Uncompressed AVI

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Uncompressed AVI

Hello,

I am trying to export an uncompressed AVI from FCP 5 - client needs that format. I export via quicktime conversion; select AVI; options for compression none; I select thousands of colors (if I selet millions I cannot play anything at all). It takes the old G5 5 minutes or so to export a file that is 3 minutes long (on the timeline it is HD DVCPro 720p). When the process is done the files are larger than the raw. It seems as if FCP is doing the job. However, when I go back to check the files there is a strange pattern. If the file is under 4 GB I can view the entire file; 4GB-6GB I can view about 30-40seconds or so; over 6 and I cannot view it at all. When I import the AVI files back into FCP I get the same results. I have Flip4Mac on the computer (I am not 100 percent that it is a full version). I can view the clips that are under 4 GB (clips are usually 2-3 miutes in length, but these are done with thousands of colors not millions. When I do millions the AVI won't play and FCP won't recognize the file). The files that are being exported are all larger than the raw. So, why can't I view these files? Is FCP doing the job or is it only doing part of it?

John

G5, FCP 5

Posted on Jul 7, 2010 12:15 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 7, 2010 12:24 PM in response to saintmarino

saintmarino wrote:
Hello,

I am trying to export an uncompressed AVI from FCP 5 ... When the process is done the files are larger than the raw.

That's because DVCProHD is a compressed format, and you are exporting an uncompressed file.

If the file is under 4 GB I can view the entire file; 4GB-6GB I can view about 30-40seconds or so; over 6 and I cannot view it at all.

How is your drive formatted?

I have Flip4Mac on the computer (I am not 100 percent that it is a full version).

Not sure that Flip4Mac has anything to do with AVI files, but if it does, the free version will only export the first half of your video, then stop, and it will be watermarked with their logo.

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Answer 2

saintmarino Author

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Jul 7, 2010 12:56 PM in response to thrillcat editorial

I am working off a LaCie (7200rpm) that is formatted for Mac OS extended non-journaled. FCP acts like the AVI files are complete; some files are around 10 GB. Why won't FCP or quicktime view them if they are over 4 GB?

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Answer 3

Jul 7, 2010 1:07 PM in response to saintmarino

Probably because your drive isn't fast enough. For an uncompressed 720p file, you'll need a RAID to get the sustained throughput needed.

Is your drive USB, too?

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Answer 4

David S.

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Jul 7, 2010 1:20 PM in response to saintmarino

To echo what the thrill said, you are trying to play back an uncompressed AVI high definition file on a G5 off a Lacie external.

Even if it were a FW800 drive, I doubt that this would be possible.

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Answer 5

saintmarino Author

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Jul 7, 2010 4:06 PM in response to David S.

If the drive wasn't fast enough why would it play the smaller files under 4 GB without any issues? Even if the old G5 couldn't take the speed to play the file wouldn't FCP still be able to import the complete file - so I could at least spot check it to make sure everything is there. However, when I import I get the same results as before. Would the speed of the computer be the reason why I cannot view the larger files, yet only smaller files?

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Answer 6

David S.

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Jul 7, 2010 4:14 PM in response to saintmarino

How many of seconds is it playing back?

What is the pixel size of the AVI, and its frame rate?

It this a FW800 drive?

If so, anything else attached to the FW bus or port?

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Answer 7

saintmarino Author

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Jul 7, 2010 4:22 PM in response to David S.

For the smaller files (around 4GB) it plays the entire file - laggs a little but it plays. The larger files (under 7 GB) it will play anywhere from 20 seconds to about a minute. Over 7 GB and I get nothing (Drive is formatted to OS extended). The file sizes are relative to the length of the video.

I don't know the pixel size, however, when it is set to thousands of colors I get the results above. When set to millions I cannot play anything and FCP won't recognize the file.

This old G5 has only 400 ports and it is the only thing hooked up via Firewire. Everything else is on USB.

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Answer 8

David S.

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Jul 7, 2010 4:36 PM in response to saintmarino

How many seconds is the 4 GB file?

When the footage stops playing, does the progress bar stall in the QT Player or wherever it is playing?

Again, what is the pixel size and frame rate of the AVI file?

Is it 30 frames per second at 1280x720?

An 8-bit uncompressed video file at 29.97 and 1280x720 requires a throughput of almost 56 MB/s, which a firewire 400 drive cannot handle and G5 cannot play fast enough.

I couldn't play more than a couple of seconds of HD h.264 on an atom based net book, for example.

Love to help, but please answer each question. Otherwise I have to ask again.

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Answer 9

saintmarino Author

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Jul 7, 2010 6:03 PM in response to David S.

The files that are around 4 GB are around 90 seconds to 130 seconds - I have three at that size and they play all the way through.

When the footage stops playing for the other files in the range of 4-6 GB, the QT player and FCP both act like it is the end of the file. There is no stall it just gets to the end of the clip like it didn't export the whole sequence out of FCP. I didn't set in/out points in FCP for any of the exported sequences. However, the file sizes suggest that everything is there and based on the smaller files being complete I have to assume the larger files are complete as well - I hope...

I left all my export settings to follow the native sequence settings. So, 30 fps at 1440x1080. Do you think the Mac is having a hard time exporting the complete files when they are that large?

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Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

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Jul 7, 2010 6:30 PM in response to saintmarino

30fps? What format is this that's 30fps?

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Answer 11

saintmarino Author

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Jul 8, 2010 6:13 AM in response to David S.

Sorry, I have a correction from the last post...

I left all my export settings to follow the native sequence settings. So, 30 fps (29.97) at 960x720. Do you think the Mac is having a hard time exporting the complete files when they are that large?

this is just strange. It is like FCP won't export anything complete over 4 GB in an AVI for so I can play it back. The files look complete they say they are 7.6 GB, for example, yet when I play it I can only play about 40 seconds and the video just ends as if it didn't export the entire sequence.

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Answer 12

saintmarino Author

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Jul 8, 2010 8:49 AM in response to saintmarino

Solution found: MPEG StreamClip

FCP and Quicktime do not play well with uncompressed AVI. Export the QT movie from FCP and import it into MPEG StreamClip.

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Answer 13

David S.

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Jul 8, 2010 8:56 AM in response to saintmarino

Glad that we could be helpful.

BTW, how does importing the DVCProHD movie file into MPEG Streamclip solved your problem about playing uncompressed AVI?

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Answer 14

saintmarino Author

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Jul 8, 2010 10:22 AM in response to David S.

I could not get FCP to export a complete uncompressed AVI. If the file was over 4 GB it wouldn't work - as mentioned above with the various sizes. Someone suggested that I use Quicktime Pro to convert to an uncompressed AVI instead of using FCP. Tried it and again - no success. So, best bet was exporting a QT movie from FCP and into MPEG StreamClip. I adjusted the settings for a desired result.

The issue about playing files is about being able to confirm that the export was complete. If I cannot view the files or import them into FCP to make sure they can be worked with than I have nothing to send off. MPEG StreamClip allowed me to convert the Quicktime files into an uncompressed AVI - and at the end I was able to view the entire file and import it into FCP without any issues.

Thanks for helping me out with this David. You were the first person to steer me in the right direction.

Message was edited by: saintmarino

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Answer 15

David S.

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Jul 8, 2010 11:02 AM in response to saintmarino

Sounds good.

thanks for following up.

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