Final Cut Express 4 ---- iDVD 7

is there a semi-easy way to get a Final Cut Express project into iDVD??
i realize i can use all sorts of compression settings and even export it to a DV stream,
but it takes quite a while considering the duration of the video...
also, the project i'm working on right now is in widescreen,
and it has trouble even keeping it at the proper resolution when exporting to quicktime movie..
it's somewhere in between 16:9 and 4:3
it looks squished...
anyway...
i'm thinking about saving it back to the tape,
and then importing it into iMovie,
and then from iMovie to iDVD
I'd do the 'one-step-dvd' feature,
but the resolution is terrible...
this seems like an annoying workaround that will discourage me from even using FinalCut (i have limited hard drive space... so two projects with uncompressed clips of 2 hour length are out of the question)
please let me know if i'm completely missing out on some feature...
since Final Cut Express isn't packaged with anything else for DVD authoring, i would think this is a fairly common problem...
Thanks,
-Nate

1) Have you tried exporting as quicktime movie, but ensure that the 'Make Movie Self-Contained' unchecked. This will save you conversion time and converting when it is typically not necessary (unless iDVD is on another Mac). i.e. here is a more detailed of what i am get at http://www.fcpbook.com/Misc2.html
2) Here is how to handle your 16:9 issue at least in part if not all http://www.fcpbook.com/Video9.html

Similar Messages

  • Anamorphic Footage on DVD...Final Cut Express 2.0.3 & iDVD 4.0.1

    Hello again everyone,
    My latest project involves 5 short QuickTime Movies edited together in one sequence in Final Cut Express 2.0.3. I am trying to now burn that sequence to DVD but I am having some "issues"...
    Three of these QuickTIme Movies are DV PAL Anamorphic and the other two are DV PAL (not anamorphic) and all five have been edited into a DV PAL Anamorphic Sequence in Final Cut Express 2.0.3. This works great when viewed in the canvas.
    What I have been trying to do next is export the whole sequence using File/Export/QuickTime Movie so I end up with one whole exported QuickTime Movie, containing the five other QuickTime Movies, that I can then import into iDVD 4.0.1.
    The export works fine and I can import the new QuickTime Movie into a PAL iDVD 4.0.1 project but the footage looks 4:3 and not anamorphic.
    When exported the QuickTime Movie does not seem to have preserved the pixel aspect ratio of my sequence (anamorphic)...
    Can anyone please offer some advice here? What is the best way to export Anamorphic PAL sequences out of Final Cut Express 2.0.3 as QuickTime Movies that can then be imported into iDVD 4.0.1 (or DVD Studio Pro and other apps) with the correct pixel aspect ratio (Anamorphic PAL)?
    Is this something that iDVD can't handle and needs to be done in DVD Studio Pro or do I need to change my export settings in Final Cut Express 2.0.3......or do I need to export it from Final Cut Pro instead?
    Regards,
    Justin Pamenter

    I think iDVD 5 is the first version of iDVD to support anamophic. Sounds like you did the right stuff in FCE. You had the Easy Setup on anamorphic when you captured and when you created the anamorphic sequence.
    Take a look at the iDVD forum or Google "iDVD Anamorphic".

  • Final cut express to idvd

    Hey guys,
    I have been having a problem with the picture quality of the DVD's I made with final cut. I export them to a "Quicktime movie" from the file menu; which is what Apple said to do. So I went to my local Apple store and had the guy in final cut express, do what i did, export to quicktime movie..., Then with Final Cut express again, we used compressor (ONLY available in FC pro, i don't even know why it an option: it will only be un-grayed out if you have Compressor) We selected "Mpeg-2 best quality DVD" we exported and it looked a heck of a lot better than the quicktime movie one( which is all i have available). I was wondering if any one has the name for a mpeg2 encoder, for mac, that is a plug in for quicktime so that i wont degrade quality doing quicktime movie and the exporting in a different program (if its a Quicktime plugin, i can do it directly within FC express. Please help!! Thanks so much!

    (I'm not sure whether I understand your problem but here goes. Maybe there is no problem after all?).
    Basically iDVD wants .dv or .mov -- it insists on encoding MPEG2 itself.
    So: if your source is DV from a camcorder, you should use a DV stream .dv file (or DV-encoded .mov file) as an input to iDVD so there are no lesser quality intermediary codecs (like MPEG2!) ruining the final output to MPEG2.
    Notice also that by default QT Player has a low resolution playback of DV files so don't judge the quality by that! You can turn on high quality playback via QT Player to see all quality (and maybe also those interlacing comb lines that are normal...).
    BTW, AFAIK a long time there used to be an Apple MPEG2 encoder plug-in for QT but AFAIK it doesn't work with new Mac OS versions and has been superseded by Compressor. And if you use iDVD, you don't need either of them anyway.

  • TS2179 import files from final cut express to idvd

    Import files from final cut express to idvd. When we are making a dvd in iDVD importing the files (widescreen mov files ) from final cut express they automatically change to 4x3. They look correct when played in the quicktime player. Has anyone had this problem.

    Generally, I just drag the DV file from the finder to the iDVD menu window. Make sure you don't drag it to any Drop Zones, I think that might be your problem with the DV file showing up as the background. If you have default settings in iDVD, this drag and drop should then create submenus based on your chapter markers.
    I'm not sure if you have any issues with the Chapters not showing up in QT. If you're expecting them to show up, then make sure that when you do the Export to QT that the option to include Chapter Markers is set. Upon conversion, you should see the Chapters within QT as well as when imported into iDVD.
    Hope this helps!

  • IDVD problem - exporting from  Final Cut Express

    I'm have a problem with my iDVD that I am not sure how to fix. I created a movie in Final Cut Express...exported and burned a DVD in iDVD. I went back to that project in Final Cut and altered it...saving a new project. Then I try to open iDVD I get this pop up message that says it can't find Sequence 1-FIN-0000002f so the moive will not play properly. Seems that it is referencing the project that I burn previously. It gives me the option to search for the file or cancel. If I search I can't find it and if I cancel I get the spinning wheel...the program will not open. I'm new to working with Final Cut so I'm not sure but somehow I deleted a file that was embedded in the the first movie I created. It appears that when I open my video drive I have a Render File folder, in this folder are folders for all the projects I have created. I can locate the last project folder and see all the sequence files (all named like the one that was missing....Sequence1-FIN-0000002f) I just am not sure how I would have erased one of these rendered files. Is there a way for me to recreate a rendered file with this file name so the iDVD will recongize it or bypass this in iDVD so I can just open it and create something new? Any suggestion on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.....

    Keep in mind you are working with QT Reference files. These files reference the movie files within your video editing app. If you opt to burn a DVD and then go back and alter these same ref. files then you confuse iDvd which normally requires that you delete the encoded assets and start again so iDvd can again recognize what you want in terms of a finished iDvd. Hope this helps but if not just come on back.

  • Exporting with Final Cut Express 4 & iDVD

    Hi,
    I have just got final cut express and have created a test project. How do you go about getting it into iDVD? I was about to export the project using "Quicktime conversion" but I am unsure what type of file to export it as. It is to go on a DVD.

    Hi Tom,
    My project was filmed & edited in widescreen, when I export it using the method you describe here it doesn't output it in widescreen. How can I export it for best quality in widescreen for idvd? thanks

  • From Photoshop to Final Cut Express to iDVD Problem

    I can't seem to figure it out. I'm creating a widescreen presentation. I'm using photoshop to create a slide, I then export it into final cut express to create a slide show. When I export it using file>export>quicktime movie... the quality looks terrible, and isn't in 16:9. It looks pushed together, and font looks incredibly blurry.
    When I export using quicktime conversion (which I think takes the chapters ability away) it looks great cause I export to extremely high settings. Then when I insert the movie into iDVD, its back in 4:3 nasty pushed together mode.
    WHAT AM I DOING WRONG!
    thanks,
    Shawn

    And just to clarify a bit. Anything I'm exporting, even if its widescreen footage, using file<export<quicktime movie... is 4:3. Why the **** is this happening?

  • How can I tell if the quicktime movie I export from Final Cut Express through Quicktime to IDVD is anamorphic

    How can I tell if the quicktime movie I export from Final Cut Express through Quicktime to IDVD is anamorphic

    Find the Seuence icon in the Browser that corresponds to the Timeline.
    Right click the Sequence icon in the Browser.
    Select Item Properties.
    All info is revealed.
    Al

  • Final Cut Express 4 & iDVD

    When I export using QuickTime movie and import into iDVD I loose the aspect ratio i.e. it is no longer 16:9. I purchased Final cut express because iMovie 08 would not allow CHAPTER MARKS? I produced a 2 hour 25 minute movie in iMovie 08 (a mistake) exported to GarageBand to put chapter marks on and then tried to send it to iDVD and was told File to Large. I have a Double Layer DVD Burner and have created larger movies than this. I thus transfered the movie from iMovie 08 into Final Cut Express 4 to put Chapter Marks on which worked but the aspect ratio was lost. Doing a QuickTime Conversion Aspect Ratio is OK but NO CHAPTER MARKS. (GOOD WAY OF SELLING MORE PROGRAMS BECAUSE NONE SEEM TO DO WHAT YOU EXPECT OR WHAT YOU WANT). iMovie 08 was purchased as an UPGRADE to iMovie HD because of the extra features added, but they forgot to make it work with iDVD?

    You may try my instructions in http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6025796&#6025796. They worked with me in the past.
    I used myDVDEdit on a G5 iMac without any trouble.
    About chapter markers. If you want iDVD to recognize them:
    - in FCE make sure the markers are set in the timeline (not in the clips) and are marked "Chapter Marker" (open each marker dialog to set this option)
    - from FCE Export/Quicktime Movie (NOT Using Quicktime conversion: this doesn't export markers) and make sure you select "Chapter Markers" (NOT "All markers" or any other choice for this option) in the export dialog
    - then you should be able to import to iDVD the movie with chapter markers (iDVD Preferences must be set to create submenus for chapters)
    Piero

  • Can you export FInal Cut express project to IDVD?

    I am currently using IMOVIE and IDVD. I am considering purchasing Final Cut Express. Someone told me that you cannot export a completed Final Cut Express File to IDVD. Is this correct. Would I have to invest in DVD Studio?
    Thanks,
    Benjamin

    Completely untrue. Some people seem to have issues
    with chapter markers not importing correctly on
    occasions, but otherwise it works fine
    Can anyone comment on this problem and the solution? I just upgraded to FCX HD and iDVD 5.0, and I can no longer put chapters in my movies. Worked just fine under FCX 2.0 and iDVD 4.
    Thanks,
    -dan

  • Can't use Final Cut Express Export Using Quick Time Conversion with iDVD.

    I am using iDVD 08v 7.0.4 and until 3 days ago I could import and create iDVD's using Final Cut Express export using Quick Time Conversion. There was an update that downloaded for iDVD. Since then, I can only use Final Cut Express Exports that is a self contained Quick Time Movie.
    I have never had this kind of apple and apple problem. I am disappointed that I'm having apple issues like this.

    Are you on latest 10.5.x release and latest FCE updates? Your info line says 10.5.1 and you didn't list FCE version. Not saying that will fix problem, but might help. You also might want to explain how you did your Quicktime conversion.

  • Final Cut Express won't transfer widescreen to iDVD!

    I edited a movie in Final Cut Express, and it plays fine in widescreen in that program. When I export it as a Quicktime, however, it then will only play in 4:3 ratio. I import it to iDVD & it wont play in widescreen either.
    (Also... when in Final Cut Exp, how to I change the aspect ratios from anamorphic to 4:3 & vice versa. Just for future reference & to make sure everything is right.)

    Yer post has been here a couple days, so I'll take a whack. While researching a similar but different problem (tacked on at the end), I have come upon repeated references to this solution for importing Final Cut anamorphic files into iDVD. They all reference back to Apple support article 75079. Despite the long list of instructions, it only amounts to changing one setting.
    First and foremost, you need Quicktime Pro for this to work, because you open the file in QT and then save it with a minor change. You fit the bill because your files are "squished" in QT. If they weren't, then even attempting this would be pointless.
    Open the file in QT Pro
    Choose "Window>Show Movie Properties"
    In the Property window, click the "Video track" in the "Name" column
    Click the "Visual Settings" Button
    Deselect the "Preserve Aspect Ration" checkbox
    Change the "Scaled Size" (NTSC=853 x 480, PAL=1024 x 576)
    You will see the immediate change in the QT window.
    Choose "File>Save" to save the movie.
    If I recall, this saves it as a .mov file. If that's what you started with, then read no further.
    If you started with a .dv file and are partial to retaining a .dv file, this other technique I ran across may work just as well:
    Open the file in QT Pro
    Choose "File>Export"
    In the "Export" drop-down menu, choose "Movie to DV Stream"
    Click the "Options" button
    In the "DV Export Settings" window change the aspect ratio to 16:9
    Might want to double-check the audio setting to be sure it is what you want it to be.
    (The file I tried this on had no audio and was defaulted to 32)
    Click "Okay"
    Change the name if you are nervous
    Save the file.
    This second method was actually to address a problem when 16:9 QT files import to iMovie as 4:3. For all I know, it won't work on files exported from Final Cut, but I figured I'd toss it in.
    As for switching aspect ratios in FC, in my research I have run across references to it just being a button-click.
    My own problem has to do with importing (into iDVD) 16:9 QT files saved from iMovie 6. Unlike your Final Cut files that play 4:3 in QT, these guys play 16:9 just fine in QT, so neither of the above techniques changes anything. So far, I have only found a reference to two 3-party programs ("mydvdedit" and "anamorphicizer") as solutions.
    Naturally, sharing iMovie->iDVD maintains 16:9 in iDVD, but if I ever get stupid and move to iMovie 08, I understand iMovie no longer shares with iDVD, so then what? I'm just hoping there is some other solution than yet another 3-party program to make an Apple product work right.
    Technically, I don't think I highjacked your thread, but if I did, someone can tell me so and I'll copy and past to a new thread.
    Clyde

  • Final Cut Express, Chapter Markers iDVD

    How does this particular tool work with iDVD?
    Obviously, I do all my editing in FCE4. Then I convert it an .MOV file & transfer/burn it to DVD with i-DVD.
    Must I create separate chapters within iDVD itself in order to have actual chapter menus on my DVD? If so, what purpose do the chapter markers serve in Final Cut Express? The only thing I can assume is that it will give the viewer the ability to “scan” with the channel button on their DVD player, but there will not be an actual menu on the opening screen of the DVD itself...???
    Any answers appreciated, thanks!
    Auggie

    I know to little.
    What I know and that is important is
    • Don't set a Chaper marker in the very beginning of Your movie. iDVD demands to
    do this start marker by it self.
    • in iMovie HD6 or prior - there is one more thing - not to set a Chapter mark in a
    transition or within 2 sec of it.
    Don't know how this relate to Final Cut - my guess is - not at all.
    BUT THERE ARE ONE - Super Important thing more.
    • Titles of Chapters can only be set from a to z and 0 to 9.
    DON'T even try !"#€%&/()=? etc.
    If You do the encoding process in iDVD will halt (often close to the end) with
    the sad message "Multiplexing Error"
    Yours Bengt W

  • Burning an AVCHD Final Cut Express project using iDVD

    I have a 1080i AVCHD video that's been edited down to 45 minutes in Final Cut Express, I'd like to burn it to DVD using iDVD, but the quality when I export as a quicktime movie and burn the disc is not good at all. I'm not expecting it to be HD quality. I'm hoping for DVD quality, when I burn this it barely looks VHS quality. It just seems like iDVD isn't compressing it well. Would it look better if I exported it to a quicktime movie from FCE and changed the size to a more DVD friendly 720x480? How do I go about doing that?
    In iDVD I'm using Professional quality, I have around 20GB free on the hard drive. Should I free up more space before I try again? Any help here would be great.

    Hello,
    I have been experimenting with this problem for weeks now. I realize we have no way to quantify "looks great" or "degrades" but this may help. I watch the finished product on a 42" HD Hitachi plasma TV. The AVCHD footage rendered through FCE using either Pro Res 4:2:2 or AIC 1920 x 1080i preset ends up looking worse than SD 720 x 480 when rendered and burned through iDVD. There are compression artifacts all over the screen. De-interlace / re-interlace maybe? Also, using the RGB outputs from the Sony HDR-SR12 looks stunning when played directly through the TV. No compression artifacts visible. So, if the camera can transcode the image so easily in real time, why can't my mac do the same? Just the import alone is a degradation of the image. Seems to me we are waiting for FCE and FCP to have native support for AVCHD.
    We have new 8 core Mac Pro towers here at PCC and the results are the same. Apple says no AVCHD support unless you have an intel mac but that is only for import. It does not natively support the format.

  • Final Cut Express and Idvd

    We were trying to make a movie on FCE but because the file size is 19.4 GB we cannot put it into Imovie or idvd (they crash) we also have the problem of finding a 20GB DVD. A file of the same length in imovie is less than 4.7 GB and we have been oky in burning DVDs for other projects. So is there any way we can make Our file size smaller in Final Cut Express? Any way to print to video from FCE (instead of getting a blank screen)? Anyway to get it to Imovie where the file size will be small enough to burn 4 DVD's.

    I understand you are new to this Forum, but please don't double post your questions.

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