Best way to import stills for Timelapse - Quicktime or FCPX?

Question

Best way to import stills for Timelapse - Quicktime or FCPX?

Making the switch from FCP7 to X... long time coming I know!

When cutting on FCP7, I always did my timelapse imports through Quicktime ( > Open Image Sequence > set frame rate > Export) that I'd then import into FCP7. Worked great.

I have tried the suggested workflow for image files into FCPX ( > importing images > putting them all onto a timeline/project > Cmd+A and Ctrl+D to change duration to 1frame > Opt+G to create compound clip) but it seems rather long and I worry that the compound clips will cause problems later as they aren't "real" clips.

Does everyone else work this way? Would love to set a process in motion and stick to it going forward.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Apr 24, 2022 10:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

68,038 points

Apr 25, 2022 2:24 AM in response to Ceratotherium

It will work either way, but if there is a lot of stills I am partial to using Quicktime. Many stills, especially if they are large, demand more resources to handle. Converting the image sequence in Quicktime Player makes it easier to work with.

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Answer 2

Apr 25, 2022 4:10 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for that tip Luis.

I have just tested it and QT player appears to be much quicker and easier than importing into FCP X etc. although the 900 or so 5MB stills used in the above video had been done on my old, slow Mac mini and the QT test I did just now was on my 2017 iMac.

The 900+ stills now took under a couple of minutes to convert to video.

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Answer 3

Apr 29, 2022 8:01 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks all for your workflows... I tried all three, Quicktime, FCPX and Compressor and here's what I found:

• Quicktime is the workflow I used on FCP7 and so it feels comfortable, but it is not the workflow I will use going forward.

• Final Cut is what most folks seem to use but there are drawbacks as it seems slower than QT.

• Compressor is by far the easiest for me and is what I will use going forward as I can batch the folders and apply a preset.

I found a lot of useful videos on all three options and Larry Jordan had a great one and so did Ripple Training on the Compressor options.

Thanks again everyone... much appreciated.

Cheers,

Susan.

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Answer 4

Apr 29, 2022 8:07 AM in response to Ceratotherium

Sorry! Our posts seem to have crossed in the ether and I did not see that you had plumped for Compressor.

I have never used it for that purpose but might give it a go next time I do any time-lapse . . . which could be many years away.😄

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,075 points

Apr 25, 2022 3:24 AM in response to Ceratotherium

I use Compressor to convert the image sequence to video.

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Answer 6

Apr 25, 2022 12:23 AM in response to Ceratotherium

I import the stills, put into FCP X timeline, select all and convert to 1 frame.

That's it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f775HVyQ_X0

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Answer 7

Apr 29, 2022 8:02 AM in response to Ceratotherium

Use Luis' QuickTime Player method as it is much quicker and easier than fiddling around in FCP X.

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Best way to import stills for Timelapse - Quicktime or FCPX?

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