1080i in Final Cut HD 4.5

This really driving me nuts! I just bought a Sony HCR-HCS HDV camera. It records full 1080i and 720 DV. I thought since I have a DVCPRO HD 1080i60 setting I could record to my HDV cam. It will recognizes it at 720X480 4:3 and anamorphic. But wont at 1080i. Is there a firewire update for this? I have read that in new versions of FC. There is a Sony DV setting? Can I get this into my FCP HD 4.5?

FCP 4.5 does not support HDV, as that format was introduced two years after FCP 4.5 was released. You need to get FCP 6 to work with HDV (support for HDV came with FCP 5.0, which is no longer available).
And if you want to capture HDV as DVCPRO HD, then you'll need an HD capture card. HDV and DVCPRO HD are different flavors of HD, and FCP 4.5 does support DVCPRO HD...just not HDV.
Gotta upgrade.
Shane

Similar Messages

1080i/24p to Film Out in Final Cut Pro

A client of ours shot a project with the *Panasonic HVX-200* in 1080i/24p (not 1080i/24pa) and they are asking if they will have a problem with the footage when they output to film. They are using *Final Cut Studio 2* on an *8-core Mac Pro*.
I told them to use *Cinema Tools* to reverse telecine the 29.97 footage back to the native 24p and they shouldn't have problems. They said I was wrong and that frames would be lost in the process. (Which I know isn't how 3:2 pull-downs work) They also said that they did this before and the 1080i footage they got from the HVS-200 P2 cards and FS-100's were already in 24p format when transfered. Is there a way that this was possible or am I missing something here?
Thanks!

You are right, they are wrong, very, very, very wrong. I'm going to copy and paste from another thread I just answered about this same issue:
I am the author of the FS-100 DVD guide, work with Focus Enhancements closely, have many consulting clients using this system, and have been using the HVX200/FS-100/FCP system since the HVX200 shipped, and a cert'd trainer.
As for FCP, here's the workflow. To start, make sure your HVX is set to 1080i/24PA. If it is set to 1080i/24P, you won't get 24p, you'll get 60i with the 24P effect. Just like on the DVX100. 24P results in a native 60i with the 24P effect, as 24PA has metadata that allows it to become progressive and 24P native.
In FCP, bring in your footage with the Log & Transfer window, assuming you're on FCP 6. Any pre-6 version was super buggy with P2 data. Make sure the "remove advanced pulldown" is selected and import your footage. Ignore the "Compressor" that is referred to in the clips info (which is all the metadata), it will not say 1080p24, it only refers to the compression engine handling the footage, not the actual compression of the clip.
In your project, delete any Sequences you have, in the FCP menu go to Easy Setup, and choose "DVCPRO HD - 1080pA24". Create a new Sequence and you're good to go. Simple as that.
If you go to look at "Item Properties" for these clips, look at the "Vid Rate" field, it will be 24p. The "Compressor" field refers to an engine and has nothing to do with the actual format of the clip, ignore it. The 1080p30 you see as the "Compressor" simply means that the QuickTime 1080p30 engine is being used, and is perfectly capable of driving native 1080p24 footage.
The lines you're seeing on 1080p24 are interlace lines, and are normal, as 1080p24 is, again, 60i with the 24p "effect". You have to record in, and edit in 1080pA24. There's a big difference.

IM IN SERIOUS NEED OF YOUR HELP! HDV 1080i 50 capture into Final cut pro 7?

Hi everyone, Ive just recently got myself an IMAC with final cut studio. I also have a Sony HVR Z5. I have been shooting on the following settings:
HDV 1080i 50 (scan type 50)
Ive connected the camera to my computer via firewire but have been having huge problems working out what settings to use? Ive tryed the easy set ups but still no joy? I keep getting the following message pop up:
'No date device. Capture was aborted due to lack of incoming data from device. Check your connections and that the disk is palying'
The disk is def playing on my camera (I can see it on the viewfinder) but not on the computer?
If anyone knows hot to solve this problem could they plare give me step by step instructions on how to set up final cuts capture settings?
Thanks very much

There is only one correct capture preset. Don't go screwing around with trying different ones, you'll just mess up your preferences file and corrupt it.
To start trash your preferences.
http://www.fcpbook.com/Misc1.html
Set the HDV 1080i50 preset. Make sure the camera is set to output HDV and that iLink is switched off.

Final Cut Express won't allow me to capture from my vdo camera

I just loaded Final Cut Express HD on my Mac because I wanted to upgrade from IMOVIE. My Powerbook G4 had no problem capturing video with my Sony HDV 1080i video camera. But I can't get Final Cut Express HD to locate my camera at all no matter what "easy setup" setting I choose. But if I turn on IMOVIE, the program can capture from my video camera no problem. I know the firewire cable is hooked to the computer correctly & the camera is on & in the VTR mode. If anyone can help me identify this problem, I'd really appreciate it because I'm trying to begin a new video project & can't if I can't capture video. Thanks for helping.

Fritz from Technical support told me about a glitch in Final Cut Pro & Express HD that happens when you upgrade to Quicktime 7. He told me to go to this article: Link: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n301852
and follow the instructions & it would fix my problem. It didn't & then of course I called tech support back & it was after hours. I still can't capture from my video camera but it works in IMOVIE. I removed Final Cut Express HD from my computer (even all the files in library/users, etc.) and then reinstalled it. It still gives me the same error even though I have my camera plugged in & turned on. It says unable to locate capture device. This is unbelievable. Hopefully I can get some help. Brian

IMovie 08, iMovie 6, or Final Cut Express

I just got a new Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera. It records in 1080i. I tried iMovie 08, but I don't like the export options. I used the iMovie 08 import .mov file and opened it in iMovie 6. I exported the video and it doesn't look that good. I'm thinking about Final Cut Express but I don't know how it integrates with iLife apps. What's the best option?

iMovie 08 imports AVCHD in full 1080i. The AVCHD is converted to Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080.
The issue comes when you render the project. The iMovie 08 presets max out at 960x540 for Apple TV. Apple TV looks very good because most TVs will upscale it back to 1920x1080.
It is possible to export to Quicktime in full 1920x1080.
However, then you have the problem of how to play it back.
You can play it back at 1920x1080 on your Mac, if your screen is large enough.
You can play it back on a Sony Playstation 3.
You can play it on a BluRay Disk Player.
Toast 9 permits burning a BluRay Disk in full 1920x1080. You will need a BluRay disk Burner for this. Toast 9 also lets you do a short AVCHD/Bluray disk on a regular DVD on a regular DVD burner, but you are limited to about 20 minutes of playing time.
If you burn to a normal DVD in MPEG2, you are limited to 480i, so that is the worst option.
Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

Comparing video quality of AVCHD BluRay discs using Final Cut Pro Share vs Compressor

Up front, I will admit to being a newbie when it comes to using Final Cut Studio 3 and would appreciate some feedback from the Apple forum experts.
I have spent a lot of time trying to determine how to achieve an optimum group of Compressor 3.5.2 settings so that the playback video quality of an AVCHD BluRay disc is equal to or better than one created by using the simpler auto settings of FCPro Share, version 7.0.2.
When using Compressor’s auto/default maximum settings, I experienced the same error message reported in:
Error MessageDuring Creation of Blu-ray Disc in FCP and Compressor 3.5
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12073794#12073794
I have since made some Compressor AVCHD Discs with smaller bit rate settings and compared video quality with a single FCP Share AVCHD disc. Both seem to be equal in providing a very good video when viewed on my new Panasonic DMP BDT 310 BluRay player. However, the Compressor AVCHD discs show some motion artifacts not present with the FCPro Share version, especially when scrolling text or when objects are moving through the field of view, and visible artifacts are seen from a stationary chain link fence and other lattice work in the background of the video sample.
My sample video used for the comparisons between Compressor and FCP Share discs is a 21 minute duration home movie, originally captured from a mini DV, Canon HV30 1080i camcorder using ProRes HQ encoding(1440x1080), and dragged into FC Pro 7.0.2 timeline where 10 chapter markers have been inserted.
To create an AVCHD disc using FCPro Share, Markers are used to set the IN and OUT points, Select IN to OUT from the timeline, pull down File Menu Share, Select Create BluRay from options in pop out Share pane, and designate output device along with picture files for Background, Logo, and Title options. When these are completed, click on Export. My 21-minute video required almost two hours for encoding including about 10 minutes for burning. This accomplished on an iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.
To prepare this same 21-minute video for use with Compressor, I again Select IN to Out from the FCPro timeline, but this time use File Export as a QuickTime Self Contained movie including Chapter markers. Then Open Compressor, choose Create BluRay from Template pane, right click on the down arrow in the Batch window and load the QT self contained movie file. From there I went to the Inspector window and tried various combinations of bit rate settings along with Frame Encoder options such as Better or Best motion parameter controls.
I have tried the following combinations of Bit rate settings along with varying Frame Encoder controls and burned an AVCHD disc for each example:
Example A
Compressor set to 6 Mbps Average and 8Mbps Maximum, Frame Encoder settings OFF. Approximately 4 hours to encode although the time remaining estimator indicated a larger value of ~7 hours; not an accurate estimator at all.
Example B
Compressor set to 6 Mbps Average and 8Mbps Maximum, Frame Encoder settings ON, using “Better (Linear Filter) and Better (Motionadaptive)” settings. Approximately 4 hours to encode, not the 13 hours that were estimated.
Conclusion: Comparing A & B Compressor versions, Disc B showed some improvements in reducing motion artifacts over Disc A.
Example C
Compressor set to 13 Mbps Average and 15 Mbps Maximum, Frame Encoder settings ON, using “Better (Linear Filter) and Better (Motion adaptive)” settings. Multipass checked. DeInterlace was checked. Unknown hours to encode; about 8 hours done overnight..
Conclusion: Disc C showed some minor improvements reducing motion artifacts over Disc B
Example D
Compressor Auto settings,i.e., 15 Mbps Average and 17 Mbps Maximum, Frame Encoder settings ON, using “Better (Linear Filter) and Better (Motion adaptive)” settings. Multipass checked. Approximately 12 hours to encode, done overnight. Inserted disc next morning after the overnight encoding was completed, and a few minutes later an error message pane appeared that the maximum bit rate had been exceeded. This message was consistent with the Apple posted thread referenced above. Unfortunately the long overnight encoding was wasted.
It seemed to me that the best Compressor settings for suppressing the motion artifacts were displayed by the disc burned in Example C, i.e., 13/15 Ave/Max Mbps with“Better” Motion settings in the Frame Encoder.
However, when this disc was compared to the AVCHD Disc burned using the FCPro Share, the latter still seemed much better. I do not know what the auto bit rate values are as set in FC Pro, but for me, the quality is quite good AND the motion artifacts are significantly reduced, especially evident with the scrolling text.
Sorry about this long post, but I thought the detail would be necessary for the experts, and maybe helpful to others trying to get started in this BluRay arena. Did I misuse Compressor? I think the sample video exported as a self contained QT movie was the right thing to do? Not sure where I went wrong.
Thanks in advance for Feedback and Recommendations. For now, I’m going to stay with the simpler process using Final Cut Pro Share function.
BoBo

Thank You, Brad, for responding; glad to hear I'm not the only one having similar Compressor issues.
You may have hit on something. Perhaps Compressor's use of H.264 encoding was the reason for my motion artifacts? And perhaps Final Cut Pro Share retains the 1440x1080 quality as it burns the AVCHD BluRay disc?
I had Toast 10 for less than 30 days a couple of years ago, and was lucky to get a refund.
What version of Toast do you have? Wondering if new Toast 11 has improved previous bugs, especially upgrading its Chapter text, pictures, music. I would go back to Toast if it came close to mirroring DVD Studio Pro, or even iDVD capabilities.
Thanks,
BoBo

Why does Compressor take so long to export a 10 minute video clip from Final Cut Pro?

I've been trying export a 10 minute clip from Final Cut Pro. so it can be used with DVD Studio Pro and burned. However, the rendering process has taken 12 hours! The clip I'm exporting has minimal effects, no music, and is in 1080i 30fps. Does anyone know what's going on or what I can do to speed up the process?

First: How are you exporting? Are you using the Share feature or Send to Compressor?
Second: You haven't said anything about your system configuration or really very much about your movie. What is its format… is it really 30fps or 29.97? Whatever it is, are the project settings identical to the clip properties, or were they changed?
Russ

I can't connect my camera to my Mac tower - final cut doesn't recognize the connection.

I have a Canon AH X1 video camera which uses the older 6 pin firewire - I have a 6 pin to 9 pin adapter, but when I connect the camera and go to Capture and Log, it doesn't recognize the camera is connected. Even when I click NOW, it does nothing. My camera output settings have been set by the manual for this type of connection, HD and downgrade OFF, or something like that (don't have the camera in front of me this moment). Any ideas?
Thank you!

Thanks for the quick response! I have a smokin' Mac Tower - 2 x 2.4 GHz Quad-Core, 10GB RAM, Mac OS 10.6.7.
I am running 6 pin firewire using a 9 pin adapter. I have one internal hard drive - 999GB, formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - 914G are free.
Camera Settings - Playback STD - Comp out 1080i/480i
HD Down Conversion - OFF
When I start up Final Cut Pro, it says
External A/V Unable to locate the following external devices:
Apple FireWire NTSC (720 x 480)
Your system configuration may have changed, or your deck/camera may be disconnected or turned off.
Please check your connections and click "Check Again" , or click "Continue" to set external device detection to None.
Then, when I go to Log and Capture, I get:
Unable to initialize video deck. You may still log offline clips or use Capture Now.
Beneath that, "Initializing Device Control..." stays up and frozen.
THEN, if I click OK and Capture NOW, I get a quick flash of a screen that disappears, and nothing happens.
Thanks in advance...

How to connect Final Cut Pro 7 to HVR M10U Deck via Firewire

Does anybody know which settings to use? I can't get my Firewire to work.
Current settings (HVR deck) iLink Converter - Off, VCR - HDV / AUTO (tried both), COMPONENT - 1080i / 480i, DOWN CONVERT - tried them all
Final Cut Pro Settings - I've tried HDV 1080i60 and HDV Apple Intermediary Codex 1080i60; neither work
Someone told me about a Refresh Camera button (or something of that kind in the View menu) but I can't find it anywhere.
Current Op System MAC OS X (10.6.8), Final Cut Pro 7
Final Cut Pro 7, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

This has always worked for me:
First, with the deck on and connected via firewire, launch system profiler (apple menu, about this mac, more information. And look at hardware: firewire and make sure the mac is seeing the deck. If it isn't, it could be a bad firewire cable, or a blown firewire port on the deck or mac.
Make sure your easy set up is correct. For some reason or other, you can have the inidividual settings correct, and things still won't work.
Then BEFORE you launch fcp, with the the output of the deck matching your easy setup, start playing a tape with a recording. Then launch fcp.
Good luck, and post back with how things are working.

How Can I do an export that from Final Cut Pro 7 that is specific to these settings?

Hi
I am current trying to export out a movie from Final Cut Pro 7 but the settings that are required are very specific and I was going to try it through compressor as well but I wasn't sure if that would work either.
Here are the settings:
HD:
1 Video CODEC                 XDCAMHD50
2 Wrapper format           QuickTime Self-Contained
3 Bit rate                              50 Mbit/s Constant Bit Rate (CBR)
4 GOP                                   Long GOP
                                             Closed GOP
5 Time code                       Must include embedded time code. Start-timecode: 10:00:00:00
6 Movie version               UK Home Video Version
7 Delivery time                 As per contract. Supplier to specify filename, delivery format and estimated time of arrival via email at least 60 days before                                                           transmission unless otherwise specified in contract. This should be accompanied by an IMDB link.
1 HD video format           720 line progressively scanned (720p) @ 50Hz (25 FPS)
                                          1080 line interlace scanned (1080i) @ 50Hz (25 FPS)
2 Resolution                      1280 x 720
                                           1920 x 1080
3 Aspect ratio                    Content should be 16:9, however 4:3 will be accepted on exception (such as for older movies shot in 4:3)
4 Graphics                           Must be within 16:9 safe graphics area (EBU R95-2000)
5 Chroma format              4:2:2
1 HD audio format           24 bits/sample 48 kHz sampling rate
2 Track layout                    Track 1 – 2.0 Stereo L mono
                                            Track 2 – 2.0 Stereo R mono
                                            Track 3 – L
                                            Track 4 – R
                                            Track 5 – C
                                            Track 6 - Low frequency effects LFE
                                            Track 7 – L Surround
                                            Track 8 – R Surround

First of all, what are your sequence settings? Looks like they want stereo AND dolby 5.1 audio tracks embedded in the quicktime (I've delivered a few films like this). Do you have a surround sound mix?
You will almost always have more options and control in compressor over fcp so that's the way I'd go, but not sure compressor will give you the ability to match these specs.
Do you understand about safe zones for graphics? If not, post back.
I don't see any option to set the GOP in xdcam in compressor. This may be built in to the xdcam format.
I don't see any option for 720 xdcam hd in compressor.
There are many other tools available for this kind of work, but they may be out of your price range. You might want to just find a facility with experience in deliverying this sort of thing.

How to work efficiently with HDV footage in Final Cut Pro 6

Hello everyone! I am fairly new to Final Cut & Mac. I have worked with Final Cut Pro 5 on my Powerbook G4 two years ago. But when I moved to HD, I switched to a PC with Adobe Premiere. Recently, I made the move back to Final Cut as I had problem with the stability of both Premiere 2.0 and CS3. I am really happy with it so far. In Premiere, I used the Cineform codec which performed very well. I also got a license for their MAC codec but unfortunately, I still have to capture under Windows.
Since I have not worked with HDV on the Mac before, I have a few questions which I hope people on these boards can answer.
1) How does Final Cut Pro 6 handle native HDV?
2) Is it beneficial to convert to Pro Res 422 (in terms of quality, but also in terms of editing speed, rendering time, in favor of processing speed etc.)
3) Which Pro Res 422 setting is advised? I will be capturing HDV through firewire and then recompress to Pro Res 422. The Canon XL-H1 squeezes 1080i into 1440x1080. So I figured I need the 1440x1080 setting. There are two options: normal and (HQ). The HQ files are around 4-times bigger then the native HDV file. The normal setting results in files around 2-times bigger. Coming from HDV, do I see the difference between normal and HQ?
4) What systems are recommended so I can work efficiently? i.e. how to setup the scratch disks. I currently have the applications installed on Disk 1, all scratch disks on Disk 2 + 3 (RAID 0) and final results on Disk 4.
I have the following system setup:
- Apple Mac Pro Quad-Core (2.66Ghz)
- 5GB of RAM
- ATI X1900XT 512MB
- Harddisks:
-1- Western Digital 750GB SE
-2- Western Digital 500GB RE2 (member of "VIDEO" - raid 0)
-3- Western Digital 500GB RE2 (member of "VIDEO" - raid 0)
-4- Western Digital 500GB SE
- Two Dell 2407 FWP 24" LCD monitors
Thanks for your help and don't feel obliged to answer all questions, I am already happy if one of them is answered!!

1) How does Final Cut Pro 6 handle native HDV?
Just like FC5.... no worries
2) Is it beneficial to convert to Pro Res 422
Just like the Cineform codec you will benefit from an all i-frame codec when working with titles and graphics. I wouldn't recommend capturing native then converting to ProRez as this will take an extremely long time. Many have found editing native up until the compositing then dropping the sequence into a ProRez timeline to render. I prefer to uncompress the HDV with hardware into a capture card and transcode on capture in real time. Depending on the flavor of HDV and the equipment you use you can probably find a method for this. I shoot run & gun field work on to tape, then with the deck I can export via HDMI and together with another product from Convergent Design it is converted to HD-SDI in the a Kona LHe into FC. The benefit for me is the all digital decompression from 1440x1080 4:2:0 to a 1920x1080 4:2:2 uncompressed HD-SDI signal to use anyway I need to. As to which level of PR I can't comment but I have used the lower level and it looks great. As to raid setup I can recommend www.maxupgrades.com to help you add two - four more drives internally for unbelievable speed and expanded storage space you will want. The owner (Syed) will give you all the support you need to take advantage of the Mac Pro capabilities for a low cost high performance raid solution. Sounds like you have a great setup in mind, you may want to look into the Kona LHe capture card for capturing and monitoring and a Convergent Design product like the HD-Connect SI or MI depending on the deck you are using. If you need broadcast quality monitoring look into the Matrox MXO.
Good Luck
Z1

What is the correct way to import AVCHD into Final Cut Express?

The Final Cut Expres user manual (p. 221) says to import AVCHD footage with HDV Apple Intermediate Codec: "Important: Use the HDV - Apple Intermediate Codec Easy Setup for ingesting AVCHD footage."
But, Easy Setup has options for both HDV AIC AND AVCHD AIC. Why are there choices for AVCHD if the manual says to import AVCHD with HDV?

The manual is incorrect/human error/typo.
HDV and AVCHD do share the Apple Intermediate Codec as all this incoming footage will be converted to AIC so FCE can work with it on a frame by frame basis.
Call up the FCE>Easy Setups and look at the options.
You will notice 6 options (FCE 4.0.1) for 1080i with differing frame sizes and frame rates.
Only ONE of these is correct for the type of footage to be captured/ingested from the camera.
You need to know what the camera settings are, then output to FCE with an exact matching Easy Setup.
These days one camera can be set to different options making this decision one based on knowing how to operate the camera menu and select the right options.
When an FCE Easy Setup is changed only NEW Sequences will reflect the change not existing ones. In fact, in many cases, if the Easy Setup and incoming footage don't match it simply won't work causing the user to curse the Apple software.
First step is to select the correct Easy Setup then capture/ingest.
For AVCHD it will be an AVCHD - Apple Intermediate Codec........................
Example:
Camera has shot AVCHD 1920x1080i50
Easy Setup will be AVCHD - Apple Intermedaite Codec 1920x1080i50
The above example is for PAL interlaced, that's what i50 means.
NOTE: FCE will not work directly with p (progressive) footage so make sure your camera shoots i (interlaced).
Al

Importing FCP Hi Rez from Final Cut with Encore Destination

I wonder if i could get some advise and comment on trying to get the best Blu Ray encode from Final Cut.
What I have done is this:
I have imported a 60 minute Quicktime FCP file into Premier CS4. (The file was imported as HDV video from a Canon XHA1 and converted in FCP to 422Hi Rez). I set Premier to HDV and not Quicktime before the import. When the import finished, I notice that playback was very jerky, so I rendered the whole time line. This took about 5 hours. Following this, play back was perfect.
So, what should my settings have been initially....might I have not set everything correctly. What settings should I have set initially?
(I have not figured out how to export a sequence directly from FCP which 4.01 is supposed to do.)
Now that it is play fine in Premier CS4 4.01, I am planning to use the dynamic link system to export into Encore CS4 .01 . But before I do so, do I have to fill out copyright info in Premier...I noticed an area for this?
I chose this work flow because I did not want to use the FCP's Compressor for make a Blu Ray. I want to use Encore's H264 compression which produces a smaller file and thus less disc space. I do understand that I could have left out Premier altogether and gone directly from Compressor to Encore, but then I would not have had the H264 choice..;is this right...I am not entirely au fait with all the terms:)
So far, no crashes or weird behaviour. I am on a MacPro Quad Core 2 Porcessor 2.8 GHZ processor.
Tim

Thanks for the advice. I now have the project in Encore. While it played perfectly in Premiere, it cannot do so in Encore. Maybe this is because I have the settings set to the highest resolution- 1920 x 1080 and Blu Ray NTSC. I am trying to set up chapters and it is very jerky trying to get to the right place. Shou/ld I be doing this at a lower resolution and then changing things at the end?
Also I currently have DVD Transcode set to automatic and Blu-ray Transcode set to Automatic.
Are these settings going to look at the best on a 54" Samsung HDTV 1080i ? I notice a whole slew of choices in the drop down!!
I am ploughing through the Lynda.com tutorials, but some of these questions don't seem to be answered there.
I am planning on saving things to hard drive so I can test before burning...is this feasible on a mac?
Tim

How can I playback blu-ray .img files generated by Final Cut Pro X?

When I share a Final Cut Pro X project in Blu-ray and I set the output device as Hard drive (blu-ray), it creates a blu-ray image with a .img extension.
By the way, the project's clips are AVCHD (.mts extension) and the settings are set to 1080i (1440x1080 25i).
My question is: can I playback this file without having to burn a blu-ray disc?
I've been looking for information, and some people seems to playback blu-ray .iso files.
And: would Compressor 4 solve my problem? (is there anyway in Compressor to create a .iso image or something easier to play?).
By the way, I do have access to both Windows and Mac computers.
Thanks in advance,
Pol

Thanks for the answer.
If you own Compressor 4, could you tell me if it includes an option to generate a .iso file instead of a .img?
(here's information on how to playback a .iso).
Thanks,
Pol

Poor quality when exporting HD project directly from Final cut Express

I am doing some HD projects in Final Cut Express HD. I filmed with the Sony HRD-HC1 in 1080i. I import into FCE using the 1080i 60 preset from Easy setup. I completed the project and it looks great from FCE full screen. I export as Quicktime (not Using Quicktime conversion), and I get a perfect looking output file using the Apple intermediate codec, 1440x1080. The problem is that the client needs to play back the video on windows machine using Quicktime. The windows Quicktime does not support the AIC apple intermediate codec, so I have to export to another format. I tried everything exporting from FCE, MP2, H.264, DivX, everyone option. They all look terrible. Blurry, especially parts that have quick motion. Really terrible. I called Apple support, no love. I then tried taking the AIC version of the file and used compressor. It took forever, but came up with am OK MP2 HD file. It still doesn't look that great, but it is way better. So, is their something broken with the FCE exports using Quicktime conversion? Anyone have similar experiences or workarounds? I don't want to use compressor as I don't have it on my Mac Book pro, I had to move it to another machine to do that.

Being that the dimentions you suggested should be widescreen, I re-ran the conversion to your parameters, this time un-checking "Preserve aspsect ratio.. as letterbox" and this time it is widescreen. Not sure why, but it was putting the black bars on the left and right, not the top and bottom, scrunching to 4:3ish with that box checked. Strange.
Anyway, the quality is the best H.264 I have seen exporting directly from FCE. It still blurs quite a bit on the fast moving video parts, my MP2 version from compressor still looks lots better. Seems like there is some problem with exporting HD from FCE. It just is not coming out sharp, like the Apple intermediate codec version you get with Export - -> Quicktime movie or if you wait for compressor to do the work rather than FCE. Does compressor use a different engine, or does it use the same QT and just take more time to do a better job in the export? Something just isn't right.

1080i in Final Cut HD 4.5

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