Unable to use .mov file in FCP

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Level 1

0 points

Unable to use .mov file in FCP

New to FCP and am hoping that someone in the community can help me. I downloaded a video clip from YouTube using the iFunia video converter sold in the App store. The video clip was an .flv file and I converted it to a .mov file. When I try to import it to FCP I get "file error" 1 files recognized 0 access denied 1 unknown. I then tried to to import the file into iMovie and that failed also as it would not load the file. The file in question plays properly using the Quicktime Player though. Also tried taking the original .flv file and converted it to a .avi file in hopes that FCP would recognize this but that also failed as I was able to drop the clip into the timeline but it would not play (showing red colored clip with "Codec Unrecognized"). I am using FCP 7.0.3 on an iMac with OSX 10.6.8. My thanks to any and all that respond!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 16, 2013 2:20 PM

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Answer 1

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,567 points

Mar 16, 2013 2:36 PM in response to Team Sabre

Open the source file that you downloaded in QuickTime Player 7, and then in QT7 go to the menu Window > Show Inspector.

When the Inspector Pane appears, either take a screen shot of the Inspector Pane and post that here, or post back and report what the Inspector Pane says about the file.

"mov" is a container, like saying "box". Need to find out what is in the box to determine how to transcode it to a file that is useable in FCP.

MtD

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Answer 2

Team Sabre Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 16, 2013 3:10 PM in response to Meg The Dog

You have my thanks Meg for such a quick response! Ok then let me tell you what the inspector lists...

Format: H.264, 864 x 480, Millions AAC, 2 channels, 44100 Hz

FPS: 25

Data Size: 110.7 MB

Data Rate: 2,169.25 kbit/s

Current Size: 864 x 480 (Actual)

Hope this helps you out! I feel so frustrated and would love to get this solved! Thanks again for your help!

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Answer 3

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Mar 16, 2013 3:23 PM in response to Team Sabre

You can't use H.264 in FCP. There hundreds of posts here that explain why.

You need to convert to a FCP friendly codec - see the list in Easy Setup. I would go with ProRes LT if it's just the one clip or convert to a codec that matches the rest of the footage if combining it in an edit.

You can do the conversion in Compressor - you already have it. A very powerful tool with lots of options and well worth the time it takes to learn.

If you want something simpler, MPEG Streamclip is free and easy to use. Read this short tutorial: http://www.secondchairvideo.com/?p=694

iFunia and the various clones of it like Wondershare etc have a bad rap around here. They cost money and don't do anything that Compressor and MPEG Streamclip can't do already. They even pay spammers to sign up on forums just to push their product.

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Answer 4

Team Sabre Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2013 9:17 AM in response to Nick Holmes

Thanks for the information and for pointing me in the right direction (MPEG Streamclip) for now... I will have to try working (understanding) Compressor but it seems so daunting. Appreciate your help... its been invaluable!

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