Level 1

5 points

De-Interlacing in Final Cut Pro X

Hello Everyone, Hope you All are Well. I’m a travel vlogger, and I mostly have edited my YouTube videos on Final Cut Express, which is quite similar to Final Cut Pro 7. I have experience using FCPX as well. Since my MacBook Pro 2011 has some major startup/graphics issues, I have switched to an M1 Max MacBook Pro. I probably won’t be able to use Final Cut Express anymore. I have been making newer videos with my iPhone, but a lot of my pending videos were shot in 1920 x 1080 60i (older cameras). De-interlacing videos on Final Cut Express/Final Cut Pro 7 was quite easy, but I have not been able to find much about that with the new version of Final Cut Pro.

To my understanding, I would just need to export 60i video as 1920 x 1080 29.97p to de-interlace the video (as opposed to applying an actual de-interlace filter like on Final Cut Express). Is this correct? Is 29.97p right or does it need to be 30p? For example, 60p is usually just 59.94p, but since I have shot in Full HD 1920 X 1080 60p on at least any recent iPhones I have used, I will export in 60p not 59.94p.

While using Final Cut Express with the 60i footage, the Timeline would be for 1920 X 1080 60i (exported to match 60i), and then the de-interlace filter would be applied to each video on the Timeline. While using 60i footage in the new Final Cut Pro X, does the Timeline need to be set as 1920 X 1080 60i, or does it need to be set at 30p/29.97p?

While De-interlacing on Final Cut Express, I would have to make sure the filter was only applied to the video footage, and not to the entire project, since text would even get messed up. In the case of the initial question, will anything else in the project be messed up, since an individual de-interlace filter won’t be applied?

While using Final Cut Express, I would often use freeze frames from videos to make thumbnails. After taking a freeze frame, I believe I wouldn’t be able to just apply a de-interlace filter, and export as .JPEG. It would not fix the interlacing issues. I believe I would have to take a freeze frame, export as .JPEG, apply the de-interlace filter, and export again (with any text) to get the final product. It was more work, but I am not sure if that issue was possibly a glitch. If I need to get a freeze frame from the footage on Final Cut Pro X, would I need to export twice as I was doing on Final Cut Express, or will once be enough (as in the same process as with de-interlacing video footage)?

Sorry for the long post. Most people probably don’t even record in 60i anymore, and it makes sense as to why I was not able to get much information for de-interlacing on Final Cut Pro X. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.5

Posted on Apr 14, 2023 12:02 PM

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28 replies

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,889 points

Apr 15, 2023 7:01 AM in response to pjanveja

The project setting really depends on how you plan to export. There is no correct answer. with 4K media a 4K project is easier for the system to work in, less processing for playback. If you use the default Export File function you're locked into the project size. Other export functions, and of course Compressor, let you set the export size.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2023 12:36 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Oh, okay. It seems it’s better to use the 4K videos on a 4K Timeline, and then just change the exporting format to Full HD, if necessary. Otherwise, it may just be best to even export in 4K. The reasons I don’t work with 4K yet are that it takes up much more space, and many people don’t have 4K monitors. Even if I was to export in 4K, people could still view the video in full HD.

Thanks for all your help! You have given me better insight, and I look forward to using the knowledge while using FCP.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2023 12:40 PM in response to Matti Haveri

Thank you for the information. In my situation though, this is all information that does not help with what I need. I am also not working with SD footage anymore. I also am not working with any PAL Videos, and since I am shooting in HD, NTSC probably does not apply anymore either. The information could be valuable to some, though. Thanks.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2023 1:52 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I think a lot of my confusion comes from assuming that 30p is the same as 30fps. I thought 30p meant 30fps in progressive mode. Could be a mistake. In Your opinion, for YouTube, while setting the Timeline format, should I let it automatically set it or choose the format on my own (for 1920 X 1080 60i footage)?

Would You set the Timeline at 30p/29.97p or 60p/59.94p?

Then should the export format match the Timeline format?

I just don’t want to mess this up.

Thank You.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2023 3:48 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks. So I can choose the format as 1920 X 1080 30p for the Timeline, and then export in the same format. How odd would the final video look (for the 60i footage) if the Timeline was set at 1920 X 1080 60p, and exported in that format (of 60p)?

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2023 4:46 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I can definitely do that. It is a good idea for me to do some sample exports and see how things look. If the exported video looks fine to me, it should be okay for YouTube as well. Thanks for all the assistance! I really appreciate it.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2023 6:48 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Unrelated to this post, but while working with FCP is it better to have separate external hard drives for everything, or one for everything? For example, I have separate external hard drives for the footage, projects, and exported videos (each separate). I could just put them all together in one though. Which do You think is better for workflow? Thanks.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,889 points

Apr 16, 2023 9:45 AM in response to pjanveja

You probably should start a new thread. This is always an interesting discussion, and there really isn't right answer. It depends on your system and what you need to do. Smaller projects that you do alone and are one offs, run and done, you can probably do entirely on your system drive. The larger and longer the production scales up the more complex the answer becomes, and the more views you want to hear.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,889 points

Apr 14, 2023 12:40 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

That's variable frame rate. Edit isn't working.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,889 points

Apr 15, 2023 4:27 AM in response to pjanveja

Are you exporting a clip or editing a project? Exporting a clip, check, otherwise ignore it.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,889 points

Apr 16, 2023 4:18 AM in response to pjanveja

Try it with your content. It’s not going to be the same for everything. On a talking head you’d never notice.

pjanveja Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2023 12:41 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks. I could start another thread.

q1k5aNd

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2024 10:10 AM in response to Matti Haveri

This is exactly what Im looking for. Very little documentation on this. Thank you!!

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De-Interlacing in Final Cut Pro X