Does FCPX open MP4 files in uncompromised state?

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Level 1

6 points

Does FCPX open MP4 files in uncompromised state?

Does FCPX open MP4 files int the higehest quality? And if not, how do I export in uncompromised format? In regards to 4k video making :-)

Trying to make my first video using my new Sony 7S camera, I'm not quite sure if, when I import the videos from the camera, that they are uncompromised, as the format is MP4, and as it in editing plays no role, I'm nervous that the exported version does not contain as much "information" as it could. Maybe FCPX automatically import the uncompromised 4K file, but if not, how/what do I do? :-)

Posted on Aug 23, 2016 9:30 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,825 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:34 AM in response to Asger0503

Generally FCP doesn't do anything to a file it imports, other than in some instances rewrapping it to QuickTime. It leaves it in whatever codec it's compressed in.

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Answer 2

Asger0503 Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:40 AM in response to Asger0503

Thank you for your reply! The original file is a MP4, do you know how I optimize (uncompromise) that format as it is, compromised, as I understand it. Do I need to convert the MP4 file before importing it to FCPX? Or can I do this when exporting the finished file from FCPX?

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Answer 3

Asger0503 Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:43 AM in response to Asger0503

Btw there seem to be more "info" than the MP4 (from the Sony camera) because when I open the camera files in Finder, there are a XML file for every MP4 file. With the same initial name.

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Answer 4

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:44 AM in response to Asger0503

If you're going to record to 4K, I believe you'll need an external device. http://wolfcrow.com/blog/the-sony-a7s-4k-guide-part-five-external-recording-and- data-wrangling/

Russ

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,825 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:45 AM in response to Asger0503

Video is compressed. It's uncompressed by the computer during playback in real time. That's the way video works. Video is always compressed to some extent. Nobody really uses uncompressed video. The files would be astronomically large, especially in larger than HD formats. No pre-conversion is necessary.

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Answer 6

Asger0503 Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:55 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

So this means the the computer, or FCPX, automatically accesses the XML file information? And I do not have to do anything? Thank you again :-)

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,825 points

Aug 23, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Asger0503

Don't know about the XML file or what it contains or how or if FCP uses it. I've not worked with material from that camera. Perhaps you could share some of it in the original card structure so we could have a look at it. I do know that the camera is used by many people working with FCP.

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