Brining .avi into FCE 3.5

I have about a dozen DV tapes that I captured on my PC with Pinnacle Studio, which captures in .avi
Obviously, these are huge files on my old PC hard drive..
Will I be able to bring this footage into FCE and edit it ? I wasn't able to do so with imovie.
I tried using QT Pro to export the footage as mpeg-2, but then the quality was poor.
Am I better off recapturing all the DV tapes directly in FCE ?
Thanks
Frank

FCE is a DV and HDV application. While it's possible to convert AVI videos to DV, you will find the results much better if you just recapture directly into FCE from your original tapes.
If you want to try the conversion route, you will need Flip4Mac Pro or a similar utility. However if the material was originally captured using Pinnacle's MPEG 1/2 setting, you'll never get quality that will match an original capture to DV.

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Importing AVI into FCE has out of sync audio, but not in iMovie?

Hi all,
I'ave searched around and can't seen to find this issue in other parts of the forum, so thought I would try posting up. I'm using a GoPro camera which creates AVI files at 27fps, 512 x 384, Mono Audio, 8.0KHz, 32-bit Floating Point. I'm totally new to FCE, but when I drag these files into the project space and watch them on the viewer... it seems like the audio is almost 10 seconds ahead of the video right off the bat. It was the case with all 6 videos I had.
The crazy thing is when I drag these files into iMovie... the audio and video is sync'd up fine. Is there some setting in FCE that I'm missing that's causing this issue?
Any help would be greatly appreciated... I just went out and bought FCE because I figured if I'm going to start editing video more often... I should step up and of course I can't even get my raw clips to play correctly right off the bat
Thanks in advance for any help!
Jack

A DV-NTSC video file of 12GB should be a video about 55 minutes in length. If that's the approximate length of your avi video file, then you're probably good to go.
Have you brought the QT file into FCE? Did it behave properly?
FCE's learning curve IS pretty steep. You'd be wise to invest in some training material. Two excellent choices:
Final Cut Express Editing Workshop by Tom Wolsky (frequent contributor to this forum, as you can see)
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Cut-Express-Editing-Workshop/dp/0240810775/ref=pdbxgy_b_imgb
Apple Pro Training Series-Final Cut Express by Diana Weynand
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321534670/ref=s9subs_gw_s1_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=19PDS2PH8BMSV6X S8GHT&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rdi=507846

Importing 720 x 400 .avi into FCE?

Hi all,
Essentially, I'm trying to import segments of a long .avi file (720x400) into FCE, to be used in a 720 x 576 DV-PAL project.
Thus far, I have used Mpeg Streamclip to export the clips to Quicktime files, unscaled at 720 x 400, and FCE then displays it centred with a letterbox effect. That's the outcome I'd be happy with.
But there's a slight hiccup. I'm placing subtitles over the top of certain sections, using Title 3D and cropped Mattes, you see. When I playback the timeline BEFORE rendering (ie.: a green 'preview' bar above the subtitled bits) everything runs smoothly and appears seamless. But then when I render, the segments of video with subtitles (and only these segments) are pulled out of the correct aspect ratio, so the video appears stretched vertically. It doesn't stretch to fit the whole 576 display - there is a small letterbox - but obviously it doesn't look correct because the picture chops back and forward to stretched and unstretched video. It looks great between subtitles, but then hideous in subtitled bits!
Do you have any advice on how to work around the problem? I'd considered importing the .avi segments to QT in DV-PAL 700x576, but I don't want to change the aspect ratio. Can Mpeg Streamclip add in the top and bottom letterboxes for me?
Hope this makes sense. Cheers, appreciate the help as always.
Sahir

A DV-NTSC video file of 12GB should be a video about 55 minutes in length. If that's the approximate length of your avi video file, then you're probably good to go.
Have you brought the QT file into FCE? Did it behave properly?
FCE's learning curve IS pretty steep. You'd be wise to invest in some training material. Two excellent choices:
Final Cut Express Editing Workshop by Tom Wolsky (frequent contributor to this forum, as you can see)
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Cut-Express-Editing-Workshop/dp/0240810775/ref=pdbxgy_b_imgb
Apple Pro Training Series-Final Cut Express by Diana Weynand
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321534670/ref=s9subs_gw_s1_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=19PDS2PH8BMSV6X S8GHT&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rdi=507846

Importing avi from Canon Ixus 960 into FCE 4

Is it possible to import the movie clips i make with my digital ixus camera directly into FCE 4. With iMovie there is this possibility.
I use this camera mainly because of its size.

No you can't directly.
Pretty much everthing about that cameras video files don't fit the FCE way of handling video.
Try this free tool to convert to standard DV in QuickTime format.
http://www.squared5.com/
Al

Importing Sony DVDirect Video on DVD into FCE

Hello...good wishes,
I've been recording video from a Canon XL2 directly to DVD using a Sony VRD-VC20 DVDirect DVD Burner. When I try to import this video material into Final Cut Express, FCE does not recognize the format.
Apple Support says that the XL2 Camcorder is a supported device in FCE, but is not able to be conclusive regarding video recorded to DVD using the Sony DVDirect Burner.
The only way I've found to get any of this video into FCE is to play the DVD's in a standard DVD player' record the video back onto DV tape, and import them through the XL2. This is a daunting, funky proposition given the hours and hours of video I need to edit - and I worry about degradation of quality using this process.
Are there any third party drivers written out there or do any of you have ideas how I can get this video from DVD to FCE?
Thanks~

I use a Sony VRD-VC20 to burn Tivo recordings and VHS tapes to DVD. I just picked up a program called Cinematize2. It's a DVD clip extractor that retails for about $50 US. It allows you to set an in and out point on a DVD and extract the clip into a format compatible with FCP/FCE. Previously I used MPEG Streamclip 1.3.1 which allows you to export mpeg2 files to Quicktime, AVI, or DV format for use in FCP/FCE. Mpeg Streamclip also allows you to set in and out points before exporting. The link to download MPEG Streamclip 1.5.1 is: http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html.
In order to use the MPEG2 playback and converter feature you will also need the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component. You can buy it from Apple (www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2) for about $30 US. If you have either Final Cut Pro or DVD Studio Pro, then the component is already installed and you don't have to buy it; but you may need to download the latest version from Apple (www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/download).

Can't import an avi into FCE4 that QuickTime Player reads properly

New to FCE4 but coming from an Adobe Premier Windows NLE. I have generated an avi file on my Windows machine that i have copied over to my MBP. QTP has no problems playing the video/audio. When I try to import the file into FCE4 I can see the avi file name grayed out until I change the "standard files" selection to "any files". Then I can select the file but I get the following error message:
File Error: 1 file recognized, 0 access denied, 1 unknown.
I really would like to capture onto my Windows machine with my Canopus ADVC-300 and then transfer the avi to FCE4 via a harddrive for further processing. Dumping to tape and recapturing is a lot more work.
Any ideas?
Mark

I am a newbie to all this but from experience I have successfully converted numerous video formats to work with FCE.
You can try to export/convert your Windows AVI into a DV stream file using either QuickTime Pro, StreamClip or VisualHub.
It doesn't have to be a DV stream file, you can just experiment to see which files FCE likes.
(I think I also tried to convert using iMovie before; try using your AVI with iMovie also and convert it into a format that FCE likes)

Importing projects from iMovie HD into FCE HD?

Ok Guys, I know this is a pretty hot/touchy topic around here but I thought I would start a new topic as I am not even getting past step 1 as discussed in several posts and in the way that apple advertise!?
I am using the latest versions of both apps... 5.0.2 and 3.0.1. I follow the instructions as described in the manual (page 139) and FCE shuts down (quit unexpectedly)?
Also... how do i open the 'project/movie' in quicktime? do I have to do a massive export first!?
Cheers,
Al

Hey Tom, Thanks for the speedy reply!
I have a very basic project with a title sequence (8secs) and about 7 mins of edited video sequences in the time line from which I have extracted the audio. (so, a title sequence, 1 video track, 1 audio track). It contains no unauthorized material and no music, iTunes etc.
The reason I want to continue my project in FCE is that i want to utilize more video and audio tracks than iMovie can handle... and I'd rather not start again because I have already made about 50 edits which would take a while to redo.
Surely I can take my existing iMovie timeline sequence and import that into FCE. I am going to redo the titles/text, so it's only the video (and audio from the video) that i want exported.
Is this in anyway possible?
Regards
Al

Importing clips from Imovie into FCE - Clips don't match

Hi
OK I have been successfully importing Imovie clips into FCE, but have recently hit a problem. I make a rough edit in IMovie but when I open the imported file in FCE I get different footage to that which sits in the IMovie project.
Yes I am opening the right clips

nothing?
ok I have worked around it a little by importing all the footage and that way I get most of it but still not all of it makes it through

What setup do I use to import files from my hard drive into FCE 4.0.1?

I can import files (HD from Canon camera, saved as QuicktimeMov - ratio 1920 x1080, 25fps) to FCE but they show up as needing rendering.
(red line above timeline) What should my settings be to make them compatible to FCE? I have it set on Apple Codec Intermediate 1920x1080i50 with HD format.
Have tried all the settings but come up with the same result. Also, do I need to compress my files before I import them to FCE?
Thanks.

Video from the 550D (acually, all Canon DSLRs) cannot be used directly in FCE. There is a Canon EOS plugin that allows you to directly Log & Transfer from the DSLR into Final Cut Pro, but the plugin does not work with Final Cut Express.
In order to use the 550D video in Final Cut Express you will need to convert it to QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec by using a utility such as MPEG Streamclip or Clipwrap. You need to do this before you import the video into FCE.
Even though the 550D saves video as .mov files (QuickTime files) it uses a Canon H.264 codec which is why it needs to be transcoded into Apple Intermediate Codec before you can use it in FCE.

My current os x is 10.9.5, using final cut express vers. 4.0.1. I have imported .mov clips created with a older mac os x (lion) and converted them to import into fce. after doing this as well as putting clips on the fce timeline when playing back t.h

My current os x is 10.9.5, using final cut express vers. 4.0.1. I have imported .mov clips created on a older mac os x (lion) and when I wanted to import them into fce, a quicktime conversion window opened up and converted them (I haven't experienced this in the past). I then imported the converted quicktime clips into my fce project. After doing this I took selected clips and put those edited clips on the fce timeline. When playing the video back in the fce timeline,I noticed
1) the video wasn't playing back smoothly like the original content
2) when looking at the timecode reading of the timeline, the timecode was sputtering as well as the video and audio. I exported to quicktime just to see if that was consistent, it was.
When I play the converted quicktime content independently of fce, it plays normally (no sputtering of timecode, video and audio. Need help to resolve the sputtering playback of converted video content in the fce timeline. I've never experienced this before. Any suggestions?

When you say you converted the clips before importing them into FCE, did you convert to AIC or DV and do the converted clips match your FCE Sequence settings exactly? If not, go back and convert the original files again, using the intended Sequence settings as a guide.
-DH

Can't import ACVHD video clips into FCE?

First, I've read so many forum comments on this I'm blue in the face, but i've still not found a solution. I've spent the better part of a week reading on this issue and still no joy, so please don't ask me to search - I've done that. To set up my issue...
I have a brand new Canon Vixia HF-R32 camcorder. I shot video in ACVHD (MXP) onto the camera's internal memory. I'm using Final Cut Exoress 4 on a MacBook running 10.7.4 I have a new external terabite HD set as scratch disk.
When I connect camera to computer to download clips things work to a point. I use Log and Transfer and my clips show up in the window. I can set in and out points. I can change the clip name, add scene notes, etc. etc. BUT - when I click the "Add to Que" the problem occurs. The video begins to 'process' as indicated by the little spinning status wheel. However - nothing ever shows in the transfer bar that should show the progress being made in the transfer. When the spinning wheel stops and I click on the clip I get a red circle with exclamation point and the message "Error: No Data."
YES - I have checked preferences under the gear at top of the L&T window and YES my settings are for All formats, All rates, Apple Intermediate Codec and the audio is set to Plain. That much I gleaned from other posts in various forums, but that does nothing to solve my issue. I've also checkedunder Easy Set Up and have Apple Intermediate set there.
Tonight I spent time on phone with friend who has same type (but Panasonic) camera and same software. We compared many, many settings and all seemed to be set the same. He can import video, I cannot. When he either drags and drops clips from the L&T window or uses the "add to que" button, the status wheel spins, the transfer bar moves and when complete his clip shows up in the original FCE window for editing. Mine does not.
the software recognizes my camera, the clips are either loaded or accessed by the software, I can play the clips in the FCE viewer to set in and out points. Video and audio there is fine, but when I add to que it all falls apart.
I've already bought two video format softwares to change the MTS files to something else but that's not the route I want - I don't want to lose all the resolution. So amyone have any ideas how to get ACVHD files into FCE??? I'm about to shoot either the camera or me to put one of us out of our misery! This can't be that complicated as the ACVHD is a hugely common format.
Any help most kindly appreciated

Have you verified that your copy of FCE has been updated to 4.0.1?
MtD

How to get video from DVD into FCE?

Hi,
I have a DVD which I got from a childhood friend. The DVD contains a compilation of old film clips (her family had old super 8 movies transferred to DVD). I'm trying to import the clip (it's one long video clip, 30 mins long) into FCE for editing. But, when I try to import, all I see on the DVD is one file folder labeled VIDEO_TS; this folder contains eight files with strange suffixes, such as .IFO, .VOB, and .BUP, none of which are accessible. Anyone have any idea how I can get the files into Final Cut Express?
I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you.
Vic

Hi again, Martin. I did the 'conversion', and it appeared something was happening (i.e. a 'progress bar' showed that something was going on, and it took about 20 mins or so. So, I figured it was doing the conversion. Once done, a 'play' button appeared, but when I pressed it, nothing happened. Does that sound like I'm missing the MPEG2 Playback Component?
Note: I noticed during the conversion an indication that the file, about 2 gigs seemed to be being created, but for the life of me, I don't know where the file went (i.e. I don't know where (or even if) it was stored on my computer). Anyways, the process seems not to have worked. I guess, as you said, I'll need to purchase the Playback Component?
Thanks for your help.

Log and transfer footage from Panasonic GH1 into FCE

I have already read the few threads discussing importing AVCHD video from the Panasonic GH1 camera into FCE. I was expecting that the 1080x24 (wrapped in 60i) would import OK but the 720x60p would not. However, so far, I have had both formats import using the log and transfer just fine. These have been only short clips roughly a minute or less in length but no sign of FCE crashing when importing the 60p footage.
So, is this considered normal or has something in the most recent OSX updates fixed this FCE capability?

The program is usually able to ingest 24p and 60p footage fine, but upon exporting it will be conformed to the frame rate of your sequence. Since FCE doesn't support custom sequences all exported movies are either in 29.97fps or 25fps. Problems also sometimes arise where the program interprets your footage as 29.97fps instead of what it actually is, causing the audio to drift a bit as well.
Better to stick to what the program supports: 50i/25p and 60i/30p. If you need the functionality of 24p or 60p you should upgrade to Final Cut Pro.

Importing 3rd source dvd home footage into FCE

Dear Forum,
I'm not sure if I'm wording this correctly, but I am putting some footage together for a high school sports team. I have captured video from my canon camera. I also have dvds from another parent from the team. Can anyone suggest an easy way to import the home dvd, burned on a pc, into FCE so I can create a team video?
Jamie

http://www.fcpbook.com/Video6.html

Capturing with iMovie and importing into fce 4

Hi, everytime I try to capture mini dv footage from my Panasonic camcorder using final cut express, the transfer/capture crashes.
However, capturing using iMovie 08 gives me no problems at all.
Before I spend more time looking into the errors, if I capture using iMovie 08 and then import that into fce 4, am I losing any audio / video quality? I read somewhere that iMovie works off raw dv files - is this what would get imported into fce?
Note: I would import the iMovie project into fce and not be exporting first from iMovie and then importing into fce.
thanks

My video is on mini-DV. The camera I used to record was a panasonic ag-dvx100 PAL. I am using DV-PAL easy setup. I am playing back with a panasonic nv-ds30 camcorder (I rented the other one).
I have now managed to get past the dropped frames - that seemed to have been the test tape. I am now using a different tape, the actual tape i used for the footage. Now everytime I capture (using either mark in/out or capture now) the capture stops with a locating timecode and then breaks. I can't seem to capture it all in one go. This scene when I shot it was a single scene so there were no stops/pauses during the recording.
There seemed to be some discussion on this in the thread (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4183209#4183209) but that was a different camera.
any help would be great.

Brining .avi into FCE 3.5

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