Canon 7D + Full Quality Export from FCP

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Canon 7D + Full Quality Export from FCP

Hi, I'm kind of new to the video scene, and especially FCP, and have finally took the plunge and bought a Canon 7D. I have just finished editing my footage, and now I want to export.

Despite all the tweaking that I've tried, the biggest file size I can get out of this is a 30MB file. The sound and video quality are both depressing. I've recorded in 1080p, all I want is a lossless export. I know this isn't FCP's fault, it's my own lack of knowledge, and that's why I'm here.

I've tried File/Export/Quicktime Movie...
I've un-ticked 'Make Movie Self-Contained'
I've changed my sequence preset to 'Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) 1920x1080 30p 48kHz'

I've done all of this AFTER finishing editing, so would this become a problem?

Here is what my sequence settings looks like. If it helps?

[IMG] http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/9261/screenshot20110320at142.png[/IMG]

p.s. I have looked at the numerous threads that are actually identical to my problem, unfortunately, I've either got myself in a muddle or the fixes haven't been successful.

Message was edited by: GCWB6

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 8GB, 256GB SSD, High Res Matt

Posted on Mar 20, 2011 7:21 AM

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Answer 1

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Mar 20, 2011 8:00 AM in response to GCWB6

Start over.

Convert your material to ProResLT before you bring it into FCP.

Edit it.

Export using current settings/ self contained.

It will look as good as it can be.

x

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Answer 2

Mar 20, 2011 8:02 AM in response to GCWB6

Welcome to the forum!

Your problem is that you didn't transcode the H.264 footage that you've shot to ProRes BEFORE you edited. FCP doesn't support the native format of the files that the camera you have records... the fix won't be easy, but not impossible by any means. I think you'll need to transcode the footage using Canon's plugin for FCP: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slrcameras/eos7d#DriversAndSoftware

Select the Mac OS in the drop down toward the bottom of the page and download and install EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro Ver1.1

Bring in your footage through the log and transfer window selecting ProRes for the import format. Reconform your sequence using these new files... then export it.

Jerry

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Answer 3

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 8:04 AM in response to Studio X

Thanks for the reply, two questions.

1) Seeing as I've spent around 20 hours editing, trimming, adding sound effects n etc. is there anyway that I can go around starting all over again and importing the footage from scratch?
2) How do I convert my footage?

Cheers

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Answer 4

Mar 20, 2011 8:07 AM in response to GCWB6

Convert using log and transfer in FCP after installing the plugin... There's a little gear wheel toward the top of the window to choose which flavor of ProRes to use. The transcode will happen during the import.

Hey conforming the footage afterwards isn't going to take all that much time, as you're only matching what you did before... Place the new footage in a copy of your finished sequence shot by shot... match this sequence's settings to the prores settings you chose in the log and transfer window.

Jerry

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Answer 5

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 8:23 AM in response to Jerry Hofmann

Well, I guess it was my fault that I didn't prepare. Then again, what better way to learn then trial and error. I'll try your solution, thanks for the help. I won't mark the thread as answered now, as it's possible I may manage to conjure some more issues up whilst following your instructions.

I'll just quickly slip this question in, seeing as I had a shabby workaround to solve it before, and as salvation is nigh I might as well ask. I have one scene where the camera was slightly off balance, which meant I had to rotate the video and scale it up to fit the frame. Here's my problem, I'm using the widescreen video filter, and it so happens that the black border that is over-layed, settles on the original video. Meaning the black borders go across my video at 170 degrees instead of a perfect horizontal. How can I resolve this? My workaround was to rotate the clip in a new sequence, export it in full quality and re-import it - is this lossless, in terms of quality, with your proposed technique above?

George

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Answer 6

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Mar 20, 2011 8:35 AM in response to GCWB6

Put the sequence (or clip) into a new sequence (nest it) and apply the filter to the new sequence.

or

Create a black slug, put it on the next higher video track over your rotated clip then mask out the wide screen area to make the center area transparent.

x

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Answer 7

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 8:42 AM in response to Jerry Hofmann

Apologies for being such high maintenance, but I've already come across an obstacle. Seems I'm getting some sort of error message. I installed the plugin, restarted FCP and then started up the log and transfer. Upon dragging the original files imported from the camera, I get this message.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7621/uploadmeu.png

Message was edited by: GCWB6

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Answer 8

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 8:43 AM in response to Studio X

Thanks Studio! Didn't think of this, mostly because I didn't think it was an option. I've slightly more handier with Premiere Pro and nesting is quite an easy function to find. Didn't know about FCP's equivalent.

Cheers

George

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Answer 9

Mar 20, 2011 8:50 AM in response to GCWB6

Hmm. I think you need to now set up a batch process in compressor for those .mov files to get them to ProRes.

How did you get them off the card? I found with my Canon T2i I had to do that. Log and Transfer couldn't find the files properly. But I was very confused about that whole thing then too. I gave up and bought a better HD video camera. (Not suggesting you do that)... but you might now be in a place where the best thing to do is send all the clips into Compressor and batch them out.

Will take quite a bit of time.

Yikes.

Good luck

(I hold no professional opinion of my own opinions here)

CaptM

EDIT - well wait. Are you dragging them into log and transfer? Don't do that. That is for a 'proper' file format that the camera should have used on the SD card. NOT for the .mov files themselves.

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Answer 10

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 8:53 AM in response to Captain Mench

I simply used the Canon Utility, used the 'download images' option. It seemed the standard way, I didn't want to overcomplicate things.

Batch process? Forgive me, batch meaning convert them all at the same time? Isn't this what I'm doing? I won't lie, I'm somewhat a beginner at video, if you could offer some steps?

Haha, replacing this beaut is not an option, unfortunately. What is compressor?

I have a day at most to make this a wrap. Damnit.

George

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Answer 11

Mar 20, 2011 9:05 AM in response to GCWB6

HA!! Feel your pain! We've all been there.

Ok...

1) take 10 minutes and read this... http://lfhd.net/2010/04/04/log-and-transfer-for-canon-dslrs/ if it helps it will help A LOT. If it doesn't - just ignore it.

2) If that didn't help... open Compressor (should be in your applications folder where FCP is. Part of the FCStudio suite studio thing).

2a) drag ALL the .mov files into the upper left (untitled) window and select them all (turn blue - they might already be selected...
http://homepage.mac.com/captmench/Compressor01.png

2b) in SETTINGS window click SETTINGS tab and open APPLE - FORMATS - QUICKTIME... there you will see the ProRes options...
http://homepage.mac.com/captmench/Compressor02.png

2c) Drag one of those (I like LT) onto the highlighted .movs above.

You'll need to set a destination... select all again and then go to Destinations tab I'd go ahead and send them to the Desktop for cleanup later -- but it WILL change the title of the movs so you can leave it at SOURCE (default) if you want.

Then hit SUBMIT on the Untitled window where you dropped your clips and Submit again (don't worry about that dialog box!!) -- then go to the park for a few hours.

Good luck,

CaptM

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Answer 12

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Captain Mench

Perfect! Your instructions were so simple a toddler could have followed them. Can't emphasize how much I appreciate this. Rightio, so once this is all done I can just straight import them into a new sequence? Do I need to setup any sequence settings at all? Just don't want to have to re-organise all the clips a 3rd time.

I used the HQ Pro Res 422, just can't get enough of that quality!

Another question, this is my second video I've edited and exported, the first was done in Adobe Premiere. Everything went to plan, but seeing as I did the exact same in this project as that one (just importing the raw files into the software) could I improve the quality?

http://georgecwbrown.tumblr.com/post/3215769769/this-project-was-based-on-graphi c-design-heroes

(if you'd like a gander)

Kind Regards,

George

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Answer 13

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Mar 20, 2011 9:43 AM in response to GCWB6

I used the HQ Pro Res 422, just can't get enough of that quality!

Just so you know. ProResLT is more than enough for your material. You get no more "quality" with HD, just larger file sizes and denser data rates.

could I improve the quality?

Your material is what ever the camera recorded then compressed into its file format. No software is going to improve that. ProResLT (as noted above) will not harm it.

x

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Answer 14

GCWB6 Author

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Mar 20, 2011 9:49 AM in response to Studio X

I see... sorry, I'm probably being a little desperate after seeing error messages and seeing my work exported into a mess. All I had to compare the LT and HQ was brief descriptions in compressor, so it seemed to be obvious to take the HQ option.

Cheers for the advice though. I'll use LT next time.
Should I be worried that my files converted in about 5 minutes? They're all there, I've imported them back into FCP, and they all play properly. Have bigger file sizes than their predecessors too.

*edit: I'm about to start a new sequence and get my movie back into it's rightful place. Any special way I should set this up? I don't want to have to start again because I made a stupid mistake like not transcoding.*

George

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Answer 15

Mar 20, 2011 9:58 AM in response to GCWB6

Glad it only took a few minutes! I wouldn't worry. Not sure why mine took so long. Anyway...

I like trying stuff I've never done before... so I'd suggest two things.

1) Print out an EDL from the original sequence and you'll have a good idea of cuts and stuff. You might even be able to put that EDL into an excel sheet and change the clip names to reflect the new names and then just import it into the new sequence and fix a few things here and there!!

2) Duplicate the PROJECT FILE -- open it up and select all the old media in the browser window. Right click and take the media off line. Then, select them again and re-attach the media (make sure you use FIND and not SEARCH and also make sure the 'use exact name' box is un-checked. Then just link it to the NEW media.

You'll have to change the sequence settings and if you have other stuff in there it could get wonky... but you've got a 50/50 chance of it working REALLY smoothly!!

Hopefully someone else will offer a better way.

Good luck,

CaptM

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