Problems exporting HD timeline in older Final Cut Studio HD

Question

Level 1

59 points

Problems exporting HD timeline in older Final Cut Studio HD

I've been working on an older version of Final Cut Studio HD. I had originally offlined the footage so I could edit it, and I finished onlining the footage with the original HD footage. The aspect ratio of the project and the footage is 1920 x 1080, and the codec of most of the footage and the timeline was set to H.264. The only problem is, now that it's onlined, it refused to render any of the transitions. It gives me some kind of codec error. I have also tried exporting the timeline as a Quicktime Movie, but it always fails at somepoint in the process. I have tried exporting Quicktime Conversion, and it failed too. The only way I was able to get it to output was to change the codec of the timeline and in Quicktime Conversion, but this provided a subpar quality file. I understand that I'm using and older version of Final Cut Pro on an older system, but I'm trying to find work arounds to this issue that will allow me to output a quality full HD file. Any help is appreciated.

Final Cut Pro 4

Posted on Jul 3, 2012 10:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 4, 2012 2:48 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

No version of FCP supports a H.264 timeline, even though the codec shows as available and can be selected in the Sequence settings. H.264 certainly isn't "full quality HD". You can export it, but you shouldn't even try to edit it.

Your "older version" (you don't say exactly which one) likely only supports Apple Intermediate codec for HD.

Reply

Answer 2

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 5, 2012 2:06 AM in response to Nick Holmes

I'm using Final Cut Pro HD Studio (Final Cut 4 I believe). The original footage was shot on a 5D and was delivered in the H.264. Now I know why I was getting Codec errors when I tried rendering.

That being said, what should be my approach? I'd like to export my sequence, do I need to change the codec of the sequence? Or export with a different codec?

Reply

Answer 3

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 5, 2012 2:38 AM in response to Jorge Lopez

You need to convert the H.264 using Compressor to Apple Intermediate codec and edit with that.

DVC Pro HD might be an option (I can't remember for sure, it might not have been available in that version)

Conversion will take forever on a Power PC Mac though.

Reply

Answer 4

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 5, 2012 10:40 AM in response to Nick Holmes

So basically I have to convert the video files I'm using. Which Apple Intermediate Codec would be best? What about Apple Pro Res?

Reply

Answer 5

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 5, 2012 2:45 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

There is only one Apple Intermediate codec. It automatically adopts your frame rate and pixel dimensions from the original files. ProRes is only available in FCP 6 and higher.

Reply

Answer 6

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 5, 2012 3:27 PM in response to Nick Holmes

I see DV/DVCPRO - NTSC or DVCPRO HD 1080i60 codec and two apple codecs: Apple VC H.263 and Apple Pixlet Video. Which should I use?

Reply

Answer 7

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 5, 2012 3:42 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

>DV/DVCPRO - NTSC

Is just standard def.

>DVCPRO HD 1080i60

Is interlaced HD. As your files are HD, use this.

>Apple VC H.263 and Apple Pixlet Video.

Don't even think about those.

Reply

Answer 8

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 5, 2012 3:54 PM in response to Nick Holmes

DVCPRO HD 1080i60, won't it turn my footage to interlace? I was trying to keep it progressive and the aspect ratio 1920 x 1080, well this still work? What about the Animation Codec?

Reply

Answer 9

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 5, 2012 4:04 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

So set the Field Dominance to None in Sequence Settings. DVC Pro HD is a far better choice than Apple Intermediate.

Reply

Answer 10

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 5, 2012 4:10 PM in response to Nick Holmes

I don't see DVC Pro HD. Just the DVCPRO HD 1080i60. Do you mean DVCPRO50?

Reply

Answer 11

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 5, 2012 4:26 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

DVCPRO HD 1080i60

Choose it. Set your Field Dominance to None.

Gaaaah! That's what I get for trying to save myself some typing.

Now get on with it. Start editing

Reply

Answer 12

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 6, 2012 2:19 AM in response to Nick Holmes

Cool, I converted all the footage with Compressor, took a couple hours, not as bad as I thought. Reconnected everything, rendered it, and exported it as a self contained quicktime file. Only problem is, when I try to play it on another system it acts like I don't have the right video card. I also noticed that despite me converting it as a self contained movie, it still has the FCP looking icon. Should I export instead using Quicktime Conversion? Or should I take this Self Contained Quicktime that it made and put it into compressor?

Reply

Answer 13

Jul 6, 2012 2:52 AM in response to Jorge Lopez

Right click on the movie and change the "open with" to Quicktime Player and check the box that says change all and your self contained exported movies will all open in Quicktime player. DO NOT use Quicktime conversion.

DM

Reply

Answer 14

Jorge Lopez Author

Level 1

59 points

Jul 6, 2012 10:59 AM in response to David Mclaine

Ok, cool. That worked to get the self contained exported movie to open on my other system. Only problem now is that at first, when I opened it up in Quicktime, it said I might need some kind of additional plug in to play, and all it does right now is play black with music. On the editing system it plays fine. Geez, this never ends...

Reply

Answer 15

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jul 6, 2012 12:01 PM in response to Jorge Lopez

Your self contained QuickTime movie uses the DVCPRO HD codec. That is only available on a computer that has Final Cut Pro installed. To play on other computers, you need to make a "deliverable" file that uses a common codec such as H.264.

Reply