Import 4K on Final Cut 10.4.6 / Create 9:16 version

Question

Import 4K on Final Cut 10.4.6 / Create 9:16 version

I'm on Final Cut 10.4.6, OS 10.14.6.

The videographer is shooting a video that I will edit as both a 16:9 and 9:16 version.

Three questions please:

a) Can FCP 10.4.6 import 4K and can I work with it bug free on FCP 10.4.6?

(I can't upgrade FCP because I can't upgrade OS because it's the OS limit of my MacBook Pro)

b) If I CANNOT use 4 K in FCP 10.4.6, is there problematic resolution degredation in the 9:16 version I would crop from the 1920 X 1080 version?

c) What is the easiest way to create a 9:16 version of a project that was originally cut in FCP 10.4.6 at 16:9 resolution? I've searched YouTube but only found videos on how to do this with Premiere.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.14

Posted on May 15, 2022 3:53 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

65,270 points

May 15, 2022 5:04 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

Before updating, I always make a copy of the existing FCP version - you may just command-D to duplicate, and rename it

"Final Cut Pro 10.4.6"; or you may control-click and choose "Compress Final Cut Pro" to make a zip of it.

Also, if you open a library in a newer version, the library will be updated and can no longer be opened in the old version, so also make a duplicate of it.

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Answer 2

May 15, 2022 4:19 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

Further to my note above, it looks like the "smart conform" function is not available on FCP 10.4.6, is that correct?

Adjust framing with Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro – Apple Support (UK)

THANK YOU!

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Answer 3

May 15, 2022 4:22 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

Pamela Glintenkamp wrote:

Further to my note above, it looks like the "smart conform" function is not available on FCP 10.4.6, is that correct?

Adjust framing with Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro – Apple Support (UK)

THANK YOU!

Yes, this seems to have been introduced in 10.4.9.

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Answer 4

May 15, 2022 4:32 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you! This is incredibly helpful.

I don't have the footage yet but it will primarily be interviews in front of portraits in an art gallery, I would intend to blow it up to fill the 9:16 frame.

I am wondering, as you say, if my Mac can handle importing and working with 4K. I've attached the specs for my mac. Might I ask if you think editing in 4 K in this system will be a problem? (No effects, just straight editing.) I don't have the 4 K footage yet.

Is it correct that if I use 1920 X 1080 material and zoom in to fill the 9:16 frame, the resolution will be poor?

Thanks again!

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Answer 5

May 15, 2022 5:09 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

Hello Tom...further to my note above, I now see that Software Update doesn't list any options for updating my FCP. It is only offering an update of the OS, which at this point in time I would rather not do. Am I missing something in the process of possibly updating FCP to 10.4.10? Thanks again!

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Answer 6

May 15, 2022 4:05 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

a)

10.4.6 can edit 4K videos.

The limiting factor may be your mac: what drive, how is it connected, how much RAM, can have an impact.

Depending on the capabilities of your mac, you may or may not want to use proxies for editing, and switch back to original before exporting the final movie.

b) see above

c)

This heavily depends on what you want to do. The videos have such a different aspect ratio. If you put a 16:9 clip in a 9:16 project, by default it will have big "black" bars on top and bottom. Do you want to scale and crop the sides? Do you want to distort the clips? Only you can tell.

Titles may also need to be adjusted.

Perhaps if you give us an example we can give more specific advice.

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Answer 7

May 15, 2022 4:44 AM in response to Pamela Glintenkamp

Your mac is very limited, both in RAM and in graphics.

To deal with 4K, you should probably edit in proxy.

On the other hand, do you really need to do those interviews in 4K?

You could do the editing in 1080p instead.

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Answer 8

May 15, 2022 4:57 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks again. I would rather not shoot in 4K because of having to work in proxy.

That relates to my question about blowing up the 16:9 content to fill the frame of 9:16 version of the project. Do you fee that blow up will result in unacceptable resolution of the visuals in the 9:16 version?

Thank you so much!

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Answer 9

May 15, 2022 5:00 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks so much, Tom. May I ask a quick question. I'm in the middle of an important project I have been working on for months in FCP 10.4.6. If I try to upgrade to FCP 10.4.10 on my Mac, and there IS a problem, will this create issues with the project I've been working on in 10.4.6? Is there a way to revert the version of FCP, or another solution if in fact 10.4.10 isn't compatible with Mojave? Thanks again and look forward to your thoughts.

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