Final Cut Express 4 Quality

I'm working on an animated series using Anime Studio software to create each scene. When I export each scene to a Quicktime .mov file, the quality is crisp and perfect. I'm just having trouble figuring out how to maintain the quality when I use Final Cut Express 4 to edit the complete project. In Anime Studio, I have my file settings on HDTV 1080p, Quicktime H264 at 24 frames best quality.
Is there a way to maintain the quality of the movies in Final Cut Express? I like using FCE to synch up the Logic audio files to get a good audio quality (the animation software doesn't have great audio). I've been reviewing the user manual but it doesn't seem to address this issue.
Any help you can suggest would be greatly appreciated. I really want the project to look and sound perfect as I will be pitching my animated series to production companies.
I have a MacBook Pro with OSX 10.6.8
Dorothy
Here's an example of a video I edited in FCE. It looks OK on a small screen, but I want to know how to get the best quality possible even if I need to get different software. Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omB0x3HBbsQ

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but FCE probably isn't the right tool for you to use. FCE only works natively with 2 codecs: Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) and QuickTime DV. All other formats must be converted prior to importing into an FCE project. FCP might be a better choice since it works with many more codecs/formats, including just about every broadcast format out there.
In addition to that, H.264 (the format you're exporting from Anime Studio) is really designed to be a final delivery format - not intended for editing. Also, it is a very highly compressed format (albeit a fairly effecient one).
And finally, this is the Final Cut Studio forum. The Final Cut Express forum is located here: https://discussions.apple.com/community/professional_applications/final_cut_expr ess_hd?view=discussions
-DH

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Pro Res in Final cut express How do i get a good quality SD DVD

I recently bought final cut express and have suffered getting a good quality SD DVD out through the workflow from my cannon XHA1.
On screen its fine but when i author through imovie to DVD the quality is poor.
So reading the various threads it would seem that i need to use Pro res and the ingress codec... But cant find this option in express ?
Question is. Is pro res codec available in express and if not can someone suggest the optimum set up for HD capture to SD DVD output
Many thanks

Use either of these techniques to get good quality DVDs from AIC.
1. Edit your HDV/AIC in the timeline. Then create a new DV-PAL (NTSC) Anamorphic sequence. Copy your edited HDV/AIC to the new sequence. Do not alter anything. Render the sequence ..... this will take a long time - up to twice the length of the project. Then File>Export>QuickTime Movie (Not Self-contained).
However, if you use the QT Movie in iDVD you will get a squashed 4:3 movie, so first of all you must make QT stretch it out to its proper 16:9 dimensions like this:-
+a. Open the exported movie file in the QT Pro player.+
+b. Go to Window>Show Movie Properties.+
+c. Select the "Video Track" and in the "Visual Settings" panel uncheck "Preserve Aspect Ratio".+
+d. In the "Scaled Size" box set the width to 1024 pixels for PAL.+
+e. The "Video Track" will have turned grey, so click it to make it blue again.+
+f. The opened movie file will jump to 16:9.+
+g. Close it with the red button and click Save.+
2. This method is fast. Set your camera to "Locked DV" which means that FCE/FCP will capture it as anamorphic DV and edit it as standard definition anamorphic DV. (Use Easy Setup ... DV-PAL (NTSC) Anamorphic).
You can then Export>QuickTime Movie to be used in iDVD and use the stretching technique mentioned above.

Poor quality when exporting HD project directly from Final cut Express

I am doing some HD projects in Final Cut Express HD. I filmed with the Sony HRD-HC1 in 1080i. I import into FCE using the 1080i 60 preset from Easy setup. I completed the project and it looks great from FCE full screen. I export as Quicktime (not Using Quicktime conversion), and I get a perfect looking output file using the Apple intermediate codec, 1440x1080. The problem is that the client needs to play back the video on windows machine using Quicktime. The windows Quicktime does not support the AIC apple intermediate codec, so I have to export to another format. I tried everything exporting from FCE, MP2, H.264, DivX, everyone option. They all look terrible. Blurry, especially parts that have quick motion. Really terrible. I called Apple support, no love. I then tried taking the AIC version of the file and used compressor. It took forever, but came up with am OK MP2 HD file. It still doesn't look that great, but it is way better. So, is their something broken with the FCE exports using Quicktime conversion? Anyone have similar experiences or workarounds? I don't want to use compressor as I don't have it on my Mac Book pro, I had to move it to another machine to do that.

Being that the dimentions you suggested should be widescreen, I re-ran the conversion to your parameters, this time un-checking "Preserve aspsect ratio.. as letterbox" and this time it is widescreen. Not sure why, but it was putting the black bars on the left and right, not the top and bottom, scrunching to 4:3ish with that box checked. Strange.
Anyway, the quality is the best H.264 I have seen exporting directly from FCE. It still blurs quite a bit on the fast moving video parts, my MP2 version from compressor still looks lots better. Seems like there is some problem with exporting HD from FCE. It just is not coming out sharp, like the Apple intermediate codec version you get with Export - -> Quicktime movie or if you wait for compressor to do the work rather than FCE. Does compressor use a different engine, or does it use the same QT and just take more time to do a better job in the export? Something just isn't right.

HD quality iMovie vs. Final Cut Express (AIC)

Hello,
I was finally able to carry out a simple test to compare output from iMovie '09 vs. Final Cut Express (FCE), which has proven to produce much cleaner output when compared with iMovie '08. Just as I have received help from online mac community I feel obliged to share my experiences with you in case it's of interest to you and helps you.
* Footage: filmed on Canon 5D Mark II (1080p, bitrate >40Mbps
* Imported into iMovie '09, no stabilization and other tricks, exported to Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) with as little quality loss as possible
* Imported into FCE, exported to AIC
Resulting file from FCE is sharper and cleaner when compared side by side in QuickTime. Not surprisingly the same AIC export has different sizes, too.
* FCE: 477 MB for 32 seconds of footage
* iMovie: 253 MB for the same 32 seconds of identical footage
Hope this helps someone. Happy filming!
Roman

It's been long discussed, but your conclusion is not fully correct:
1) If you import at FULL, no pixels are lost by iM. Thus, his Canon footage could have come in perfectly.
2) "One field is DISCARDED with 1080i." Not true. IF AND ONLY IF you use a function or FX that performs scaling, ALL video is chopped to 540p.
3) The functions that do NOT cause conversion of ALL video to 540p include SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. If you use only these FX, then EVERY pixel that is recorded by your camera CAN BE exported by iM 09.
4) If you use no FX, then EVERY pixel that is recorded by your camera CAN BE exported by iM 09.
5) To export ALL pixels, you of course, must choose the correct settings in the QT dialog. They would be the same as you use with FCE or FCP.
The fact he got different sized files shows HE did something to cause the difference. Had he done things "correctly," he would have the same size file.
PS1: Page Curl is a perfect example of a scaling FX. So, by violating the #1 rule of using iM 09 you get support for your incorrect conclusion. Folks shooting with a camera like the Canon do so mostly to get a high-end film look. Very few folks making a film use anything other than SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. In fact, no one making a high-end video would use anything other than SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. So, it is perfectly possible to NOT use any of the "bad" FX. (Although they can be fun I admit!)
PS2: Be aware the black Background IS one of the bad FX. Unless, this bug was fixed in the last update. A static background should not need to use scaling! If this bug remains, use a black JPEG! I keep a black and white matte in iPhoto to use with "Fade TO" FX.

Final Cut Express 4.0.1 How do I convert MP4 to a usable format without loosing quality

Final Cut Express 4.0.1 How do I convert MP4 to a usable format without loosing quality

If you shoot in one of the following modes you should be able to Log & Transfer directly into FCE:
HD: 1920x1080/60i (FX or FH mode)
HD: 1440x1080/60i (HQ or LP mode)
SD: 720x480/60i
1080/60p (PS mode) seems to be the default mode in your camcorder. FCE only supports progressive video in 720p50 or 720p60. That's probably why you have had to import via iMovie.
It would be better to upgrade to Final Cut Pro X, the version currently supported. FCE was discontinued over 18 months ago and is not supported on Lion or Mountain Lion.

Best export for dvd quality using final cut express hd?

hey guys
i have final cut express hd...what would be the best export settings to get nice highquality dvd?
i am going to put about 25, short 5 minute clips in the dvd..will it be able to fit and all be a nice quality?
any suggestions?
thankyou!

Yes, provided you use dual layer DVD-R and your burner supports this newer media.
Otherwise the most you can burn to DVD-R SL media is 120 mins. (but keep in mind menus, titles, photos, etc all consume space as well thereby reducing the available amount of run time / QT Playback.

Converting .MTS for use in Final Cut Express, without loosing quality

I have an external hard drive full of .MTS files from my JVC camcorder that I cannot open with Final Cut Express.
I bought a piece of conversion software, iSkySoft Video Converter, to convert them into a more accessible format such as .mov or .avi, but they lose their HD quality during the conversion. I have also tried software available through Mac, Voltaic, but this also seems to dilute picture quality.
In a previous post, I was recommended Clip Wrap, but having downloaded it, it will not let me open my .MTS files to convert in the first place. I have contacted Clip Wrap Support about this, but am yet to hear back.
I would like suggestions as to how to open these .MTS files in Final Cut, or a piece of conversion software that retains full high definition quality when converting.
I am not very computer savvy, Im afraid, so can any technical jargon be explained as best as possible please! Just for reference, in case it helps, my camcorder is a JVC GZ-HD10.
Thank you.

MarkTrif, if iskysoft isn't working, use mpeg streamclip to try again, it is free. or get another good third party MTS converter like HD Video Converter for Mac, specially designed to convert HD video formats like AVCHD (mts, m2ts), H.264/AVC, MPEG-2 (ts), DivX, HD WMV, MPEG-4 to SD videos like AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, DivX, MOV, my friends recommend it to me, it's safe and works pretty well for me. keep the video image quality. If you are interested in it, here is a step by step guide about how to use it
http://www.flash-video-soft.com/blog/?p=459
I wish you haven't any problem too!

Final Cut Express HD Export Quality

I'm using Final Cut Express HD, I'm shooting in HD, and when I edit it's HD. I know it won't be HD when I export, but it's a major drop in quality, even lower than SD.
I've mostly just tried "Export to Quicktime Movie" and it creates a large movie file with a really low resolution.
Does anyone have any hints?

Tom Wolsky wrote:
If you're exporting the video from FCE, and the play back looks correct in the QuickTime player set to high quality playback then there is nothing you can do in FCE to improve it.
I have a similar situation where I exported from FCE using the "Export to QuickTime Movie" option and thought the quality was quite poor. However, I was not aware of the Pref to play back in high quality.
My question is what does FCE use for this setting ?MPEG4, H.264? or am I misunderstanding this completely? Thank you.

When I move high quality clips into my timeline in Final Cut Express HD, they look and export low quality. I have tried converting the clips and de-interlacing them, but they always look the same, What is the problem? Thanks so much.

When I move high quality clips into my timeline in Final Cut Express HD, they look and export low quality. I have tried converting the clips and de-interlacing them, but they always look the same, What is the problem? Thanks so much.

You should check that the Project settings match the clip settings before editing them to the Timeline.
Only newly created Projects will change not existing ones by adjusting the Project settings.
If, for example, you have a Project set to NTSC DV you can only end up in trouble if the clips are PAL 1920 x 1080i.
Al

Imported slide shows in Final Cut Express are poor quality

I just bought Final Cut Express (so it's the latest). I know this problem isn't unique to Final Cut, but when I import a slide show created in iPhoto or Fotomagico into Final Cut (or into iMovie HD, for that matter), the quality is poor. What I am trying to do is to create a movie that integrates a slide show with video, and output it to a DVD. The slide show uses "Ken Burns Effect."
I have tried outputting the finished slide show in various formats (m4v, dv) to try to improve quality, to no avail. This is even before the movie is outputted to a DVD- it's just viewing the rendered product on-screen. I'm guessing that the output from the slide show apps is compressed, then recompressed when rendered in Final Cut.
For a small upgrade price, Fotomagico has an HD output option. Would that improve things or is that the wrong tack to take? How do professionals do this sort of thing? How might I do it?

Slides never look as good on TV because you are drastically reducing the original size of probably 1920x1200 to around 720x576 which ruins the quality.
Furthermore, the fine detail is likely to jitter and shimmer due to interlacing artifacts.
You can reduce the jitter with the De-interlace filter but it will do nothing for the sharpness.
The only way you can get high quality is to produce your video in high definition and play it back on an HDTV.
Having said that, I routinely apply the de-interlace filter to all my slides and when played back on my HDTV the standard definition looks remarkably good. (But they look much worse on a CRT TV.)

Does Final Cut Studio deliver better quality than Final Cut Express

If my export target is Apple-TV 720p, is there any difference between the quality delivered in Final Cut Express versus the new Final Cut Studio? E.g. is it the same because Quicktime is doing it? I read something on the FCS home page that it "adapted the quality to the video content"? So would FSC somehow be better at utilizing the maximum 5Mbps data stream compared to FCE? Thanks.
-Troels

+is there any difference between the quality delivered in Final Cut Express versus the new Final Cut Studio?+
Not really, not per se, for this purpose. There are many factors at play, very important among them is the nature of your source media - if it is shot on a high quality camera and captured in ProRes or one of the other higher quality codecs supported by FCS then maybe you would see a difference. What are you using?

From Final Cut Pro to Final Cut Express

I shot something in HD on a P2 card and captured it into a computer with Final Cut Pro. I want to edit it on my laptop at home, on which I have Final Cut Express. If I export the FCP file and make it a quicktime file to use on my FCE, will the video maintain its HD properties? (Forgive my ignorance. I'm still learning.) Thanks in advance.

I'm guessing but if you shot it on P2 media in HD it's probably DVCPRO HD. The codec for this format is only available with FCP. You can't edit this edit in FCE unless you export it to the the Apple Intermediate Codec. Yes, there will be some quality loss in the porcess.

Final output of Final Cut Express HD 3.5 is blurry and out of focus.

Using clear/sharp '.mov' files as clips. Doing simple editing, nothing fancy. When I finally output the project using 'Export/Using QuickTime Conversion,' the final is blurry and out of focus. I've tried every compression type (H264, Animation, etc.). Same problem. Anyone know why this is happening?
Although the specs for my computer are well within the Final Cut Express guidelines (I've even upgraded my graphics card to a Radeon 9800 Pro 256 MB), I'm still thinking that perhaps the G4 I'm using doesn't have enough juice to run the FCE software. By the way, I don't have any other programs active when using FCE. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
G4 (Mirror Drive Doors)/1.25 GHz/2.0 GB Memory/Radeon 9800XT (256 MB) Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2 Internal 120 GB Hard Drives (RAID)/2 CD-DVD Drives: Super Drive & Combo Drive
G4 (Mirror Drive Doors)/1.25 GHz/2.0 GB Memory/Radeon 9800XT (256 MB) Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2 Internal 120 GB Hard Drives (RAID)/2 CD-DVD Drives: Super Drive & Combo Drive

Thanks for your response.
Here's what I'm (trying) to do:
I'm creating short 5 minute tutorial movies that will be distributed as QuickTime movies (burned to disk) for short run distribution (college).
Here's the process: the movie itself is a recording of monitor screen actions recorded (audio and video) using Snapz Pro movie mode. The recorded size is 800 x 600. There might be 5 such 1 or 2 minute clips. The quality is excellent. I bring them in to FCE, drop all the clips on the same track, and add simple transitions. That's it.
Now I need to somehow get a final QuickTime movie, with close to the same quality I had in the clips.
So... I take the FCE file, output it using 'Export>QuickTime Conversion,' using the same size I originally recorded in, 800 x 600. Tried every codec available. Every time, the end result is a very blurred version of the original Snapz Pro recordings.
I've even tried outputting the FCE file as 'Export>QuickTime Move' (not using the conversion method). Opened that up in QuickTime Pro with the same result: blurred and out of focus.
I'm viewing the exported file in QuickTime Pro, with the 'Movie Properties' setting of 'High Quality.'
Any clue? This is driving me crazy. But I'm determined to get this right.
G4 (Mirror Drive Doors)/1.25 GHz/2.0 GB Memory/Radeon 9800XT (256 MB) Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2 Internal 120 GB Hard Drives (RAID)/2 CD-DVD Drives: Super Drive & Combo Drive

Is it possible to make an MPEG-2 from Final Cut Express ?

I need to make an MPEG-2 file, exported from Final Cut Express 4. But I don't see an option for it.

Which type of MPEG-2 file?
There are three common types, each with their own variants:
Elementary Stream (.m2v) - contains video only; no audio. Commonly used by DVD authoring applications prior to multiplexing (muxing) with a separate audio file.
Transport Stream (.mts or .m2t) - muxed video and audio. Commonly used for tranferring broadcast quality video over a network.
Program Stream (.mpg or .mpeg) - muxed audio and video. Commonly used for automated server based playback.
At one time QuickTime Pro included an MPEG-2 encoder, but I believe Apple removed that option with the introduction of Compressor. Other apps for encoding include: Sorenson Squeeze, Cleaner and Episode ... to name a few.
-DH

Best export method of footage from Final Cut Express to DVD?

I'm exporting footage from Final Cut Express using Quicktime Player and then burning the footage to DVD using iDVD.
The end result on DVD has very jagged interlacing (or noise) on objects in motion which aren't present when viewing the footage on FC. I don't think the problem is with iDVD (I assume I'm burning a pristine copy of an already reduced-quality clip).
Are there any changes I can make to the system preferences either on FC or Quicktime Player to reduce or prevent loss of digital information, or can anyone suggest better methods of export from Final Cut Express to DVD?

Hello
I'm not sure if this is relevant:
I've been using the Quicktime Conversion settings;
http://www.locationstudio.net/Settings.jpg
29.97 Frame Rate
Highest Quality
NTSC/PRO
I was under the impression that this was usually best - haven't had any problems with iDVD
Mike

Final Cut Express 4 Quality

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