Capturing in FCE HD vs iMovie

I am very new to this so please excuse me if this has been answered before or is too basic...
I am familiar with iMovie and like very much the way it captures from a camera by creating an icon for each individual scene, which I can then drag to the timeline.
After reading a bit about FCE HD I am under the impression that it does not capture this way at all, but involves a much more tedious method of having to designate starting and ending points for each capture (each scene?).
IS there a way to get FCE to capture by just playing the entire tape and having it recognize individual scenes which can be added to the timeline, or does it just not work this way? If not, can iMovie be used to do the capturing and then export the footage to FCE for editing?

Let me add to Tom's instructions (that I regularly use myself) that the result is what you'd expect as a former iMovie user, but one point: at the end of this process in FCE you still have a single big media file, while in iMovie you have many smaller files, one for each clip. As a result in FCE there is not way to recover unused disk space, as there is in iMovie.
Piero

Similar Messages

  • Backing up unedited family video: Should I capture using FCE or iMovie?

    I have >50 hours of family video (kids) that I'm not ready to edit yet. I would like to capture the footage in order to back it up because it is priceless. My plan is to buy some large hard disks and save video there, and then when Blu-Ray comes out, I'll buy a Blu-Ray drive and burn Blu-Ray disks as an additional layer of safety.
    The captured files will need to be in a format that lasts. As far as I can tell, both FCE and iMovie save captured clips as Quicktime files, which I'm guessing will be around for a while and compatible with future video editing apps. Both FCE and iMovie can import Quicktime clips. I'll be importing the entire hour of video from each tape, in a single capture.
    My question is this:
    If...
    (a) rendering doesn't bother me (like importing clips using iMovie then editing using FCE)
    (b) timecode isn't important to me (iMovie doesn't save timecode)
    ... is there any reason to capture the video using Final Cut instead of iMovie?
    The only feature that FCE has that iMovie doesn't, is the ability to detect dropped frames during capture. Are there other reasons?
    I like the fact that iMovie splits the capture into individual clips at each break and saves each clip as an individual file. If you're willing to do the work, FCE/FCP can do this to, using DV Start/Stop detect, making the segments into subclips, then exporting them as individual clips. FCP makes this a practical possibility using batch export, whereas FCE lacks that feature and exporting each clip one by one is impractical (I have maybe 200 individual clips per hour of tape). But this is a task I plan for later. Right now my concern is finding the "best way" to capture and save all this video for later editing.
    I guess I could also ask, should timecode be important to me? My tapes contain a lot of timecode breaks, so recapturing video from tape automatically isn't likely to work well. I don't know any other reason timecode might be important for consumer-level family video.
    PowerMac G5 Quad 2.5 GHz 3GB RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   NVIDIA GeForce 7800GT

    Anthony,
    while I fully agree with Al answer, let me add one note in favor of iMovie in answering your original specific question (note: I'm a quite happy user of FCE for all its advantages over iMovie, but for the point I'm going to make).
    The basic difference between FCE and iMovie in scene detection (based on the same principle of using date/time breaks as dividers), is that iMovie creates as many media files as clips during capture itself, while FCE Subclips are created AFTER the capture of a unique media file, using DV Start/Stop Detect and Make Subclip, that does NOT splits files.
    So you'd better consider now if recovering unused disk space, by trashing unused clips, will be a major issue for you in the future, when you'll be editing your movies. If so, keep in mind that this job is very simple if you captured with iMovie and then imported its clips to FCE (and if you confirm you don't mind about TC and audio rendering), while it is quite complex if you captured directly with FCE, and, I'd say, not recommended unless absolutely needed.
    Piero

  • Using FCE with 7500 iMovie DV Stream files: best approaches?

    I have about 50 hours of irreplaceable DV footage, of the first 5+ years of my children's lives. I saved all this footage to hard disk over these past 5 years using whatever the latest version of iMovie was at the time, so I have around 7500 DV stream clips created in iMovie 2, 3, 4, and HD. There has been no editing, no titles, no transitions. Just 50 untouched iMovie projects sitting for years on several FireWire disks.
    First question: Which format of digital video is currently more universally compatible and accessible by software: DV Stream (like iMovie uses) or DV-NTSC (like FCE uses)? I'd like my unedited video to be stored in a format that has a decent chance of being around for a while. (Which format is the Betamax, and which is VHS?)
    Anyway, the time has finally come to start editing this monumental volume of material. I want to leave iMovie, and learn to use FCE because iMovie is still buggy, FCE is more powerful, and -- here are the key words -- because FCE has 'RT Extreme" and "seamless iMovie import."
    The challenge, and the reason I need your advice, is now how to bring these 7500 iMovie DV stream files into FCE, in such a way so RT Extreme really works when editing these clips and the transition to FCE is really "seamless." Seamlessness is not the feeling I get when I've read several threads in this forum that address sticky problems arising when trying to work on iMovie projects using FCE.
    My hope was I could avoid such problems by somehow "importing" each iMovie DV stream clip into FCE and "converting" them to FCE's DV-NTSC format. Then my intention was to save the new DV-NTSC clips to disk and delete the iMovie clips, so I could then work entirely in FCE without any difficulty. IMO, this would be "seamless." As I'm reading through this forum I'm getting the sinking feeling that this is not possible.
    So, QUESTION 2: How best to proceed, when I have 50 iMovie projects, saved using iMovie 2, 3, 4, and HD, with around a total of 7500 DV Stream clips, so as to avoid glitches and delays in the transition, and to preserve features of FCE such as RT Extreme?
    If there are no good options, I suppose one possibility is to re-capture all the video from the original camcorder tapes again, using FCE instead of iMovie. This would be worthwhile especially if the answer to my first question is DV-NTSC. What do you think?
    Besides having to spend 50 hours re-capturing all the video I have on tape, there are other potential difficulties with this. First off, at least one of my original tapes has been "eaten" by my Canon camcorder when the rewind mechanism failed and I only have the DV stream data for that tape. Maybe I could record the affected clips back to tape, then capture them into FCE? Is this a plausible solution?
    Second, these tapes have been sitting around for more than 5 years, without exercising them or doing anything special to keep the data in good shape. What if some of the tapes have drop-outs or other problems? I'd have to go back to my DV Stream data, and I'm back in the same boat.
    I would appreciate any advice/feedback you can offer.

    Tom,
    Thanks a lot for your valuable reply.
    You wrote, "If the project does not import, you'll need to crack open the iMovie project, extract the clips from inside the project folder or package, and import them into FCE."
    This may be a basic operation, but as I don't yet have any working knowledge of FCE, how do you import these clips once you've found them in the package? And if you do that, is a copy made of those clips, or does FCE just remember where they are? If copies are made, are they still in DV Stream format or DV-NTSC/QT?
    For the clip that's been eaten, can I export that clip (using iMovie) to a new DV tape in my camcorder, then import that DV into FCE? If so, would that material then have clip timecode embedded in the QT file, or not? Is that a bad idea for any reason?
    You mentioned some setups with the Canon cameras have been problematic. I have a Canon GL2. I doubt anyone outside of Apple knows yet if it will be a problem with my setup: a PowerMac G5 Quad, with FCE pre-installed. I don't think the Quads have shipped yet.
    Thanks again, and I look forward to your reply to these questions.
    BTW, have you written a book on FCE HD? I didn't see one on Amazon.

  • FCE - Backup for iMovie imported clips?

    If I import clips into FCE, which I captured in iMovie 08, I will not have the chance to batch them in case of loss or am I mistaken?
    Is it usefull to get a disk and also backup those clips?
    Does an external harddrive with eSATA and only 5400rpm serve for cutting HDV material?

    You are correct. DV material captured in iMovie cannot be recaptured in FCE. Nor will the audio work correctly in FCE without rendering.
    If you're talking about HDV material, that can't be recaptured in FCE even if it was captured in FCE. The timecode data is lost on conversion, but you won't have the audio rendering problem.
    5400rpm is kind of marginal for Apple Intermediate Codec material.

  • Capturing Video (and audio) in iMovie 09?

    Hello-
    I need to import some video and audio form some beta tapes and am wondering if this can be done in iMovie 09? Some of the tapes are hour long documentaries that i have scored and I have read on this forum that people have run into problems when trying to capture more than 5 minutes of footage. I have also read that there have been issues capturing the audio.
    Would I have more success capturing in FCE? Picture and audio quality is paramount for me.
    Thanks!!

    dnito wrote:
    Hello-
    I need to import some video and audio form some beta tapes and am wondering if this can be done in iMovie 09? Some of the tapes are hour long documentaries that i have scored and I have read on this forum that people have run into problems when trying to capture more than 5 minutes of footage. I have also read that there have been issues capturing the audio.
    Would I have more success capturing in FCE? Picture and audio quality is paramount for me.
    Thanks!!
    You can import into iMovie '09, but you need some kind of analog-digital video converter.
    Apple sells this one: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TJ555LL/A
    but there are many other devices available. Some with less features are substantially cheaper.
    My old Firewire connected camcorders can do this conversion, but not all can, so take a look at your camcorder's manual if you do not already know.
    iMovie can take the Firewire output of your converter and capture the import directly to your disk.
    The video output quality of VCR tapes will not be as high as digital sources, but, in my experience, you will certainly lose some video quality with iMovie '09. I suggest you test a short segment captured or imported into iMovie '09. If you see video too much degradation, test with FCE. FCE will retain all the quality that your VCR tapes can offer.
    EZ Jim
    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.2)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
    LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

  • Capturing in FCE, making it a HUGE file called "av"

    When capturing in FCE, it has been locking up because it is making it a file that takes up about 3 times more space called "AV". This has been an intermittent problem that does not happen every single capture but after capturing for a few minutes it returns to this. Very frustrating. I have never had any problems out of FCE since I got it with my Power Mac G5. When I try to open up the file as a stand alone file, it says it's "not a video file", what does that mean?? Help please....??

    Yes I checked the formatting, using only internal drive, no externals.
    First of all, if it "has no timecode", then why does Final Cut say "locating timeocode break" when it stops capturing?? Plus, it makes sense that if it is skipping around in timecode breaks, that's why the system is locking up because if it thinks it's a huge file that takes up my remaining hard drive space, it kicks off as to save the remaining 2gb of space.
    Your other comment about setting to DV converter. I know that there are a few options for settings. One is DV converter, another is Firewire. I have noticed there is no difference between capturing video with the two. I wish what you said was true, that if set on DV converter, there is no timecode. But if that was true, then why all of the problems capturing from VHS? When I capture from my 8mm video camera, it only stops capturing when there is a hard break in control track.
    What I ended up doing to capture this entire video I wanted from VHS was use iMovie of all things. It's pretty sad when you have to use the lower grade, novice video program when you have paid for the professional version just to capture some video. This went beautifully with NO PROBLEMS at all. My opinion: because iMovie DOES NOT READ TIMECODE, it just captures whatever you put in, thank goodness.
    Another question for you. When you have recorded things on your old VCR, don't you remember the numbers on the read out of the VCR or on the screen when it rewinds for fast forwards? That is timecode.

  • Unable to capture in FCP, Quicktime and iMovie, camera not recognized.

    I am unable to capture in FCP, Quicktime and iMovie.
    I have been dealing with this problem for quite a while now, and I think I have tried everything posted on these forums regarding this issue. I have been to the Quicktime, iMovie, and this FCP forum looking for the solution. Hopefully someone has a suggestion that I have missed or have not tried yet. I have a Powerbook G4 running OSX Tiger 10.4. I am running Quicktime 7.04, and FCP 4.5.
    My problem is this… I am unable to capture from my Canon ZR-200 Mini DV camera, using Final Cut Pro, iMovie and also Quicktime. FCP says no camera recognized. iMovie says no camera attached, and Quicktime says no recording device found. In FCP, I am using the Firewire Basic setting, and NTSC DV settings. I have captured in FCP with the same camera several times in the past. I think the problem started when I upgraded to OSX 10.4, or one of the Quicktime upgrades.
    Here are the details…
    - Camera is connect via Firewire. I have tried the built in ports, as well as a Firewire Carbus card.
    - OSX recognizes the Canon ZR-200 in the System Profiler, so I know the computer sees the camera.
    - I have tried the camera on a Windows XP machine, and capture works perfectly, so I know the camera is functioning properly in VTR mode.
    - Deleted my FCP pref’s using FCP Rescue.
    - Deleted the Quicktime receipts, and re-installed Quicktime 7.04
    - Reverted back to Quicktime 7.01
    - Set the audio to 44.1 in the the Audio MIDI setup in the Utilities folder
    - Tried the “GarageBand” fix, opening the programing, playing a few notes and closing.
    - I have installed Quicktime using the program “Yank” to completely delete Quicktime and re-install.
    I may have tried more solutions, but these are the fixes that I can recall.
    If anyone has any others suggestions, it would be much appreciated.
    Brent

    Hi Brent:
    Although it looks as if you have tried all of the 'fixes' that are normally suggested here, please read through this Apple Article to see if some obscure thing applies to you.
    iMovie: Cannot see or control camera
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
    Sue

  • Is it possible to change the speed of video in fce like in imovie?

    Hi all, just wondering if it is possible to speed up/slow down/reverse video in fce like in imovie. I probably sound like a total noob, but i've only been using fce for a little while and haven't really tinkered around with it all that much. Is it possible?

    Thanks man! problem solved!

  • Importing a QT Screen Capture to FCE 4.0

    I've just spent ages recording a video using both a camera (pointed at me) and doing screen capture (using the new QT that came with SL) at the same time. I wanted to edit them together but I can't get the QT screen capture into FCE.
    Please don't tell me that FCE doesn't support those files. Is that correct?
    Quality isn't too important, so the only solution I can think of is to record the screen capture just by pointing my camera at the screen. Anyone got any other ideas. I need to do it quick sharp.

    That's correct. The screen capture uses the H.264 codec, which is a delivery format and not used in production. The material needs to be converted to the Apple Intermediate Codec. You can do this using FCE, the QuickTime 7 pro player, or MPEG Streamclip.

  • Capturing Video w/Audio in iMovie?

    Hi,
    I was just wondering if it's possible, using the iSight and the built-in mic on a MBP, to capture video w/audio with iMovie? Or just video w/out audio? I tried to capture video, but the audio didn't seem to come through at all. If it's not possible, any program reccomendations?
    Cheers,
    Tom.

    Hi Tom:
    Just to be sure, do you have thee timeline audio boxes checked?
    Sue

  • Cannon GL2 - FCE 2 and iMovie Capture Problems

    Hello Hello
    I've read here that folks are having a tough time capturing with thier Cannon GL2. The device goes from NO problem to 'Can't intiate a capture because the device looses connectivity.
    I tried to find a common denominator to this problem, and it seems this post regarding Quick Time Files can help? Yes?
    Is this the main problem?
    Anyway I'm also having connectivity issues with both iMovie 6 HD, and FCE 2
    Just wondering if I should also follow the directions on this post and have my capture problems solved?
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852
    BTW - I currently have Quicktime 7.0.4
    Thanx

    Hi Tom - Thanx for your reply!
    Well, yes I have (as my profile indicates), a G5 1.8 Gig, currently with an external Lacie HD plugged in. I also have a Cannon GL2.
    But before I go any further, and before I try those directions for cleansing certain Quick Time 7 Library Files, I think I figured out the dilemma.
    This problem of GL2 recognition (from what I've read), is common for folks who have similar equipment, and a similar set-up as mine:
    It seems (as I've also read here), that my G5 does NOT like 2 devices which require the same connection speed plugged into the 1394 Firewire Port at the same time - trying to share the same bus.
    I confirmed this by disconnecting the Lacie FIRST - then booting back up - and WALLAH - the GL2 was certainly receoginzed both in iMovie 6 HD, and FCE 2!
    I also further resolved the issue by buying a 'cheaper' Cannon Camcorder - the ZR500.
    Now I can actually share the Lacie HD in the Fire Wire Port with this slower connection speed camcorder. And a further benefit is giving my GL2 a rest when it comes to 'capture only'
    Does all this make sense?
    If so, perhaps I've already discovered stuff that other folks already know ...
    Thanx
    Mike

  • Capturing In FCE

    Am trying to capture some DV footage into FCE, and when 2 GB of film is imported, I get a warning saying that capture has ben stopped due to lack of memory space. I have 500GB free!! This means that only 9 mins of film can be captured at a time and it is a real pain. The camera is a Cony camcorder, and the OS is the latest. I can capture in iMovie, so does anybody know why FCE AND FCPro create an issue?

    Hi
    lack of memory can mean two things
    • Free Space on Start-up boot hard disk - Other hard disks of NO Interest !
    It's here Mac OS and Application store it's temp files - can't be addressed to other drive.
    I go for a minimum of 25GB - when doing SD-video. HD-video most probably needs more.
    • Amount of RAM - If AVCHD is Imported/Captured - amount of RAM is important
    (To me hear say - but sounds very possibly)
    6GB - should be more than enough
    Yours Bengt W

  • Compatibility of Sony HC1 to Capture in FCE 3.0.1

    I’m attempting to Capture HD video from a Sony HC1 camcorder to my iMac G5, EyeSight, Pre-Intel, 2.1 Ghz, 250G Built-In Hard Drive via Firewire. (No external FW hard drives are involved.)
    I’m using FCE 3.0.1 which Apple considers compatible with the Sony HC1.
    I have no problem capturing video from this camera if I select Sequence Preset DV NTSC 48Khz, but that captures 720x480 resolution.
    If I select Apple Codec 1080i60 via Easy Setup, and go to File-Capture, select Capture Now, the preview window appears, but is black, no video.
    The HCI camcorder LCD display is showing video but my Preview window is black like the video has been cut off. Anyone with any ideas why this is happening?
    I wish there were a site that gives a step by step “setup” for capturing HD video from the Sony HC1 HD camcorder using FCE 3.0.1, or other major camcorders.
    I called Apple and was told my version of FCE, purchased in Feb’06 is no longer “supported” because the newer version (FCE 3.5) is now being sold. They suggested that I go to the Apple support website for possible help, which I did do. The Apple rep listened politely to my problem but was unable to give me even a small clue, suggestions to try. He did offer to upgrade me to FCE 3.5 but then admitted that the Sony HC1 is not compatible with the FCE 3.5 version.
    I found this post from CHRIS on April 15, 2005:
    “A good question to ask at this point is does the Sony HC1 work properly with Final Cut Express HD in HDV mode?
    Also is it true that Final Cut Express HD does not edit HDV in it's native format and FCP HD does?----CHRIS”
    Has anyone determined an answer to this question that was posed over a year ago? I hope I don’t have to purchase FC Pro Studio to do HD!! If so, Apple needs to rename this software product minus “HD”.
    BoBo
    iMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   2.1 GHz with i Sight & 20" Display
    iMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   2.1 GHz with i Sight & 20" Display

    Hi(bonjour) BoBo!
    I do not know this Sony model but for my FX1 the letters "HDV" or "DV" appears in LCD screen upon shooting.
    I'm pretty sure that your output is HDV, so you have to set FCE HD to Apple intermediate codec 1080i50 or 60 (depending of your localized model of camcorder-European or US) to capture HDV material (wich will be handled by Apple Intermediate Codec, no in native format). On the FX1, there is a "blue" diode on side of camera and near the firewire socket to show the current mode of export and an indication on LCD.
    You can also set the camcorder to downconvert your HDV shooted material to standard definition (SD) on exporting. With this setting you have to select DV-NTSC or DV-PAL (depending of your localized camcoder) in FCE HD to import the downconverted footage in SD DV format.
    See the VCR output menu to select the desired output format.
    Finally you can shoot your movie in SD instead of HDV (see camcorder's manual, camcorder's menu: format and screen) in 4:3 or 16:9 format. With this setting you have to select DV-NTSC or DV-PAL (depending of your localized camcoder) in FCE HD to import the footage in SD DV format.
    Seeing HDV (in Apple intermediate codec format) in Final Cut Express HD is AMAZING on a HD cinema display: 1920X1080 pixels of pure color and details.
    Remember: all "easy setup" changes will take effect for new sequence only.
    Good Luck!
    Michel Boissonneault

  • Error Message When Importing Quicktime Screen Capture to FCE

    As I said in the subject I'm having issues importing a Quicktime Screen Capture into Final Cut Express. I keep getting this message.
    File Error: 1 file(s) recognized, 0 access denied, 1 unknown
    I figure it has to be a quick fix for this simple problem. And it's probably just my first time.
    Thanking you in advance
    Neo
    Message was edited by: Neo Dot Com

    QuickTime Screen Recordings are H.264 video files. You need to convert this to +QuickTime Apple Intermediate Codec+ in order to use it in FCE. MPEG Streamclip (free) can do this for you.

  • Advantages of FCE HD over iMovie HD (with Sony HDR HC3)?

    Hi!
    I'm new to the digital Video world. Sadly I'm always a bit crazy and thought to buy a camera which will be a bit more future proof and decided to go for a Sony HDR HC3. I was using iMovie 6 HD with it and can import movies fine (ok not full speed on my 2Ghz iMac G5 but I can live with that), I can cut them but I can't realy render them as normal movies out of iMovie. Actually I can't do anything with them it always turns out to be a very bad jerky output format. So reading the iMovie forum, it seems thats normal behavior. People say it needs to be sent back on camera tape and get it converted by the camera to DV and then use it. Actually importing DV and then writing a DVD or encoding it to an other fileformat really works well.
    So my question is, can FCE HD handle HDV better? Like export it to normal DVD? Meaning like rendering the 1440 x 1080 interlaced to the DVD non interlaced resolution?
    iMovie shows me the Project is 1080i-25 (yes I'm using PAL). So I asume it merges the two half pictures to one 1080 and that results in 25 frames/sec...
    Any experiance with FCE and Sony HC3 here? Roughly 300 Euros/$300 is a bit too much to buy it and it turns out to be not much of a difference then iMovie (for exporting and handling HDV).
    Thanks for your help and feedback!
    Holger

    Hi!
    The reason why I ask is some weired behavior I have with IMovie 6 HD/Quicktime 7 on the latest Tiger release:
    I can import HDV from my Sony HC3 perfectly, and also export every unedited material to the camera perfectly. But when the HD material needs to recoded for use on DVD or as quicktime movie or just when you add titles effects etc. Output is getting very jerky.
    To test I did the following. I recorded a 360 degrees turn in a room in HDV. It shows perfectly smooth on the camera screen when playbacked, smooth on TV etc. Smooth means as you see it when turning your head..
    So now I import it in HDV into iMovie. If i take the unedited film and want it to export it to any other format like DVD or an MPEG4 movie, things get jerky, the 360 degrees turn doesn't look nice anymore.
    I read in other forums, that thats in issue with HDV and you should let the camera convert it to DV, so the cuted material needs to be transfered back to the camera, and then let it convert it to DV.
    OK, so if I import HDV converted by the camera to DV its perfectly smooth, also on DVD on quicktime movies etc.
    When I import HDV in iMovie, and put a title text in the movie for like 10 secs out of the 20. iMovie will split the clip to two 10 sec ones and render the text in the first block. If I record it back as HDV on the camera tape and then reimport it with beeing converted as DV the following happens:
    The first 10 secs with the title are jerky, the second 10 secs are smooth as before.
    This needs to be related with the IMovie/Quicktime encoding, not with the camera (I have two of it to see if its not the hardware). So I'm really thinking It's either an iMovie problem an Quicktime problem or both together...
    So if FCE would handle the rendering process different... It would be worth to get it...
    Any ideas?
    Holger

Maybe you are looking for