1,

    tokun1 tokun1 Aug 30, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Shane Ross
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Shane Ross

    Hi Shane, thanks for the reply. I'm delivering in 1080 (Final Cut Timeline is 1080) , it was actually Aerial footage not from the GoPro ( that was shot at a higher resolution I thought 2.7k, purpose was so I could crop the video and not lose resolution.  I'm putting it on a DVD is the end result. 

     

    Footage was shot on a DJI Phantom 3 4K Quadcopter Drone with 4K Camera

    Camera

    • Sensor: Sony EXMOR 1/2.3" CMOS

     

     

    Thanks!

  • by Shane Ross,

    Shane Ross Shane Ross Aug 30, 2016 12:41 PM in response to tokun1
    Level 8 (42,989 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 12:41 PM in response to tokun1

    Ah...then convert to ProRes 422 and maintain the dimensions. That will allow you to zoom in and out as needed. You will have to set up Compressor to do this custom, or use something like EditReady, and see if it can maintain dimensions.

  • by tokun1,

    tokun1 tokun1 Aug 30, 2016 12:48 PM in response to Shane Ross
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2016 12:48 PM in response to Shane Ross

    Hey Shane,

     

    I converted to apple pro res hq Mpeg Streamclip and it maintained the dimensions, or should I use compressor instead?  The file size went from 424mb to 4.09 GB.

     

    Thanks for your help!

  • by Shane Ross,

    Shane Ross Shane Ross Aug 30, 2016 12:50 PM in response to tokun1
    Level 8 (42,989 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 12:50 PM in response to tokun1

    MPEG should do it, and it sounds like it did.  And yes, the file size will increase dramatically. H.264 is a highly compressed format, but also not well suited for editing. FCP 7 certainly hates it. And it's an 8-bit codec. ProRes is 10-bit and much easier on the system to edit. Trade-off for editing ease is large file size.

  • by tokun1,

    tokun1 tokun1 Aug 30, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Shane Ross
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Shane Ross

    One last question as far as the Mpeg streamclip settings:

     

    Interlaced scaling and De interlaced video are left 'unchecked', is that correct?

     

    Thank you!

  • by Shane Ross,

    Shane Ross Shane Ross Aug 30, 2016 1:06 PM in response to tokun1
    Level 8 (42,989 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 1:06 PM in response to tokun1

    Correct. Your source isn't interlaced, so you don't need to worry about those.

  • by tokun1,

    tokun1 tokun1 Aug 30, 2016 1:08 PM in response to Shane Ross
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2016 1:08 PM in response to Shane Ross

    Ok, great, thank you again!  Lots to learn using the GoPro and Aerial drone footage, and soon I'll be having to learn FCP X eventually.