Having Trouble Editing my Videos

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wardzach2007 Author

Level 1

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Having Trouble Editing my Videos

I'm trying to edit my 1080p 30/60fps on my iMac but in the preview box the video skips frames. I notice that the time bar goes from 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and then it goes up to 2.0 seconds and so on. Then when I play something higher than that, it skips around a lot more.

I know my iMac is around 5 years old and I can't view newer resolution formats such as 4k.

But am I able to edit my videos in a lower resolution to where I can actually see what I'm doing instead of having it skip in the time frames? Then export it in 2-4k?

Posted on Oct 9, 2015 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,089 points

Oct 9, 2015 8:02 AM in response to wardzach2007

What are your complete system specs? What are the media specs from the QTX player inspector window?

You can blow up 1080 to 4K, but it often doesn't look very good.

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Answer 2

wardzach2007 Author

Level 1

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Oct 9, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I can for sure get that info when I get home from work. Sorry I forgot to include that!

I'm trying to edit a 4k video on my older iMac. But when I try to edit the 4k file in FCP, the video preview skips so much that I can't even view the video correctly let alone edit it.

So I was wondering if I could get my 4k video (or even one of my 1080p 60fps videos) and upload it to FCP. Have the preview in a lower resolution to where I can edit it. And then export with the same resolution. Is there a way that this can be done or do you know of any workarounds? I've been searching the internet for the past weeks but to no avail. 😟

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,089 points

Oct 9, 2015 8:12 AM in response to wardzach2007

Most computer drives aren't really fast enough for a lot of 4K media. On the system drive, even if it is fast, you'll fill it up very quickly. You need a fast external media drive at least USB3 and for 4K probably a rate.

To edit in low res in FCP you use proxy files, which you can generate on import or by transcoding the media after it's been imported. Do not compress the files externally, edit, and hope to be able to relink to the 4K media. It won't work.

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Answer 4

wardzach2007 Author

Level 1

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Oct 9, 2015 8:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

So If I'm understanding it correctly, I can import my 1080p files into FCP. Then use the proxy files to be able to view my edits without it skipping around and then export it regularly?

Because most of my files are in 1080p. I have just a few files that are in 4k that are for a separate project.

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