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please check my workflow: mp4 to FCP via streamclip

Hi all -

I'm hoping to edit video shot on a Sony Bloggie (MHS-TS20) in FCP 5.0.4.

The Bloggie footage is .mp4 with h264 compression, 1920x1080, 29.97 fps, square pixels, upper field dominance, at 1.2 MB/sec.

After several hours of forum research and trial/error, I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. I'm converting using MPEG Streamclip (MPSC) via the Export to Quicktime command. I am using FCP 5.0.4, however, so I do not have the option to export with a ProRes codec, which seems to be the preference for those using FCP 6 or 7.

I believe my best option, therefore, is APPLE DV/DVCPRO-NTSC, selecting 1920x1080 (unscaled), 29.97 fps, with interlacing deselected. I have exported with both upper and lower dominant. (MPSC says to use upper for all codecs except DV, but even when I select lower, FCP tells me that the dominance of the file is upper.) The exported files are 3.6MB/sec.

The exported files import to FCP and are editable, but require rendering even when I set the sequence settings to the exact specifications of the file. So my first question is: Is there any (good) way to convert the files so that they are editable in FCP 5 without having to render them first? (I can achieve this by converting with an HDV codec, but my understanding is that the GOP compression makes this undesirable.)

A second, related question is: What is my best choice of output format for the edited sequence if I intend to post the movie to Vimeo and otherwise distribute online?

thanks
Rich

MacBook Pro 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 4 GB RAM

Posted on Jan 28, 2011 2:04 AM

Best reply

Ian R. Brown

Level 7

21,066 points

Posted on Jan 28, 2011 2:09 AM

With regard to your comment about ProRes, does your FCP have the Apple Intermediate Codec?

This is a sort of fore-runner of ProRes and you will find that to all intents and purposes it will be just as good.

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23 replies

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 2, 2011 8:15 AM in response to Richard Potter

Your version of FCP will qualify you for the FCS 3 (aka FCS 2009) $299 upgrade. This gets you intel versions of the whole suite. Be aware that you will need to be on OSX 10.5.6 or higher (which it appears you are.)

Otherwise, look for a copy of 5.1 on ebay. I have no idea what their price may be.

Overall, given the uncertainties of buying used software (is it legit?) and the reasonable upgrade price to FCS3 (and all the improvements it has over 5.1) I'd highly recommend going with FCS3.

x

Feb 2, 2011 12:07 PM in response to Studio X

Well, I'm running an academic version. So I don't think I can upgrade to FCS 3, correct?

I'm still working on the PhD, so money remains enough of an issue that I can't afford even the academic studio suite right now. (Nor do I want to run into the non-upgradable issue again...) So the choice seems to be between slow render times, 5.1, or FCE.

Thanks for all the help!

Feb 2, 2011 12:14 PM in response to Richard Potter

What about iMovie?

You already have it and it's a pretty good app.

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 2, 2011 12:14 PM in response to Richard Potter

If you do decide to go the FCP 5.1 route, make sure it is the full retail version (not an upgrade) and it comes with all the paperwork including the serial numbers.

Before you spring for FCE, you'll want to very carefully verify it has the capabilities you need. It is very limited in formats.

x

Feb 2, 2011 12:26 PM in response to Studio X

So I can't even upgrade to 5.1 from my version of 5.0.4? Is that because it's the academic version? That's very frustrating...

iMovie, huh? I've never used it and admit to a "shame" factor that has prevented me from even considering it. It seems like a big step down, and my understanding is that it is very limited in capabilities. For my "real" projects, I tend to use a good bit of cropping, split screen, filters, etc. But perhaps for the purposes associated with the Bloggie footage I could get by, especially if the render times were faster. Is there any way to edit a complex project in FCP and then create the export in iMovie? if not, would I still use MPSC to prep the Bloggie clips before importing them to iMovie?

Thanks for the tip on FCE. My understanding is that doesn't have proRes which is a big negative for when I get done with school and back to steadier production of those "real" projects. Do you happen to know of ny online comparison of features and formats between FCE and FCS?

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 2, 2011 12:37 PM in response to Richard Potter

You are correct. Academic versions are not upgradable. Period.

This didn't seem like such a huge negative when the Final Cut Production Suite HD was ~$500 vs $1300 for the Retail version. Now that full retail for FCS is $1000 and the academic version is something like $800, there really is no reason to go academic if you were just starting out.

I have seen comparison charts in the past. You might try googling and see what you come up with.

If this work is relevant to your PhD, is there any possibility you can get a grant for the software?

In any case, if you want to work with ProRes, you need FCP v6 or higher - plain and simple. No way around it.

x

Feb 2, 2011 12:40 PM in response to Richard Potter

iMovie is just a tool like FCP.

If it does the job OK, that's all that matters.

FCE 4 has the Apple Intermediate Codec which is a sort of forerunner of ProRes.

Whilst theoretically not as good, it's quite likely that you would never spot the difference.

Feb 2, 2011 3:18 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

You're right, of course, Ian. If it gets the job done, it's good enough. Since I'm not planning on delivering to TV anytime soon, I don't see how I'll miss the ProRes.

You nailed it, x. I bought the academic version at $600, figuring I'd be out with a job before I had to upgrade. The academic version is actually going for $900 these days - a ten percent discount that surely isn't worth the loss of upgradability. As for a grant, the short answer is "not likely". Money is tighter than ever in academia, and most grants in my field - communications research - specify that they are not to be used for goods that will be possessed by the researcher after the project. I'll be lucky to get a grant to extend my field research travel, which is why I'm using the Bloggie for online posting in the first place...

Hopefully iMovie or FCP 5 with slow exports will be sufficient for now. If I can turn the blogging into some freelance journo work, then perhaps my options will expand...

Thanks again for all the valuable and prompt feedback!

please check my workflow: mp4 to FCP via streamclip