FCP and QT Playback

I just installed FCP 7 and started my first project (DV NTSC). Footage was shot with a DVX 100B.
The clips really look bad in both Viewer and Canvass - lots of stair-stepping, raggedy text, and soft. I don't have a separate monitor and I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions about image quality based on what is displayed in FCP, but these results were unusual compared to FCP 6.
I exported a short test and opened it in QT 7 and it still looked awful. I then opened the same file in QT 10 and it looked perfectly clean. I then brought the file into Compressor and transcoded it to ProRes. When I opened the ProRes file, it looked great in both versions of QT.
Can someone help me figure out what's going on?
Thanks.
Russ

Thanks, David.
I agree that I shouldn't expect much from the canvass. It is what I see in the viewer that concerns me…all those artifacts.
The fact that it looks great when I open a clip directly in QT 10, but continue to look poor in QT 7 only adds to the puzzle.
What I'm describing is all taking place on a 27 in iMac display, by the way.
Russ

Similar Messages

Audio won't play in Premiere, but plays in QT, FCP, and Adobe Bridge.

Hi everyone,
I'm normally pretty good at troubleshooting, but this audio issue has me scratching my head. A cameraman had DVCPro tapes transferred to QT movies. All the clips playback fine if opened with QT, FCP, and Adobe Bridge. Import these clips into Premiere and there's no audio. Nothing shows up on waveform- there's nothing there.
I would switch to FCP, but I already started the project in Premiere (CS 5.5) with earlier footage- which were mxf files right off the P2 card. That works fantastic. The footage I'm having an issue with was footage that was just shot recently on DVCPro tapes- so switching to FCP isn't the most time efficient. But I'll do it if I have to.
What confuses me the most is that the clips play back fine in Adobe Bridge, so I don't think it's a codec issue.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice getting to the bottom of this.
Erik

I had a similar problem, I'll tell you how I solved it. Understand that I am a newbie at video editing and Premiere Pro. I shot videos on a DSLR (.mov) and then transferred them to my computer. I then imported them into Premiere CS6. The videos played fine, and the sound bars indicated that audio was playing, but there was no sound. The clips I imported played fine in Windows Media Player. I did everything suggested on the forums, but to no avail. Then I thought of something no one else had suggested, and it worked!
I ordered my Rain Stratus computer already set up with Premiere CS6 installed. When I opened a new project, it by default chose Black Magic Design presets, since that is the video card I have. Being a newbie, I just went with that. But since the video I was importing was not captured by my Black Magic video card, it was the wrong choice. It took awhile to figure out, but I finally realized I needed to choose Digital SLR as the sequence preset when I created a new project. Then the audio worked!
One more thing I had to do, though, before it worked: in PremierePro, go to Edit/Preferences/Audio Hardware. I had to change the hardware from Black Magic Audio to Premiere Pro WDM Sound, click ASIO settings, choose my speakers, and then check the box marked "device 32-bit playback" (even thought I have a 64-bit computer.)
I hope that helps someone else from going through the same frustration.

Canon HV20 24P HDV workflow, Some things with FCP and Quicktime are ODD.

Canon HV20, 24P, HDV, CMOS sensor...
First, I do hope and pray that the FCP dudes are making this work native at HDV 24p -- great!
But until then, there's a workflow (see below) and a real oddity I can't figure out, and if anyone has any thoughts about it that would be great.
Sometimes, the image captured/shown/exported is a lighter picture, and other capture/playing/export methods are darker picture. Example: the captured 60i from Final Cut Pro has a light gamma picture when viewed in Quicktime Player.
But playback in Final Cut Pro appears darker, and rich. But then exporting it out turns it light again, but export out to a MPEG-2 DVD is darker again? ODD.
Can anyone explain the FCP capture size of 1888 x 1062?
Anyhow, here is some workflow success that I had.
Capturing in Final Cut Pro using the HDV 1080/60i setting with HDV firewire basic NDF. But 60i is evil. So that's not enough. Got to get it to 24P,since that allows 20% more bandwidth, space, faster renders, and DVD players can play it.
Transcoding to a regular editing codec before converting to 24P is required. I found that MPEG Streamclip would create a wierd, jagged edges on small moving figures with high contrast, no matter what the settings, so I refuse to use it to export the footage.
So instead, FCP has an additional capture option of "Apple Intermediate Codec" or something like that, which transcribes it on the fly to AIC. I always stayed away from AIC like the plague, but they must have spent some time with it because it's nearly identical to the HDV original.
Next, open up in Quicktime Player, and start the clip on that second P frame. Sounds odd, I know. Goto the first interlaced frame, and back up two frames. Mark the "I", and then move that Out marker to the end, and then Trim the clip to the selection. Do that with all the clips, and then you can batch 24P them all.
If you don't want to find that one frame each time, here are the other settings:
First, open up the clip inside cinema tools, and then select Rev. Telecine button.
Find out which of these your clip is doing at the very beginning:
p-p-i-i-p - aa
p-i-i-p-p - bb
i-p-p-p-i - bc
p-p-p-i-i - cd
i-i-p-p-p - this is no good. must remove at least one frame from the beginning of source file
i = interlaced frame
p = progressive frame
all settings use the F1-F2, style one, standard upper/lower

Sometimes, the image captured/shown/exported is a lighter picture, and other capture/playing/export methods are darker picture. Example: the captured 60i from Final Cut Pro has a light gamma picture when viewed in Quicktime Player.
But playback in Final Cut Pro appears darker, and rich. But then exporting it out turns it light again, but export out to a MPEG-2 DVD is darker again? ODD.
This is known. This happens with ANY footage you look at in FCP and QT player. QT lightens the gamma of the footage. Why? Something to do with adjusting the image for computer monitors.
Shane

Problems with FCP and Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT video card

Not sure if this should be in the MacBook Pro forum or this one...
I am having trouble with the GeForce 8600M GT video card while editing in final cut pro (and after effects). I have talked with numerous people at applecare, but they say that they are unaware of issues regarding the video card.
The problem: It's almost like the card is unable to keep up with professional video applications. Whenever there is movement in the video I'm editing, I get lines across the screen. Not sure to how better to explain it than to say it looks like the video card is having a tough time refreshing. (I can take the same video to a much older power book, and it plays perfectly, so its not the source file.)
At first I thought it was an FCP issue, but I just started using after effects, and I'm having the same problem in there. If I edit in after effects, when I play it back (in after effects), I get the lines. I can then export the project to a quicktime file. The quicktime file plays perfectly (no lines) when not involved with a professional application. Then if I import the same quicktime file into FCP and play it back in FCP, the lines happen again.
Is anyone esle having this problem? Any thoughts? Any solutions?
Thanks!
Michael
Message was edited by: mjaffe00
Message was edited by: mjaffe00

I had searched the macbook pro forum, but not this one. It seems that the "screen tearing" issue has been talked about a lot, so I apologize for the repetitive nature of the post. I will say that I am fairly shocked that given how many people have clearly called applecare, no one there seems to have a clue that there is a problem with this video card. I have talked with at least 4 different people in the FCP specialty group, and not one had any clue what I was talking about... 3 of the 4 were fairly insistent that it was a video source issue on my side.
Message was edited by: mjaffe00

Choppy video in FCP and upon export to QT

I have been working with DV for years and recently upgraded to the Panasonic HMC150 (AVCHD). Whenever I worked with DV in FCP, there were little stutters in the video when playing a panning shot at normal speed, and I always assumed this was just a limitation of working with DV. Once I exported this footage to DVD or DV Tape, everything was smooth. The problem persisted whenever I would make a web video (either with Flash or MP4).
You can see some samples here of what I mean:
http://lastcuthomes.com/videos/3242MeadowlandsLane/
and
http://lastcuthomes.com/videos/1030HamiltonAve/
Now that I have my AVCHD cam, the same problem remains. Keep in mind that, I, as a camera operator am not doing these stutters and don't have Parkinsons! All of these videos appear just fine on DVD or on tape. The issue is with FCP and it's exporting.
The current method of exporting I have now is making the final video into a full QuickTime file from FCP. Then I will either encode with On2's Flix Pro or with QuickTime Pro into an mp4 file.
Has anyone been able to solve this issue? Has anyone else had this issue?
Thanks!
Ted

Bump- anyone?

Fcp and motion 3 with Yosemite

I Recently upgraded the operating system of my 2009 Mac Pro to Yosemite and consequently FCP and motion 3 no longer work. Can I do a clean install of Mavericks on a spare hard drive, install FCP and motion 3 on it and not have any conflicts with the other hard drives?

HHi Nick, thanks for the response. My question however was : can I have one hard drive operating Yosemite and another operating Mavericks with FCP and motion 3 without conflict in the same computer? Any ideas?

Is there a deus ex maquina for the hashed over HDV- DV conversion issues in the temples of FCP and Compressor??

I want to create a good quality SD DVD from 1080i/60 footage (20 minutes duration) from a Sony ZiU camera (mini DV tape) using FCP and Compressor. I can't do it. My hair has fallen out, but I don't want to throw in the towel.
I have imported the same footage with different FCP presets. The video quality in FCP is excellent.
But once I send the footage to Compressor. I end up with video exhibiting gradations of the following: blurry, jagged edges, jerky movement, darker color. Poor quality especially if a subject (kids playing football) runs fast.
The QT conversion process in Ken Stone’s article (May, 2008/updated in Jan, 2011) provides the most helpful information in getting a quality SD DVD. (Quality means looking as good as SD video DVDs). Except for the fact that the DVD is widescreen, the better quality alternative may just be to stick with the old 4:3 shooting, editing, burning methods that I’ve used for years. Unless of course, I am missing something. Hence my appeal to the knowledgable.
FYI Equipment/software: MAC Pro (OS 10.6.8); ATI Radeon HD 4870; terabytes to spare on 2 internal hard drives; FCS - FCP 7.0.3, Compressor 3.5.3, DVDSP 4.2.2. All applications are on Drive 1. FCP project files, scratch and other setups are on drive 2.
My current settings in FCP appear below. What's wrong here? Better alternative? Or it just may be HDV should not go to a SD DVD.
CAPTURE PRESET: HDV - APPLE PRORES 422
DEVICE CONTROL PRESET: Sony HDV FireWire
VIDEO PROCESSING Render 10-bit material in high precion YUV
I now send the Sequence to Compressor I've tried various settings, and the split screen preview in Compressor reveals on the right side the jaggy, blurred, darker video. Same shows up after submitting; and of course if I try to burn a DVD in DVDSP. I've followed Stone's Aug 31, 2009 article on Compressor 3.5. I experiemented with changes here and there without success (like changing field dominance of even selecting DV NTSC, etc).
If you got this far, thank you. And I really could use the help.
Sorry.Presets: Apple Pro Res 422 1440x1080 60i 48 kHz, HDV- Apple ProRes 422, Sony HDV FireWire. Capture Preset: HDV-Apple ProRes 422; Device control Sony HDV FireWire. Sequence Settings: 1440x1080 HD (1440X1080) (16:9), PIixel HD(1440x1080), Upper/Odd, 29.97, Compressor Apple ProRes 422. Message was edited by: Richard Fera

Michael,
Thanks for the helpful comments. Two tactics today helped. Where ever field dominance was indicated I made sure "upper/top" was the same everywhere throughout FCP and Compressor. That almost eliminated the jagged edges. Also, in the easy setup, I selected Apple ProRes 422 as the format, using HDV to ProRes HQ - Sony -1080i60. Sending direct to Compressor rather than through QuickTime conversion also help produce a clearer, less dark picture.
I'll try your suggesstions especially adding compression markers. I'll check back with you on results.
Thanks

Loss of sound and video playback on ENVY X2

Every so often, more often than I would like, my HP Envy X2 loses sound and video playback capabilities; any ideas anybody? The concept of this machine is great and have had it for the past 9 months but this loss of sound and vision is so unpredictable and frustating...

Hi Brumage,
I saw your post regarding the sound and video issues and I will be happy to help. Do you get any error messages when this happens? Have noticed if it is a particular site like YouTube or program that you are using when the issue occurs or does it occur on all programs? When you restarted the Envy X2 does the issue go away?
I would start by suggesting that you make sure all updates have been installed through HP Support Assistant and Windows Update.
What operating system are you running? What is your product number?
Find your product number on a notebook:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c00033108
Finding your OS:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/which-operating-system
Thank you,
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue.
Click the “Kudos Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Thank you,
BHK6
I work on behalf of HP

Using still image in FCP and Motion

I'm using still images in Motion (and FCP) and exporting them to Quicktime movie files. What's the best size and resolution for the images and are JPGs or TIF best? I'm exporting for 720 X 480, and currently my JPGs are 4 x 6 at 300 dpi with a pixel width and height of 1312 x 2000. I'm adding some behaviors to the images in Motion (motion paths and shrink/grow).
My FCP project is setup as a DV NTSC 48kHz, 720 x 480, editing timebase=59.94, timecode Rate=same as editing timebase, compressor-DV/DVPRO-NTSC, quality 100%.
When I export to Quicktime the movies are very low quality--lots of noise and moire pattern etc.
How do I get the best qualtiy using still images? Is it my FPS setting, image pixel size, compressor setting? Also, do the movies need to be deinterlaced?
The preview in the FCP browser and canvas looks a little better but I do notice noise (moire patterns) along the sharp edges of the still images.
I've seen QT movies of these very same images (done by someone else who is no longer around) and they are much better quality.
Does anyone have an appropriate workflow for this type of project? The final movies are to be shown on a flatscreen monitor from a local computer, so the file sizes can be relatively large (300mb).
I can post an example of he movie files if that might help.
Thanks.
Pedro

David, your a genius!!! You posted your reply on my birthday, and I missed it until today!
Fotomagico is devastatingly easy to use and absolutely makes me want to cry at the amount of time I wasted creating photo slideshows in FCP!
I opened Fotomagico up and created a slideshow, one that I had already created in FCP and had take me FIVE HOURS to create... in TEN MINUTES!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaah.
I couldn't believe it. I thought there had to be a catch or something. This was too easy the quality can't be there... but it was. It's amazing and I can't thank you enough for all the future hours you have saved for me.
Al Romero

My new 13 inch Macbook Pro and FCP and FCS 2

Until today I thought I could not run FCP and FCS 2 Full Suite because of my graphics card in my base, stock, 13" Macbook Pro. -- I'm being told that my 9400M with 256 shared memory will run these applications. That's good news to me if it's true. What are some of your views from the Pro camp please. I can bring up the memory and hard drive. I just shoot and edit in Standard Definition with my Canon Optura 50 MINI DV Tapes and my Canon HV20 with the same.
I realize I am on the low end but will it work?

Some of it will, although you might not be happy with the performance of Motion and Color will probably not install at all.

Help with FCP and long project editing - Thanks!

I have posted several questions in this discussion group and in the iMovie group to no avail. I get a lot of answers, but not from anyone who has actually done any of the editing I am seeking. So if anyone has actually done the editing I am describing below -- I appreciate your help. Yes, I have searched the archives -- but again, I see a lot of confusing feedback. I have been working on this for three days now and it's driving me crazy! I have discovered that iMoive is $#@% -- and does not work with a long project, (40 minutes) so I am thinking about switching to FCP-HD. Thanks.
Here goes:
1: I need to transfer original master footage, 1080i HDV from a Sony HDR-FX1 to an editing program, edit the tapes (over 5 hours total) into a 50 minute "program". I then need to "share" or export the footage back to a new tape, using the Sony HDR-FX1 as the receiving camera. Simple enough.
2: I need to make sure the outgoing footage is of equal quality as the original footage taken from the camera. I am guessing here, that the footage can be edited in FCP-5 as "native" -- then transferred back to the Sony?
3: I am assuming that the native footage is just that -- and will not require the long process of converting to another format, e.g., ASI that takes hours to
render. (as in iMovie).
4: I am assuming I can edit and view HDV as native footage in FCP in real time, like iMovie, via firewire from the camera?
I really appreciate any assistance.
Chance

Welcome to the family, you'll be joining us soon.
The FCP product page says: > It features powerful new multicamera editing, native HDV support, ... edit everything from DV and SD to DVCPRO HD and fully uncompressed 10-bit high-definition video. Or work with new formats like native HDV (long-GOP MPEG2) and 50Mbps IMX... HD editing requires a 1GHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 and 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended).<
You seem to have the hardware including the Flux-o-pator, but, really, you want to talk to an Apple reseller who handles FCP and understands HDV via Sony. I don't like the way you're using "I am assuming..." You can't assume anything. Give them a chance to sell you FCP or Studio and go demo your camera on their system. You will have concrete evidence of the minimum machine specs and how well you can get your files in and out of the application.
Call you local Mac user group and try to locate other FCP users.
Try also the creativecow.net forums for Sony HD products.
Google your camera model for support groups.
bogiesan

Two Radeons 3870 with FCP and Motion?

Hi!
Have you tried to use two 3870 with FCP and Motion?
I just wanted to have all 512MB of video RAM for my canvas and use the second card with my Matrox MXO to display broadcast preview.
I know it could be risky, but as I remember earlier the problems shows only while rendering some of the plugins in FCP (my test was on 2006).
Do you have any experience with pair of 3870 cards?
I've just ordered two of them:)
regards
arti

From what I've read on this forum, FCP doesn't work properly with two video cards.
-DH

After recent QuickTime updates fcp and QuickTime will not open .mov files captured on my FS-H200. Iran

After recent QuickTime updates fcp and QuickTime will not open .mov files captured on my FS-H200. I put this onthe quick time thread and they sent me here.

and NEVER do a software update unless you've got a clone of your startup drive so you can restore your system to it's working state if something goes wrong.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2494

After updating to 10.1, projects/events that I had on an external HD are not recognizable by FCP, and only open up as TextEdit when I try to open them in Finder. I appreciate your help. Thank you.

After updating to 10.1, projects/events that I had on an external HD are not recognizable by FCP, and only open up as TextEdit when I try to open them in Finder. I appreciate your help. Thank you.

You do not open the project from Finder. You do that from FCP. They are in the library.

How do I set-up my memory amount for max speed for FCP and Motion

Hey all, I have a Dual 2.3 G5 with (8 Gigs) Ram. I'm working with a new client. I want to set up my memory or whatever else to provide MAXIMUM processing power for FCP and MOTION. Does anyone have any recommended settings. I've maxed-our RAM. My card is (ATI Radeon 9600-128MB of VRAM)
Is there a setting in FCP that allows more processing power to be applied to that application ?
Appreciate any replies

Most of FCP's speed in performing functions is directly related to processor speed. The only way to increase performance would be to use a Mac with faster processors. Performance is also related to data throughput, so if you're working with high data rate video formats, a fast RAID and/or SATA (or eSATA) media storage solution would help.
The exception to FCP performance is when rendering/processing FX Plugs; they are dependent on the power of the graphics card.
Motion is mostly dependent on the power of the graphics card.
There is no way that I'm aware of that you can speed up RAM. Having the extra RAM will just mean that you can successfully work with more applications open at the same time.
-DH

FCP and QT Playback

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