Importing hd footage fro Sony HDR xr500 into fcp with zero loss in quality of video

On playing the clip after log and transfer(using apple prores as the avchd plugin preference) the clip already shows the interlacing in the video even before i can transfer it to the timeline. Further while transferring it to the timeline as you mentioned when FCP prompts me to match the setting, I say yes, but even after that, because the interlacing issue already takes place at the log and capture stage it continues in the video off the timeline. It indicates that the video quality is degrading at the log and transfer stage itself though avchd pro res pugin is being used.

After i export this video from the timeline using QT, interlacing disappears but there is a loss of quality in the video with some ghosting as compared to the quality of the same clip when viewed directly from the camera onto the very same computer monitor using an HDMI cable, which is very good and has no interlacing issues even though computer monitors are progressive.

The same clip when viewed directly on the tv is absolutely pristine.

Michael read Meg's post properly and hence I replied that "the quality of the same clip when viewed directly from the camera onto the very same computer monitor using an HDMI cable, which is very good and has no interlacing issues even though computer monitors are progressive"

As mentioned I understand that computer monitors are progressive and do not play interlace videos properly, but the video plays very well directly from the camera onto the very same computer monitor. Only after the video is imported into fcp using log and transfer does the interlacing occur when viewed at 100 percent of the canvas/viewer. How do I avoid loss of the video quality at the log and transfer stage. Is apple pro res able to import an mts file from an avchd recorder like the Sony HDR xr500 into fcp and what special settings are required or is any other software required to first convert these mts file to a mov or other format more readily imported without loss of quality in video.

Thanks Meg and Micheal. The interlacing disappears when the footage is exported and viewed on a television, but there is drop in video quality.

This film is purely intended for broadcast purpose in a natural history channel like natgeo or Animal Planet.

Initially, new to FCP, when I started editing, under “easy set up” I was told to use "format" as HD and set "use" as DVCPRO HD - 1080-50. The videos were logged and transferred under this easy set up and the clip showed item properties of Video rate of 25fps and compressor Apple pro res 422. Even then while taking the clip to timeline "change sequence settings to match clip settings" was applied and after that the timeline showed properties of 25fps and pro res 422.

In the last 2 days in lieu of the discussions and after seeing the camera format as being 1920x1080 60i, I have now set the video settings as under:-

As can be seen under this preset the sequence automatically shows vid rate of 29.97fps and compressor as 422HQ:-

And under log and transfer, the preferences are now set as under:-

But when a clip, transferred using the above new settings is taken to the timeline and "change sequence settings to match clip settings" is applied the video rate now changes back from 29.97 to the same 25 fps. IS THAT OK? The compressor now shows 422 HQ as it has now been imported under HQ whereas originally when I started out it was compressed under only 422. The only difference I can see is that originally I had imported the clips using only 422 and now using 422HQ, but eventually both appear in the timeline as vid rate 25 fps, but only difference is that the 1st is under 422 and the 2nd is now under 422HQ. I have already edited almost 14hours of footage using the original setting of DVCPRO HD - 1080-50 apple pro res 422, but matched the clip settings as mentioned above. What is the difference between 422 and 422(HQ) and would it be worth editing the whole 14hours under pro res 422 HQ once again or can I stick to using the original edited portions(fingers crossed that you reply “use the original edits) infact the exported material using clips imported using HD DVC PRO in set up look the same as the exported material using clips imported using Apple Pro res 422 60i setting, if not better.

Further as can be seen the Field dominance is by default shown as upper(odd)- should I let that remain or change it to none. As when changed to “none” the interlacing disappears for the time being in FCP.

IS EXPORTING USING QUICKTIME MOVIE(command E) USING CURRENT SETTINGS THE BEST WAY TO EXPORT HIGHEST QUALITY OUTPUT i.e in (.mov) or SHOULD I LOOK AT USING COMPRESSOR OR ANY OTHER SOFTWARE FURTHER.

After the clip is exported using QT current settings it is saved as a mov file. This cannot be played either by my WD player or directly by my sony HX750 USB. So using compressor I have converted it to 1) COMPRESSOR-HD-DVD-MPEG2,18MBPS and 2) HD DVD H.264,103MBPS file.

It is seen that compared to the original footage(please excuse the quality as it is a grab from TV using a camera)

1) using COMPRESSOR-HD-DVD-MPEG2,18MBPS the details(the fibres in the sweater, the smoothness of the barrel) are lost to a marginal extent and there are very nominal distortion/aberrations in the image(this a snapshot taken from the television screen)

2) using HD DVD H.264,103MBPS file the details are again lost as the video is completely smoothened out, looks smooth but details like sweater fibre are lost, but distortion/aberrations are not there.

So both are not as good as the original.

WOULD YOU THINK THAT THE ORIGINAL MOV EXPORTED OUT OF FCP BEFORE USING COMPRESSOR WOULD BE OF PRISTINE QUALITY JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL FOOTAGE AND COMPRESSOR COULD BE CAUSING A DROP IN QUALITY OF THE MOV FILE. IN WHAT FORMAT DOES ONE HAVE TO EXPORT FROM FCP FOR BROADCAST CHANNELS.

In the light of the above discussion, please do advice the best course of action for import and export of my footage, so that there is absolutely zero loss of quality.

Also I read that third party software’s like clipware etc may be required to import files from the sony HDR XR500 into FCP. DO YOU THINK THEY ARE REQUIRED.

PLEASE NOTE QUESTIONS ARE IN CAPITAL LETTERS

Bang on. looks like your suggestion of apple: formats: quicktime: h264 has done it for me. there is no noticeable difference between the original footage and the compressed export of quicktime, h264. Thank you.

Just for information the following settings were used in the camera, which is the same as the one in the owners manual for the camera :-

*1 Movies are recorded with AVCHD 1920  1080/60i format.

The movies are recorded in .mts files as can be seen below:-

So when the above pro res preset is used it shows 29.97 fps, but when the clip settings are matched it automatically changes it to 25 fps, so therefore we could presume that the camera is recording at 25fps. Further even after using an HD DVD preset, the compressor used by fcp as evidenced by clip item properties was eventually apple pro res 422 at data rate 14.9mbps:-

and later using the 1920X1080 60i is was apple pro res 422(HQ) at data rate 21.8 mbps.

The below are the .mov properties of the same clip once imported using log and transfer, one using pro res 422(from preset of HD DVC) and the other using pro res 422(HQ)(preset of 1920x1080 60i. the second time around the clip is much larger. Could it be due to pro res (HQ) being used?

but i noticed that there is no noticeable difference in final output(through QT h264 of this clip imported using prores 422(output size 95MB) compared to prores 422(HQ)(output size 103MB). both are like the original, except the 422(HQ) one slightly larger by about 8MB at 103MB

looking at the quality required by cable companies do you'll think i should anyway once again import all clips using pro res 422(HQ) and edit the 14hours once again?

wanted to click "this solved my question" against your names, but may have clicked tab in my reply post inadvertently. cant seem to undo.

wanted to click "this solved my question" against your names, but may have clicked tab in my reply post inadvertently. cant seem to undo. but thanks anyway

so i am sticking to editing using prores itself. actually the manual is downloaded or even the the hardcopy that i have don't say anything about fps. Its just that irrespective of the sequence or transfer preset, after transfer into fcp using match clip settings, the clips and eventually the timeline settings always show 25 fps as the vid rate(using command+0), eventhough before the clip was brought into the timeline it showed 29.97fps(due to choosing the 1920x1080 60i preset earlier).

I have bought the camera from a reputed corporate electronics retail chain, an official Sony partner.

will go through as you have suggested and if later recapturing of certain portions is required using HQ, that can be considered too.

thanks for the help, have already resumed editing last few days.

talking about fps, can i get clips that have been recorded in other cameras having 29.97 or say 24 fps and get it onto the same timeline i am working on(i.e 25 fps)