Converting h.264 files for editing

When you convert h.264 files to edit, does it matter if you convert them to apple intermediate codec or prores? I'm going to export the finished project back to h.264 anyway so I just wanted to know if it made a difference, and what the advantages and disadvantages of converting the footage to either of those two codecs are. Thanks.

>Why won't the exported h.264 have the same settings as the original h.264?
Because the camera records H.264 with a bunch of settings that are specific to that camera. I guess that you can try to match those settings when you export...but to what end? Where will you show your work? How will it be displayed? YouTube/Vimeo doesn't play back video with that high of an H.264 data rate. Nor does DVD...BluRay has it's own spec.
The question is...what will you be exporting to for delivery...for final viewing? You'll be exporting a ProRes 422 as your master source...but then encoding from that the formats you need to deliver. Unless you plan on playing back in the camera, or via a laptop onto a projector...you won't be going back to that original spec.
>And if I converted the h.264 footage to prores for editing, and then exported it with prores, will that finished project be higher quality than the original h.264 footage?
Higher data rate...yes. But it will have gone through one layer of compression. But very good, low loss quality. Your eye really won't see the difference. But it will be better suited for editing and color correction...as H.264 is 8-bit 4:2:0 color space, and ProRes is 10-bit 4:2;2. It will be in better condition for editing and grading, but quality...about the same, ever ever EVER so slightly less quality. Nothing you'd notice.

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Problems converting h.264 files for use in Premiere

Hello,
Given the fact that I've searched for an solution to this and everything I read is two steps ahead of me, I'm sure there is some basic no brainer thing that I'm overlooking and I apologize for being a noob. I'm attempting to edit HD files for the first time and the files come out of the camera in h.264. I first tried converting with mpeg streamclip but most of the codecs were apple. I tried a few codecs but none of them worked properly with premiere (video in source monitor was jerky, or it'd play fast and freeze on the last frame for the duration of the clip instead of playing the entire clip at proper speed, etc.).
I went through a few other programs and I've still had no success. Every conversion I attempt has some issue in Premiere. My new computer should have no issues running HD clips. It's an i7 quad core with 8 gb RAM.
I know I need to convert the h.264 files to edit in premiere, but I just need to know what program I can use to convert it and what codec will work in Premiere.

I'm going to guess that you're on a PC. Most folks editing Canon HDSLR on PC's seem to be transcoding to Cineform codec to get realtime editing. They have plenty of flavors at prices from $199-$1499 for the Prospect4K that is specifically built for Premiere. You can download 30-day fully functioning trial from www.cineform.com. You'll also find lots of helpful stuff over at www.cinema5d.com
CS5 promises native, realtime editing of multiple layers of h.264 files so I'll actually be putting my dough toward a new system rather than the cinefom plugin.

How to convert InDesign CS2 files for editing in CS5 (win)

We are a small publishing company with several top-selling language products. I need to revision a title which was published 10 years ago. The files are CS2 and I cannot open them in CS5. Seem Adobe doesn't offer any conversion utility. It seem I need to open them in CS3 then save and use CS4 to convert from CS3 to CS4, then I can use CS5. But I cannot find CS3 for sale anywhere. So I'm screwed. Please offer a file conversion service. It's just code! you can run the old versions on virtualized servers and charge $500 per file. I'll pay! I'm totally screwed. We have to recreate the entire book from scratch. I used to be an Adobe promoter, but now I'm a detractor. this is horrible.
Does anyone have old versions around could be used to get this job done?
Cheers!

OK this is seriously messed up. I just spent the day installing trial versions of InDesign CS3 and CS4 (on a Windows Virtual PC running Windows XP) and converted my files from CS2 to CS3, then C3 to CS4. But when I try to open in CS5, they still crash InDesign CS5! Something is corrupt or incompatible with InDesign CS5 even though they opened in CS3 and CS4. wtf.
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Converting AVI movie files for editing in iMovie

I have a bunch of .avi movies from an old Flip Camera that I'd like to import into iMovie. I can play the videos using MPlayerX, but how do I import them into iMovie? iMovie doesn't recognize these files. I'm working on an iMac. Thanks for your help

Thanks I downloaded MPEG and I think I'm able to convert it, but iMovie still isn't recognizing the video even after saved it as a .mov. Maybe there's a wrong format? I'll look into Perian. thank you for your help

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?
Both the AVI and the MOV file extensions refer to the file container and not the compressed data the file contains. Both are generic file containers in that each may contain any valid combination of audio and/or video data that is compatible with the codec component configuration of the system on which the file was created. On the other hand, whether a file is playback compatible, conversion compatible, and/or edit compatible depends on the data actually contained in the file container. So, you are basically dealing with two separate issues here—the container and what is inside it.
Basically, if you want to make your files ediit compatible with iMovie, you must change your file container to one that is acceptable to iMovie and convert the data to edit compatible audio and/or video compression formats as may be necessary. The best approach is to determine what codecs were actually used to create the original AVI files and add them to your system if possible. In most cases a codec package like Perian can be added to your system's codec component configuration to may the AVI file playable. Once they are playable, in the QT 7 app then they can be chnged or converted to file types and compression formats that can be edited in iMovie. (While Perian handles most codecs commonly used to create AVI files, it does not handle all possibilities and, while the Perian codec package still works under cureent Mac OS versions, its development group has decided to drop further development/support of the package.)
Background: AVI is a file container originally developed by Microsoft back in 1992 but for which official support was discontinued about 11 years. Despite its limitations, Windows users still tend to use this file based on its open source ease of use and generic nature, thus, making its use so popular that most users are unwilling to switch to more modern but less generic file types. Since some AVI legacy compression formats have never been transcoded for the Mac or use beyond OS 9 or OS X PPC platforms, it is often important to know what specific compression formats are contained in the AVI file to know which codecs to add to your system and which not to add in order to avoid possible codec conflicts.
You can use many different converters to convert AVI files to iMovie edit compatible files. Most third-party apps contain their own buit-in codecs which do not relay on the Mac codec component configuration. Free ones, like HandBrake, usually have limited conversion capabilities while those that have more varied outputs are usually commercial in nature and will cost you additional cash. QT 7 Pro or the free MPEG Streamclip app allow you to access you own system's component configuration and use any available codec component like DV, AIC, MPEG-4, H.264, Photo JPEG, etc.—all of which are iMovie compatible for editing purposes—but only after making the AVI file QT 7 player compatible.
In order to determine what compression formats wewre used in your AVI files you can
1) Try checking the Finder "Info" window,
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3) Use a general media utility app like "MediaInfo" to read the file characteristics.

Convert mts files for editing in Final Cut?

Is there a way to convert mts files for editing in Final Cut Express or Pro?

Well, first, if you are talking about AVCHD video, FCE & FCP can directly import it from your camcorder. They will also import AVCHD from an SD card or even your hard drive provided you have saved the entire AVCHD folder structure, not just the .mts files by themselves.
If you only have the .mts files (without the surrounding AVCHD folder strucutre) then you should be able to use MPEG Streamclip to convert them to QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec for editiing in FCE. MPEG Streamclip is free and works great.
If that doesn't work, then look into ClipWrap, which has a $49.99 price tag.
This will work the same for converting .mts files to ProRes assuming you already have FCP installed, which gives you the ProRes codec.
FCE & FCP do not, however, directly import video from DSLRs because the camera manufacturers have each done some proprietary stuff in their implementation of video in their DSLRs. However, if you have a Canon DSLR & FCP (that is, FCP 7) there is a Canon EOS video plugin that will enable you import the video directly from the DSLR into FCP7. Not sure it's supported on Lion (10.7.x) just yet, but if you have a Canon DSLR it's worth a look.

Open file for edit

hi
lets say i am doing a program similiar to autocad
and i need to open the file for edit in my java program
the file format is my own custom format, not autocad format
my question is that does it more sense to create a clone of the copy to edit
or edit the opened file directly...

Create a clone. If something goes wrong, the user can always revert to the original file.
(On the other hand, this may also depend on what you are really doing to "edit the file". I suspect that very fiew user applications actually make changes directly into a source file.)

HT2486 how can I export the contact book data to a csv file for editing?

how can I export the contact book data to a csv file for editing?

You can edit a card right in Contacts. No need to export and re-import.
Select a name and on the right side, click the Edit button:

How can I convert an .m1v file for my MacBook to be able to play it?

Hi!
How can I convert an .m1v file for my MacBook to be able to play it?
I tried numerous apps from the app store, but they failed
Thanks!

Hello:
Rather than try to buy a box, I suggest you take the computer to a FedEx or UPS store. They will wrap and safely package the device for a reasonable cost (I have shipped two iMacs this way).
Barry

Using NIK software...LR5 said it cannot prepare the file for editing

I have reimported photos from my backup HD (Lacie) into LR5. After selecting a photo in LR5 I attempted to edit using NIK software...LR5 said it cannot prepare the file for editing?
Message was edited by: Geoff the kiwi
Changed title to reflect query

Is there a question mark icon next to your photo?
What is your operating system?
Which NIK Software?

I'm having problems exporting files for editing from LR 4.3 into photoshop elements 9.

This problem only occurs with files that I have been imported from cd's/dvd's into the libraryand I get the msg "Lightroom was unable to prepare the selected file for editing. It will not be opened."
Files that are stored on my hard drive have NO PROBLEM in being edited. .
I am new to Lightroom and currently using it on the 30 day trial I have been using PSE for a long time and have over 90,000 images in Organizer and all of my images are on cd's/dvd's, very few are stored on the hard drive.
Thanks in advance for any feedback and suggestions.
Ken

Do you mean they are still on the CD/DVD and you want to export them directly from CD/DVD?
That's not possible since the CD/DVD is not writeable. You have to move the photos to your hard drive first.

I have just purchased elements 12. It will not convert a raw file for me. i have downloaded DNG convertor 8.5 but it says that my Canon 70d is not compatible. I never had a problem with my last camera canon 7d and elments 8. Can someone help me please..

i have just purchased elements 12. It will not convert a raw file for me. i have downloaded DNG convertor 8.5 but it says that my Canon 70d is not compatible. I never had a problem with my last camera canon 7d and elments 8. Can someone help me please

Did you buy PSE in the mac app store? If not, just go to Help>Updates in the editor and update camera raw and you should be able to open the raw files in PSE 12 directly without the DNG converter.

The best way to make proxy files for editing?

Hi,
What is the best way to create proxy files for editing? I'm thinking Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy). The original material is DVCPRO HD 1080i50, shot on Panasonic P2 cards, and copied on to hard drives. But as there is about 400 hours of it, I desperately need to find a clever way to make smaller proxy files for editing.
I would also like to make the proxies at a smaller resolution than 1080i for the editing process.
I guess it's possible to import the media and then batch export it to the proxy format, but Is there a better way?

I'm not able to ingest the material directly from the P2-folders as ProRes 422 (Proxy). No matter how much I change the import settings in "Log and transfer", it still ingests as DVCPRO HD 1080i50.
Correct. DVCPRO HD P2 can only come in as DVCPRO HD. You can't transcode it. AVCIntra P2 is what you can bring in as ProRes. (Sorry Tom).
I can of course transcode it form there to the proxy format and delete the ingested files,
Why? Why do that? You have ingested all the files, right? You ALREADY HAVE THEM...right? Why not work with them? You obviously have the room (20TB). Why import all this, then now take the days it would require to make proxies?
Making the ProRes-proxies directly from the P2-material seems more logical, or isn't it?
DVCPRO HD P2 cannot come in as anything else, so the offline/online workflow for them doesn't work unless you import it all, then transcode to a smaller format...but then need to keep the originals online to relink to when you are done. If you wanted to do an offline/online, you needed to research this better...or test it...before you shot your hundreds of hours only to find that what you want to do won't work.
Shane

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

FCE only used AIC for HD.
Al

Options for converting '.vob' files for editing in PP Pro CS3...

Hi,
I'm using PP Pro CS3 (Windows) and I have a few projects here where the source material are '.vob' files only.
Now because PP Pro doesn't support that file format, I'm looking for options to convert this footage to a format - suitable for editing in PP Pro CS3 - that does NOT explode in file size.
Converting to uncompressed .avi is up 20 times the file size, DV .avi is about 5-10 times the file size.
Here are the options I've tried so far:
1. importing '.vob' files straight into PP via the Avisynth method
--> works, but PP crashes randomly and it always crashes when rendering more than 2-3 min
--> all my system drivers are up to date
2. renaming to .mpg or .avi
--> works for some files (only) but you get random red frames in your footage
3. converting to mpeg-2 via...
a. Carbon Coder - best quality so far - looks like original
b. Premiere Elements 4 - no de-interlacing option, takes way too long, quality worse than original
c. MPEGStreamclip - no options selectable, quality is worse than original
4. converting to 'DV avi' via...
Carbon Coder - PE 4 - MPEGStreamclip - VirtualDubMod
--> file size explodes (5-10 times of the original .vob file), quality looks on all kinda the same and NOT better than the mpeg-2 output from Carbon Coder - that's why I don't wanna take the storage hit...
Are there any other methods or ways to convert '.vob' files to a suitable editing format (with a reasonable file size) ?
Thanx for your help !
Mike

Take the storage hit and be done with it. Hard drives are cheap these days. Editing takes lots of space. Might as well get used to it.

Converting h.264 files for editing

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