Final Cut Pro and Uncompressed QuickTime files

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Level 1

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Final Cut Pro and Uncompressed QuickTime files

I am new to FCP. All my source material is in the form of uncompressed QuickTime movies, 1 to 3 minutes long(2 to 4 GB each). I can import these to FCP but can't view them on either the viewer or canvas as they skip too much, both audio and video, so I can't edit them. Rendering them does not help.
I've tried compressing them into MPEG2 files and then importing them. This allows me to view and and edit them in FCP but when I export them as MPEG2s using Compressor I wind up with lousy quality video. I want to wind up with the best quality MPEG2s to use in DVD Studio Pro.
Any one know the answer?

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Feb 11, 2008 1:15 PM

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Answer 1

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Feb 11, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Dirph

The answer is that your drives are not fast enough to play out uncompressed QT movies.

If these are animation codec files then they run about 14 MB/s.

MPEG2 isn't an editing format.

You haven't mentioned with hardware or media drives, so it is difficult to give advice.

I would export them to something such as DVCPro50 and try that easy set up, but it would be helpful if you would detail your hardware software and media drive.

We can't see it from here

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Answer 2

Feb 11, 2008 1:40 PM in response to Dirph

There is no way your system is going to play uncompressed video .. to view video in FC. set you're RT settings to low and lower frame rate .. The RT settings are on the top left of Timeline Sequence .. since you have imported files in MPEG2 .. how about trying Export: Quicktime Movie: Current Settings: Check .. Make Movie Self Contained ... 'not recompress' .. this also exports faster ...

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Answer 3

Dirph Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 12, 2008 5:13 AM in response to interpilot

Thanks for your help. I just tried your idea of exporting my MPEG2 sequence using QuickTime Movie. Video quality is still very bad.
Then I lowered my FCP RT setting to "use playback settings" and in "System Settings" I lowered RT to "safe", Quality to "low", Frame Rate to "quarter", and Gamma correction to "approximate". Playback in canvas was better but still not workable.
Seems like I should import my files thru Compressor at the highest quality setting that will work in Final Cut Pro 6. Any idea which compressor setting would be best?

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Answer 4

Dirph Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 12, 2008 5:18 AM in response to David S.

I'm on a powerBook G4 2w/ a 1.5GHz processor and 1 GB DDR SDRAM Memory . I use the internal drive to put my files on the Desktop and then import to Final Cut Pro 6. Is there anything else that is relevant?

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Answer 5

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 12, 2008 5:57 AM in response to Dirph

That poor little internal drive coupled with a G4 processor is just overwhelmed. To play this material back in realtime, it would be best if the media is on an external firewire 800 or esata RAID 0 drive.

All files are compressed to create DVDs. Use Compressor 90 minute best quality and grit your teeth. The mpeg2 format is not pretty and there will be no way to maintain the quality of uncompressed material through the compression process. It is all a series of compromises.

x

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Answer 6

Feb 12, 2008 6:34 AM in response to Dirph

Whoa there. You are going about this all wrong. You need to go back to your original media. Not mpeg2, and certainly don't bring in mpeg2 and then re-compress it to something else. That will not solve your problem.

Compressor is mainly for use AFTER you finish your movie. On occasion it can be useful for getting material into your movie, but not in this case.

Go back and re-read X's post. You MUST get your media files off of your system drive. This is rule number one in setting up your FCP system. Go out an get yourself a good Firewire 800 or e-SATA drive. Don't even think about USB.

One more thing, how did you get these files? What codec are they? Where did they come from? Answer these questions and get yourself an external drive and then we can help you a little more.

K

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