Hanuman Hoffman wrote:
Funny that the first time I exported, I had no issues. Thereafter was another story.
That is the problem - FCP 7 and lower versions give the illusion that they will work with the format, but they do not. The software for FCP was written and abandoned many years before H.264 became the ubiquitous format it is now, and it appears in the software as a convenience but was never intended for practical use.
The fact the you were able to successfully export before is a matter of good luck on your part, but cannot be relied on.
If I were you, I would:
Duplicate the sequence so that I have a backup of my original work, and then, working on the copy:
1) In the sequence settings switch the Compressor setting to an edit friendly format. I would use ProRes 422, if you are short on disk space use ProRes LT. Either will be more than sufficient to protect the quality of the iPad originated files. Make the switch in the drop down menu and click OK.
2) You will now have to render the sequence. Do so. Playback the rendered sequence and check that there are no anomalies.
3) Export the finished sequence as a self-contained QuickTime file without conversion. This file will be much larger than the original footage, that is normal as edit friendly formats require much more disk space than highly compressed acquisition and delivery formats like H.264.
This gives you a master file (to keep for later use, etc.) from which you can make the deliverable versions you need.
4) Take that exported file into Compressor and use the Compressor presets to create the file in the format you need (YouTube, DVD, etc.).
You can avoid all this by using a more modern editor such as current versions of FCP-X, Premiere Pro, and Avid - all of which support the direct use of H.264 without problems.
Or, you can convert your source files into ProRes prior to working in FCP7 by either using Compressor or MPEG Streamclip (free), and then editing in a ProRes timeline.
MtD
