Losing video quality when placing in timeline....??

lordy ... thats a hopeless format to be trying to edit and no mistake

try this:
1) download and use the free *MPEG Streamclip* application from http://www.squared5.com/
2) open the app and drag your Camtasia clip onto it, then press *Cmd E*
3) change the Compression popup menu to *DV/DVCPRO - NTSC* and then press *Make Movie* and save to your Desktop or other convenient location
4) now import that new clip into FCE and away you go

let us know how you get on

It's probably due to editing in a sequence whose codec and frame size etc that does not match the settings of the native source files, so what you're see is a preview quality and/or scaled version of the original. Select one of these camtasia source files in your FCP project and press Cmd - 9 and note down the various format settings displayed in the clip's Item Properties window. Now select the sequence and press Cmd - Zero to open the Sequence Setting's window and note down all the various settings for the sequence ... does everything match? If not, what are the differences.

Then go to the SEQUENCE menu and choose SETTINGS...you'll get the same window. RENDER CONTROL is a tab in the sequence settings.

Your Camista movie might be the Animation codec...very clear. But Animation isn't an editing codec. But most likely your sequence settings are something like DV/NTSC..and that will make your picture look REALLY bad. YOu might want to choose a different codec, like DV50 or an HD one like DVCPRO HD....depending on the dimensions of your animation.

Shane

In order to get optimal performance from FCP, your Sequence Settings must match your Clip Settings, but your Clip Settings must be in a Quicktime Friendly format. Check your FCP manual for those formats.

Look at this screenshot: http://www.grabup.com/uploads/cff2161370d4b7f5404203bad4b976b6.png

That's what the Sequence Settings (Cmd-0) window looks like. Make a note of the Quicktime Video settings at the bottom left. Those settings should match your clip settings. If there is a mismatch, you will have to render.

Perhaps you could answer Andy's post by posting the specific format information from your source clips, as well as your specific sequence settings.

your main problem is that the source format and frame rate is totally unsupported by your edit software ... you need to go back to Camtasia and redo the tutorial while recoding to a better supported format, or if thats not an option in that software you may want to investigate alternative screen capture software? you mention that you've done lots of this kind of stuff and that only these shots are particularly bad ... so what did you do that is different this time, and can you not just do/use what you normally do? if it ain't broke, why fix it?

then select the sequence in the FCE browser window and press Cmd 9 to get the sequence's item properties

errr, yeah right ... so you're saying you can't see common properties between the 2 eh? like frame size, compressor, pixel aspect, field dominance, audio rate ? mate, its not a case of it "not working" its a case of trying a bit harder to help yourself here

Then you should post this question in the Final Cut Express forum.