Importing from DVD via Handbrake problems...

Question

Importing from DVD via Handbrake problems...

HI folks. I've taken a DVD of our ancestors, that is a simple set of chapters of movies. I used handbrake to convert to mp4 but Final Cut Pro 6 is telling me it cannot import the video because unknown errors. If I drag and drop, the File error, unknown file. When I try to Log and transfer it in, it says it has an invalid directory structure.

However, the mp4 plays just fine in Quicktime 7 and exported from QT to QTmov it plays as well. It will not import from QT Mov either, although the file is too small for my needs.

I'm creating a family heritage dvd. Any suggestions? Do a I need a different, $$ pro, translator?

Thanks
Jeff

G5 Dual 2.5, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Video OEM ATI 9600XT, 3+gigs RAM

Posted on Sep 20, 2007 5:52 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 20, 2007 6:23 PM in response to Jefferis Peterson

First, mpeg4 is not an editing format, it is a delivery format.

Second, try mpegstreamclip and convert your DVD (I am assuming that you have all rights and permissions to do this...) to QT, you will probably want to use NTSC DV as the codec.

That should work for you.

K

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Answer 2

Sep 20, 2007 8:11 PM in response to Ken-Summerall-Jr

Thank you, and yes. It is non commercial family video.

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Answer 3

Sep 20, 2007 8:17 PM in response to Ken-Summerall-Jr

BTW, I am so used to the interchangeability of formats in QT on the Mac that I just assumed you could import mpeg 4 into FCP like you can MPEG 2, for editing and later output. FCP seems to powerful because it can export to so many formats, I assumed it could import as well.
However, I find that I have more errors and trouble with imports, even when the formats are okay, than any other part of this program....

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Answer 4

Sep 21, 2007 5:46 AM in response to Jefferis Peterson

I am so used to the interchangeability of formats in QT on the Mac that I just assumed you could import mpeg 4 into FCP like you can MPEG 2, for editing and later output.

you shouldn't be importing mpeg2 for editing either. FCP is QT based, meaning that it only likes QT formated media. Now QT can come in many forms, also known as codecs. If you want an easy way to see the most common acceptable forms of video that FCP will take look at the list of Easy setups.

I hope that you got this solved. Please allow me to give you a friendly suggestion. You would do well to spend some good, quality alone time with the Manuals. You will be amazed at how your understanding for this software grows by reading them.

K

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Answer 5

Sep 26, 2007 12:52 PM in response to Jefferis Peterson

The information you have been provided is incomplete. Apple's QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback plugin gives QuickTime the ability to play MPEG-2 files, including .VOB DVD files. Theoretically this should allow import into Apple's video editing apps. HOWEVER, I found that my DVD recorder's VOBs must encode AC3 audio or some other audio spec not supported by the plugin because the audio in the files do not play through the plugin. YYMV. At the same time, though, MPEG Streamclip is able to properly play the files back with the plugin installed, whereas without the plugin it cannot read MPEG2. My current workflow is to open the .VOB files with MPEG Streamclip, then export them to QuickTime, then import them to Final Cut, which while requiring rendering, seems to be a good amount faster than rendering from .VOB to .MP4 using an app like iSquint. It's still not ideal because of the plugin audio issue, but it's better than what I was doing previously.

QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Plugin
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

MPEG Streamclip Mac
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html

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