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Helpful articles for Final Cut Pro for Mac, Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera:
A wonderful app, but it does NOT allow a choice between H265 and H264.
Apple Pro Res is a CRAZY amount of memory.
Since iOS18 update, all my MOV downloads from iCloud to Windows PC have NO metadata And this app is the same apart from when selecting Pro Res!
I just want a simple 1080p H264 recording. Is that SO hard?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18
I tried this with H.264 and H.265 video from my iPhone 16 and it works transferring to Mac - the metadata transfers and is readable in the file system. The information is there but you are trying to read it in the Windows file system and it's not working so you conclude Apple messed it up. That doesn't make sense. It must be a Windows issue. Have you actually checked it in a video editor such as DaVinci Resolve to see if it can read the metadata? There is a free version you can download to check.
I tried this with H.264 and H.265 video from my iPhone 16 and it works transferring to Mac - the metadata transfers and is readable in the file system. The information is there but you are trying to read it in the Windows file system and it's not working so you conclude Apple messed it up. That doesn't make sense. It must be a Windows issue. Have you actually checked it in a video editor such as DaVinci Resolve to see if it can read the metadata? There is a free version you can download to check.
There’s multiple ways to achieve this.
::: SOLUTION 1 :::
If you’re comfortable recording in the iPhone Camera app instead, you can go into Settings -> Camera -> Format and select ”Most compatible” to get native H.264 video recording on your iPhone.
::: SOLUTION 2 :::
If you save your videos to your iPhone camera roll from the Final Cut Camera-app, and then select the videos in the iPhone Photos app, you can click ”Alternatives” and then select ”Most compatible” which will convert all videos to H.264 when transferred over to your computer.
::: SOLUTION 3 :::
You can also download HandBrake on your computer which is an open-source video encoder that allows you to re-encode the files. But this will require you to transfer the files first.
::: SOLUTION 4 :::
Use the ”MoviePro - Pro Video Camera” app by Deepak Sharma. It’s as easy to use as the Final Cut Camera app but has native H.264 recording capabilities.
Good luck!
I don’t use iCloud or any cloud service for getting video or photos from a phone to my Mac as there is too much potential for modification. I copy from the files app to an external SSD drive and from there to my Mac.Maybe worth a try? I agree the BM app is complicated although probably worth the effort (complete shortage of documentation as well). My favourite video app for iPhone by far is Cinema P3 but it doesn’t seem to have H.264?
You could try using an external USB-C drive connected to your iPhone and copying the images from there to your Windows computer. It would need to be formatted as ex-FAT which can be read by the phone and the PC. Direct copying should retain all metadata. Use the Files app on the phone for copying.
mlhifi wrote:
On the left is a video taken AFTER iOS18 update.
On the right is a video taken BEFORE iOS18 update.
So, Apple have definitely messed with something.
Or maybe Microsoft is incompatible so you might blame it and wait for a Windows update:
iOS/iPadOS 18 introduced QuickTime FullFrameRatePlaybackIntent tag. If that tag is present, Windows might fail to display thumbnails and most metadata items in its Details panel (Media created, resolution, frame rate, audio details etc).
High frame rate playback option in iOS/iP… - Apple Community
Sadly that didn't work either!
On the left is a video taken AFTER iOS18 update.
On the right is a video taken BEFORE iOS18 update.
So, Apple have definitely messed with something.
This screenshot is taken directly from an external USB-C memory stick.
I have spent far too long on this now, in other words since Mid-September!
Thanks for your message. I have the Blackmagic app too. It's a bit more complicated than I need although I will persevere.
The Final Cut app, and internal camera, do have the option for 1080p and H264 BUT, when transfered to a Windows PC via iCloud, there is NO metadata leaving you with no way of knowing when they were taken.
The ONLY way to get metadata back is set "1080p HD at 30fps (High Efficiency)" and, despite the "1080p", when downloaded it's actually 720p! I find that somewhat confusing, although it's the mode I'm stuck with until I find the solution.
This has been a major problem since September with the introduction of iOS18
I have had several discussions with Apple Tech and got nowhere. Pre-iOS18 metadata was always present!
So, this is me looking for an app that gives the options I want/need and that IS Blackmagic.
“The ONLY way to get metadata back is set "1080p HD at 30fps (High Efficiency)" and, despite the "1080p", when downloaded it's actually 720p”
How are you downloading from the phone? Where are you downloading to?
I have tried 2 methods.
1) download directly to my Windows 10 PC via iCloud website.
2)iCloud app is 'synced" to my Windows PHOTOS folder, so they just 'appear' in there.
I think you might have another idea? iTunes perhaps?
I haven't experimented much with that.
Hi Clint,
I can only go on the information I have and that is, before iOS18, the metadata was present & correct and after the update it was not.
I have used DaVinci Resolve for a couple of years and the metadata does not show but, prior to iOS18, it did.
I have spent a lot of time looking into this and spent a lot of time on Apple Discussion but got nowhere.
Where to from here I have no idea.
Except, the Blackmagic app is the best way around this. The perfect companion of course to Davinci.
I've just tried Cinema P3 and it is good. You are right, it doesn't have H264 natively but looks like it can be upgraded, for a price! In my case £14.95, a fair price if it gives me everything I need.
I am out of ideas now. Blackmagic looks to be the best bet. I used DaVinci Resolve to add Rec709 and it displayed beautifully on my Windows PC, I can only imagine how amazing it would look on a Mac.
We can all dream.
I am in my 70's and constantly learning.
Again, thank you for your time and effort, it is greatly appreciated.
I would definitely recommend Cinema P3 with the upgrade. It is well worth the price. It is well-supported.with good documentation and a very intuitive user interface unlike the Blackmagic app in my opinion. There is not a lot between them but Cinema P3 also has an advanced stills section.
I am still not entirely clear about what your problem is with metadata. It shows in Resolve for Mac. Are you saying that you can read it in Resolve for Windows but not in the file system? If so is that really a problem?
Finally good on you for the constant learning. I’m a great believer in lifelong learning and keeping the mental muscles working indefinitely.
Solution 3 is now so obvious. I have used Handbrake for about 2 years on downloaded video that have no metadata so why on earth didn't I think about using it. Thank you for the nudge in the right direction.
Solution 2 was a good alternative. That's given me exactly what I wanted too.
Other options that have been suggested, ie Blackmagic Cam and Cinema P3, both have merits in their own right. They are superior in many ways by giving the operator "fine tuning" over the camera settings which is something I thought Apple had previously not allowed; ie not given app makers the option to dig into their core programing.
I may be wrong.
I've said this to another contributor that I am in my 70's and am keen to learn and get super-proficient at taking photos and videos with my iPhone.
Thank you ALL very much for your very extensive help.
Michael
The Blackmagic Camera App (free on the App Store) or the in-built iOS Camera app have H.264 options if you really need a basic 8-bit codec.
Do you have a Mac, or are you working solely on Windows? If the latter I can’t help you I’m afraid.
H264 recording option missing in Final Cut Camera app
