Import MPEG-2 files into Final Cut Pro X

that's a very interesting trick thanks for sharing does that work with hd mp2? this article suggests that for hd files you may need to use the .tod extension as an alternative:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOD_(video_format)

Saying "don't do this" without any explanation doesn't really help. Why shouldn't we do this? I've edited and built a DVD using this system, and it works with no problems.

Are you talking about using MPEG Streamclip for transcoding? If you do that then you are only degrading the quality unnecessarily.

@jowie how did you ever stumble upon this anyway?

@tomwolsky does something bad happen to the file if you do this? also were you ever able to find that section in the apple store? i'd love to be able to access that purchase even if it serves very little purpose at this point.

@ubernaut - I originally imported a load of videos from a camcorder and they were in the MOD format. I converted them to .mpeg files using MPEG Streamclip, so I could browse them and organise them in the Finder. Then, when I wished to put them into FCPX, I found they were all greyed out, so I thought I'd have to convert them back. Then I read online that .MOD files and .mpeg files are basically the same content and that you could actually rename the files to MOD and they would work... So I thought I'd give it a go and - hey presto - it did.

MPEG-2 is a very heavily compressed and very codec. It works poorly in production and can produce artifacting. Converting to a production codec like DV50 for SD or ProRes will produce much results on output.

well wait a sec though any format you bring into fcp x (unless you have set it not to) will be transcoded and analysed automatically so how is this a bad thing the only problem is that fcp doesnt reccognize the format as being readable.

i think you're losing me here i was asking about the mpeg2 playback component if you have a link please do share because as of the last time i checked that software purchases page is no longer discoverable.

You will compound the artifacting and introduce more by working with this format. The codec compresses across 15 frame groups GOPs. This can create weird little artifacts when the video recompresses, especially during transitions and titles. But whatever. If you're happy with it; I wouldn't recommend it for other users.

That's right. Also ProRes is very large, unnecessarily large for MOD files, which are SD. ProRes LT would be adequate or DV50 or even DVCPRO for most things. Your options are much broader if you do it outside of FCP.

I don't known what page you're talking about. There is a link for the playback clone my on the squared 5 download page.

i don't get it if you read eariler in the thread you were referring to the apple mpeg2 playback component and i asked if you had a link because the last time i check you can longer access that download page.

ok thanks for clarifying but if the rest of your project is already some higher prores format would you not need it in that same format to avoid a duplicate file anyway or are you you saying you you prefer not to use that setting in your fcp x production environment and do all your ingest transcodes manually?

thanks again love your input i always learn stuff reading your posts!

yes but am i mistaken in thinking that would be an extraneous encoding step unless you picked the exact format as your project is in or does fcp x allow for multiple prores formats in the same project without transcoding?

and regarding the mpeg2 playback component please do share a link if you have one cause i havent been able to find that section of the apple online store in years. as i said before it may be of minimal utility at this point but i'd still like to be able to access it seeing as i paid for it if that's possible.

If you picked one of the codecs I suggested there is no extra encoding step as you can export a master file in any one those codecs.

Please see the information on the Streamclip side as I think I said earlier in the thread. Do you not have the original installer disk image?

Lion/Mountain Lion and MPEG-2 Playback Component

The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion and Mountain Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion and Mountain Lion, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it.

To install the component in Lion or Mountain Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b8 betaabove; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component M. Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion or Mountain Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.

The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion and Mountain Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion and Mountain Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

Also read the information for Snow Leopard below.

If you picked one of the codecs I suggested there is no extra encoding step as you can export a master file in any one those codecs.

well okay but i thought we were working from the assumption this was going into a FCP X timeline as such it would need to be the same format as that timeline or wouldn't FCP X automatically rencode it anyway (unless again you were not checking off the use optimized media option in preferences?

Please see the information on the Streamclip side as I think I said earlier in the thread. Do you not have the original installer disk image?

i do not have the original disk image anymore i never saved it before it disappeared for whatever reason i just figured i could download it whenver i needed (i think maybe cause i figured it may have one day been updated to run more properly on os x post tiger since before lion it would run but it would always give you that warning about being for an older operating system).

it would need to be the same format as that timeline or wouldn't FCP X automatically rencode it anyway

No. It only reencodes when it has to render like a title or a transition. FCPX isn't like legacy versions that needed to render everything to a single codec.

Email me about the other.