Daamn you Final Cut, unknown file error.

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Level 1

9 points

Daamn you Final Cut, unknown file error.

Ok, this is it, final cut keeps constantly failing me when it should work perfectly fine. I am pretty sure that I will not come down to a solution but here is the "awesome" issue that I have come across:
In After Effects, I export my footage in the Animation codec (to keep it uncompressed), when I import it in FCP (6.0.2) I get a "File Error: Unknown file" message. There should not be anything wrong with the file, it plays perfectly in Quicktime. This happens to around 50% of the files that I export using the Animation codec.

Is there a kind soul that could help me with this issue? I found someone having the same-ish problem here:
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/967787 (with no solution)

Macbook 2.16 (duo core), 2GB RAM, 17inch screen, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Feb 22, 2009 7:30 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 22, 2009 8:02 AM in response to Felexion

IMO, Jeremy gave the poster the correct solution. Have you tried it?

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Answer 2

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 8:10 AM in response to Brian Conner

Sorry forgot to mention, tried reexporting it in QTpro and it did not solve it. So still at square one.

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Answer 3

Feb 22, 2009 8:44 AM in response to Felexion

OK, then we need to know all the rest of the details about this.

Where and in which app did the files originate? What codec and what frame size? What Operating System?

What was done to them in AE and what is the frame size?

Which Easy Setup are you using in Final Cut?

There's probably more we need to know, but that's a start.

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Answer 4

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 8:58 AM in response to Brian Conner

The reason why I didnt put these details up is simply because I didnt think that they would matter because I have been having this problem for years, editing everything from SD to HD.

So, currently, I am editing on HD 1080i with 29.97fps. In Final Cut, I am using the exact same settings as AE, so no additional rendering is ever needed. The files were originally TOD files, which I converted to Apple Prores (HQ) and edited in AE and exported to Animation. I used AE for some hardcore color correction and addition advanced special effects.

Hope this was enough.

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Answer 5

hanumang

Level 6

9,250 points

Feb 22, 2009 8:58 AM in response to Felexion

Without wanting to step on the mighty Brian Conner's toes here, whenever I've experienced this issue with .movs created by other apps, simply re-saving in QT Pro corrects the issue. I believe FCP doesn't like the metadata in the QT file.

For what it's worth, I +do not+ mean File > Export in QT Pro, as that means transcoding (and additional processing).

Instead, simply do a File > Save As... to a new location as a self-contained movie. In my experience, this forces QT Pro to re-write the wrapper in a way that FCP approves of.

Just a simple thing to try...

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Answer 6

Feb 22, 2009 9:07 AM in response to hanumang

No mightiness here, h. 😉

That is exactly what Jeremy meant, I'm sure.

If that doesn't help, Felexion, please go back and reply to my very specific questions. Easy Setups are sets of settings which, if unmodified, will guarantee there are no inconsistencies between sequence settings and clip settings.

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Answer 7

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:13 AM in response to Brian Conner

I tried to open the file in QTpro and save it and imported it in FCP, still the same error message 😟

Brian, I am rather confused about your Easy Setup question. What do you mean? Are you referring to my sequence settings? which are:
Frame size: 1920x1080
Field Domionance: None
Editing Timebase: 29.97
Compressor: Animation
Quality 100% (millions of colours+)

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Answer 8

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:22 AM in response to Felexion

Apologies Brian, read the Final Cut Manual, and found out that my easy setup is on:
Format: (all formats)
Rate: (all rates)
Use: Custom Setup

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Answer 9

hanumang

Level 6

9,250 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:25 AM in response to Felexion

😟

To piggyback off of BC's FCP settings questions, what does QT Pro say - about the audio and video - when you load an error-producing file and press Command-I to Get Info?

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Answer 10

Feb 22, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Felexion

Nope, that ain't it. Plus, if it's on Custom Setup, then it's not on an Easy Setup. I think your problem is happening before Final Cut. It's something having to do with either the import of the original files or something that you're doing in AE.

But in all frankness, I'm unmotivated to fight through the haze to get the needed answers.

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Answer 11

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:41 AM in response to hanumang

Ok, it appears that you are on something there buddy, when I check the info in QTP, it says that the FPS is 25.26, meanwhile it should be on 29.976
This is very odd, what do you guys think causes this?

Attempting to fix this by:
Exporting in AE with custom 29.976 framerate.
Conforming the frame rate in cinema tools but it doesnt allow me to.
with no luck.

Why cant Cinema Tools conform a file with the Animation codec? I tried conforming the frame rate on a Prores file and it worked perfectly.

Also, could it be the key frame settings in the export window?

Help please!

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Answer 12

hanumang

Level 6

9,250 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:47 AM in response to Felexion

I'm not all that familiar with After Effects but is there a reason you're outputting to 29.976? Or am I simply jumping on a typo? (You mentioned in an earlier response to Brian that your sequence in FCP is set to 29.97 fps.)

Anyways, if only as a stop gap measure, try a File > Export out of QT Pro by attempting to match all other settings except frame rate. Force Frame Rate to 29.97 (in QT Pro's Video Setting)s and see if FCP approves of the output file.

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Answer 13

Felexion Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2009 9:51 AM in response to hanumang

Yes, long story short, in FCP, in the sequence settings when it is on 29.97, it is actually on 29.976 but FCP just makes it shorter, in AE, it has to be exact, E.G. if I export in after effects in 29.97, it will export it as 29.970 and not 29.976

I know, its hard to explain 🙂

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