How to use Camtasia AVI in FCP X

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Level 1

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How to use Camtasia AVI in FCP X

I need to use AVI sequences captured with Camtasia for Windows in FCP X. The TSCC / Ensharpen codec from Techsmith is of course installed on the Mac, the video can be played in Quicktime and can be used in FCP 7. In FCP X it is refused when trying to import it/ drag it to the timeline or media collection.

Why is that and how can I get around this problem? Of course I can produce the video in Camtasia as MP4 and then import it to FCP but this is not what I'm looking for.

Final Cut Pro X

Posted on Jul 7, 2011 5:03 AM

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Answer 1

RGV13

Level 1

40 points

Jul 7, 2011 5:34 AM in response to Elmar 1

Ask apple why is that :-( ........ You are right FCPX will not let you upload avi files. You need to convert to Mov in FCP 7 and then upload it in FCPX

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,777 points

Jul 7, 2011 5:36 AM in response to Elmar 1

Try using MPEG Streamclip to convert the video to a standard ProRes format.

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Answer 3

Jul 7, 2011 10:43 AM in response to Elmar 1

Why would you want to use an AVI container on a Mac??? for the TSCC lossless? Camtasia does not offer another solution?

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Answer 4

Elmar 1 Author

Level 1

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Jul 7, 2011 10:52 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

Because Camtasia for WIndows saves the captured screen videos internally in this format. I could convert/produce from Camtasia's timeline to many formats, also a format "digestible" by FCP X, but this takes time and effort and since I'm a lazy man trying to save time and effort, I would like to use the file "as is", like I could before in FCP 4.

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Answer 5

Jul 7, 2011 11:15 AM in response to Elmar 1

I hear ya. Sorry man.

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Answer 6

Feb 28, 2013 11:05 AM in response to Elmar 1

after instlling the ensharpen codec from techsmith on my MBP, i was able to open the .avi in QT 10 and then save it as a .mov file which FCP X (10.0.7) was able to import. Takes some time to save the self-contained .mov and still have to render once you put it on a project timeline, but overall this was a much quicker way to get started working than transcoding before importing to FCP.

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Answer 7

Feb 28, 2013 12:07 PM in response to RGV13

I have often imported avi files into FCP X, so at least it is not entirely accurate to say that it can't be done (though probably it depends on the codec, not only on the container). When I do, I choose to optimize them on import - which creates quicktime files with ProRes 422 codec.

Of course, it is not the preferred or recommended container.

Tom's advice is, of course, correct: use MPEG Streamclip to transcode to ProRes in a Quicktime container, and then your file not only be imported by FCP X but it will already be optimized for it.

Message was edited by: Luis Sequeira1

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