Build Thread: One minute promo video.

Question

Starting what we call in the Rocket world as a "Build Thread".
Task is to create a one minute promo video for a Scouting Training activity.  What I have so far is about 5 Gb of .avi files (about 100) which I shot with my Nikon D90, and about 2,000 still of which probably 50 are really usable.
Jobs for me:
1) Finish the one minute script (Voice over) and have it recorded and sent back to me on an audio file.  (or DIY)
2) Transfer the video files to MPG via stream clip [Question for the group here]
3) Use pencil and paper to create a screenplay out line, notionally outlining, audio & video, and begin the text and copy placement.
4) really think about these snippets in my head and think about how they tie together and what the message is and what i want the viewer to DO after watching this.
Ok for now my question for the Board is:
When using the Streamclip converter, do I a)  Export to QT?  b) I just go ahead anccept the defaults?  when I max out the Quality slider, it makes the files HUGE. unsure if that is necessary. c) which compression. Default is Apple Motion JPEG A. ( thought JPEG was a still.)
Thanks All
-Russ

Answer 1

You need to convert the D90 video clips to QuickTime.  Assuming you shot an HD format you would select Apple Intermediate Codec as the compression scheme.  You should be able to leave all the other MPEG Streamclip settings at their default, just raise the Quality slider and also check the Frame Size in the export dialog to make sure it matches what you shot (eg 1920x1080). And yes, the resulting files are going to be big.  Expect something like 45GB/hour of video.
MPEG Streamclip has a batch convert mode, so you don't have to do this one file at a time.  But do try converting 1 or 2 files at first, just to make sure the results are good before you batch convert a whole bunch of clips.
In FCE you will need to use one of the AVCHD Easy Setups that matches the frame size & frame rate of your video files (probably 1920x1080i60 if you are in the US).  Don't worry about selecting an AVCHD easy setup;  in your case it just sets FCE to expect QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec video files.  Select the easy setup first, then create a new Sequence, then import your converted files and build/edit your video in the new Sequence.
(FYI, Motion JPEG is a video codec that uses the JPEG compression algorithm.  MJPEG is used in many digital point & shoot cameras for video.)