THE best way to export a short film in short time-size ?

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candidat23 Author

Level 1

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THE best way to export a short film in short time-size ?

Hi everyone

First of all, please excuse me for my broken airport english, I'm a french speaking man doing the best I can ...

I have at my disposal a Mac Book Pro and the software Final Cut Pro X.

In order to save valuable time regarding an important part of a business to come ( some kind of video booth ) :

what's THE best way to export the result of a video file created in Final Cut Pro X ( via several files : sound, animated background, movie file etc), to the smallest as possible size (thus bypassing the compression / conversion, which is horribly long) while of course maintaining a decent quality ?

The purpose of the business is to provide the customer a CD with the made film.

The best "virtual" result found to date is that of the H264 format.

Which has the advantage to be Windows compatible.

But ... such a file from a little over 3 minutes is about 500 mb ... And takes a good 10 minutes to export ... It's just horrible.

Especially since I want to be sure I can burn this result on a CD and not on DVD ... and this trial was very basic.

Another wish (although less important), is that the CD might be also read with a home DVD player ?

I'll guess you'll already understand the meaning of my question ( hope so 😉 ) :

how to get the best result in the export of such a video in matter of : time / size / quality / compatibility via Final Cut Pro X.

N.B. :

If there is no way to avoid a conversion of the ALREADY exported file before burning the final result on CD, please tell me the conversion software I have to use on Mac, because very unfortunately I am a Windows user only...

In advance thank you kindly for sharing your knowledge and expertise with the novice I am

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 6, 2014 5:10 AM

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Answer 1

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Oct 6, 2014 5:35 AM in response to candidat23

It sounds like you want a data disk with an MP4 h.264 file. Select Master File and in Settings choose Computer for Format and H.264 for codec.

An H.264 transcoding does take time. And no; there is no way to get the file out of FCP without re-compressing it.

Does it need to fit on a CD or is a DVD alright?

The data disk should play from most computers, but won't from a DVD player. If you want it to be playable on a DVD player, choose the Share>DVD preset.

Russ

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Answer 2

candidat23 Author

Level 1

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Oct 6, 2014 6:11 AM in response to Russ H

LO Russ,

Thanks for your answer.

Ok, about the DVD and/or CD able to be read or not on a Home DVD reader, about the time it just has to take to go to H264, about the needed re-compressing in case of, etc etc... it's well noted, thanks.

But ...

I tried to apply what you wrote ... 😟

In the yet english speaking version of the Final Cut Pro X I have, there is no "Settings" button and thus no "Computer for format" ...

Even in the "Help" menu, the word " settings " is unknown...

When you talk about "Master File" I guess you are talking about the file I want to export ... ?

So please, I'm counting on your patience and compassion to take my hand and guide me step by step like :

1- Open Final Cut Pro X

2 - In the window of your video file, click on ...

Thank you 😉

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Answer 3

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Oct 6, 2014 6:21 AM in response to candidat23

Select your project in the browser or make your timeline active be clicking anywhere within the project timeline window.

Click the Share icon (the curved arrow and chooser master file.

In the dialog, click Settings and choose Format and Codec.

I hope you're able to see those images. The forum has had problems displaying images.

Russ

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Answer 4

candidat23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Russ H

Thanks Russ,

yes I was well able to see the pictures, but what I have on my screen is totally different ... Anyway I thing I can reach the same point while taking an other way, simply using the above button named " share " then " export movie " then choosing " H264 " then " video and audio "...

If you really want it, I could paste here a printscreen of it ... but I think you already know that way too, right ?

Now I have the confirmation by an expert as you, of what I was fearing before asking : there is no better way for it ...

Anyhow, I warmly thank you for your helpfiul support, Russ ... and if necessary, I'll come back to you 🙂

Take care 😉

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Oct 6, 2014 7:04 AM in response to candidat23

I think Toast can still make a VCD. Horrible format. MPEG-1.

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Answer 6

Oct 6, 2014 7:06 AM in response to candidat23

You must be using a *very* old version of FCP X. FCP X does not have a "Share" menu with "Export Movie" in it for years.

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Answer 7

candidat23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2014 7:24 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

HHHHmmpfff ??

So? Can you please tell me the way to check the version I *really*' have ?

FYI, I'm staying here in a country where there is NO garantee of genuine, for nothing, and I really mean : nowhere... 😟

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Answer 8

candidat23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2014 7:30 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I just read : FINAL CUT PRO X - VERSION 10.0 ???

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Answer 9

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Oct 6, 2014 7:57 AM in response to candidat23

AAnd wwhat OS version are you using? That's an obsolete version that will not function correctly with the current OS.

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Answer 10

candidat23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2014 8:47 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi Tom,

The OS Version is 10.8.5 ... I already have a link to upgrade that OS version ( since long ) but the internet here is another story than in our countries ... I have to wait the good day to visit a friend in order to have a decent connexion there ...

So, is it possible to make it turn ( the FCP 10.0. ) on that 10.8.5 OS version ?

Thanks

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