Unable to Import .mov Files

Question

Level 1

10 points

Unable to Import .mov Files

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Final Cut and am having issues importing "some" .mov files. I have them all in one folder, and they all have the same technical specs (besides varying sizes and data rates), yet some files import just fine and others do not, resulting in a "File Error: File Unknown" message. Here are the video specs:

Source: External HD
Format: Ambarella AVC Encoder, 1920x1080, Millions, AAC, Stereo, 48KHz
FPS: 29.97
Data rate: 21.88 mbits/s

All these files originated from the same JVC GC-FM1 video camera.

Why would this happen if they are all from the same source, the same format, and located in the same folder?? MAJOR props to anyone who can figure this out.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB 667 MHz RAM

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 1:15 AM

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Answer 1

Kevin Powers Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 27, 2009 1:23 AM in response to Kevin Powers

Couple other things to mention:

I'm using Final Cut Express 4.0.

All these files play fine in QuickTime. Even the ones that cannot be imported into FCE.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Nov 27, 2009 3:00 AM in response to Kevin Powers

This media is not supported in FCE and should be converted to the Apple Intermediate Codec. Please give the entire specification of the files that don't import, including the file size, what drive the media is located on, and how the drive is formatted.

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Answer 3

Kevin Powers Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 27, 2009 11:15 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Example file NOT loading correctly:

Source: /Volumes/USERNAME/100JVCSO/Edited/PIC_0010.e.mov
Format: Ambarella AVC encoder, 1440 x 1080 (1920 x 1080), Millions
AAC, Stereo, 48.000 kHz
FPS: 29.97
Playing FPS: (Available while playing)
Data size: 4.69 MB
Data rate: 21.88 mbit/s
Current Time: 0:00:00:00
Duration: 0:00:00:01.79
Normal Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Current Size: 1364 x 767 pixels

Example file loading correctly:

Source: /Volumes/USERNAME/100JVCSO/Edited/PIC_009.e.mov
Format: Ambarella AVC encoder, 1440 x 1080 (1920 x 1080), Millions
AAC, Stereo, 48.000 kHz
FPS: 29.97
Playing FPS: (Available while playing)
Data size: 5.03 MB
Data rate: 10.56 mbit/s
Current Time: 0:00:00:00
Duration: 0:00:00:03.99
Normal Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Current Size: 1364 x 767 pixels

All files are located on:

External HD: Western Digital My Passport - USB 2.0
Format: MS-DOS File System (FAT32)
Capacity: 232.83 GB
Available: 100.46 GB

Any link to instructions to convert to Apple Intermediate Codec? Like I said, I'm very new to this.

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Answer 4

skalicki

Level 5

4,422 points

Nov 27, 2009 12:30 PM in response to Kevin Powers

I personally was not even aware that such a codec existed. However, there are certainly some things you could try. What I'd do first is to download [Perian|http://perian.org>, the "swiss-army knife" of Quicktime codecs. Then, download the free [MPEG Streamclip|http://www.squared5.com> and hopefully you will then be able to use that to open and convert your files to the +Apple Intermediate Codec at a frame-size of 1920x1080 and a frame-rate of 29.97, with audio at Uncompressed Stereo 48kHz.+

If Streamclip can convert these files, then you will be able to use them natively with FCE.

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Nov 27, 2009 1:47 PM in response to Kevin Powers

A coupe of things stand out, one that the date rate of the file that doesn't open is double that of the file that does open. The file that does open has an incredibly low data rate for an HD format. (Where did you get this media? How did it get into your computer?)

The second thing is that the drive is formatted in FAT32, which absolutely should not be used with video applications on the Mac.

As skalicki said you need to convert this media to QuickTime using the Apple Intermediate Codec. As the material is 1440x1080, you really should convert it to 1440x1080 so the frame resolution doesn't have to be changed. You can then use the HDV 1080i60 preset in FCE.

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Answer 6

Kevin Powers Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 27, 2009 9:18 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

These files originated from my JVC HD camcorder set to 1080p. I just dragged the full clips from the JVC connected via USB to my HD, opened them in QuickTime Pro, used Trim to Selection to create these even smaller clips (each only a few seconds long) and did a Save As...for each, keeping the same format.

Anyway, really appreciate the advice so far. I've moved the files off the FAT32 formatted drive and onto my desktop. The same files still won't open, but I'm going to try to convert all of them. I'll post an update when that's done.

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Answer 7

Kevin Powers Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 27, 2009 9:51 PM in response to Kevin Powers

Converting to Apple Intermediate Codec and they all import just fine. Still a mystery as to why some files were accepted by FCE and some were not. Anyway, thanks again for the help!

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Nov 28, 2009 3:44 AM in response to Kevin Powers

It would be good to know exactly what camera you're talking about. JVC makes hundreds of models which shoot in a great variety of formats, some of which work in FCE, some of which don't.

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Answer 9

Kevin Powers Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 29, 2009 10:47 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

JVC Picsio GC-FM1

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Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Nov 30, 2009 3:57 AM in response to Kevin Powers

Cool camera. Doesn't work with FCE though. You can probably use MPEG Streamclip to convert the media to a format that FCE can use.

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