Help with Quicktime Export from FCP

Hi,
I just completed a wedding in Final Pro 5.2, and exported as self contained movie. I open it in IDVD, and the quality was not so good with converting from HDV to Mpeg 2. What is the best setting for HDV conversion to SD Anamorphic for a DVD? any special tweeks in the bitrates that I can ajust for greater quality? I am also encoding to H.264 HD for Studio Pro so there will be two veiwable versions on DVD. Ideas?
Thanks Tim C.

Search these boards, using the amazing - and FREE - 'Search' function. There's been ENDLESS numbers of threads on this topic, and the issue is very well covered indeed.

Similar Messages

Quicktime export from FCP quality bad on Windows Quicktime

Hey all,
I believe this question has been brought up in a previous post (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2932763&#2932763 "Quicktime export from FCP quality bad on PCs"), but it was never answered. So I captured video using final cut pro using the following capture preset:
Sequence Preset - DV NTSC 48 kHz
DVR-TRV900 using NTSC
29.97 fps
DV - NTSC at Best Quality
24 bits per pixel
720 by 480
When I view the video under quicktime for mac, it looks good. However, when I view the content under quicktime for windows, the quality is noticeably degraded. For instance, when I looked at the video clip in mac, there was a text overlay that displayed the time and date. When I look at it in Windows quicktime, the quality has degraded to an extent that the numbers are no longer readable. Besides the overall quality difference in playback between mac and pc quicktime, there are no other noticeable artifacts. Also, I tried viewing the video in VLC (video lan client) on windows, and it looks perfectly fine.
Ray

seems like this is a PC Quicktime issue rather than an FCP issue, you may have more success in resolving the problem if you post your question on the Quicktime for Windows forum
that said, you might want to check the Quicktime Player preferences on your PC (Edit > Preferences > Player Preferences)
make sure you have checked the "Use high quality video setting when available" checkbox
good luck
Andy

Quicktime export from FCP universal, audio export function

Hey there, I just recently bought the 17 inch mac book pro and did the crossgrade swap to the latest version of FCP studio.
Doing my first complete video edit and DVD project and am at the export stage.
I am doing what I normally do on my dual 2.5 g5 and setting and IN point and an OUT point in FCP and exporting using quicktime.
Just as the defaults, (I do this and have done this dozens and dozens of times)
I do this, then I import that file (after FCP is done into compressor and go from there)
we all know the export using compressor thing isnt ready for primetime..
anyway, doing this and after the first dialgo box is done and it seems the whole thing is done...then a box comes up saying its exporting AUDIO and its going to take 4 hours!
I didnt choose this extra step, the default quicktime export dealy (not "using quicktime conversion) had all this covered I thought...I mean, it has every other time on the OTHER computer)
I canceled this and checked my resulting exported file (the quicktime one) and all the audio and video is intact..
but the process I cancelled bothers me...any ideas?
thanks so much

> sorry I am all over the place info wise maybe
No problem - we all find it hard to explain things clearly when we're frustrated by problems like this!
Well that's strange - but at least it's clear what's happeneing now!
I'm at a loss really but if it were me, I'd trash the preferences and repair permissions, then if that didn't work, I'd create a new project in FCP and transfer the clips over. Sometimes this can iron out strange bugs.
Failing all, I'd create a new ID on my Mac and work from there - but if this works, then Jerry's advice regarding the clean install is a must, really.
Another thing I'd try is exporting direct through Compressor - it's a wonderful tool and you really should get to know it. It would be worth using Compressor to export a QT movie to see whether it makes any difference.
Is the full project on the G5 as well as the MBP?
Andy
Quad 8GB. 250+500 HDs. G-Raid 1TB. NORTON. FCP 5.1.1. Shake 4.1. Sony HVR Z1E Mac OS X (10.4.7)
"I've taught you all I know, and still you know nothing".

HELP. Quicktime Movies from FCP with DVCPro = Black Boxes across image.

When exporting my HD movie from Final Cut Pro (5) using either Quicktime Movie or Quicktime COnversion with the footage's native setting of DVCPro HD 720p the resulting movie has thick black rectangles on the left and right sides and one right in the middle.
Is it a codec issue?
Please help.

It is a 16X9 CROP, not some sort of anamorphic distortion... so just choose that, and export...
If you set it to be 320X180 THAT will distort it. It should start as 320X240. The crop then results in 320X180. If it's new software it's Compressor 3.
Jerry

Quicktime export from FCP quality bad on PCs

Settings
Sequence Preset - DV NTSC 48 kHz
Capture Preset - JA Io: SDI A/V 8-bit NTSC to DV 48 kHz
Device Control Preset - AJA Io RS-422 NTSC
Video Playback - ProID - NTSC US - Component YPbPr SMPTE N10 - 8-bit 422 (720 x 480)
After completing a movie I got to File > Export > Quicktime Movie
Setting: Current Settings
Include: Audio and Video
Markers: All Markers
Make Movie Self-Contained is checked
After the movie is exported, if i play ithe quicktime on any Mac (I tried it on 3 in the office) the playback quailty is perfect, if I play it on any PC (I have tried it on 3 different ones in my office) the playback quality is very poor any ideas on what could be causing this? I went into the quicktime settings on the pc and enabled high quailty and i still get the same result
Thanks

the playback quality is very poor<<</div>
Can you be more descriptive? "Poor" in what way? Does it stutter? Keep in mind that the gamma settings on a Windows system are different, so everything will look a little darker/muddier on a Windows machine unless your export settings adjust for that.
-DH

Can't open quicktime movie that I exported from FCP 5. Help!

Can't open quicktime movie that I exported from FCP 5. Help!

What arrow?
Have you tried opening the file in FCP?
If there is no error message and it will not play in QT7, it is quite possible the file is corrupted. You will need to go back to the original project and re-export the file.
x

Exporting from FCP for use with PC

Hey all,
Trying to deliver a high-med quality 8 minute video from FCP for use with a PC. I've tried exporting both a .mov and .avi using DVCPro50, but neither are readable through the PC. Best I can get is sometimes audio will show up. Does anyone have a good solution for exporting from FCP for use with a PC?
Thanks again for your help!

I don't think DVCpro50 codec is available on a PC. I think panasonic has a special license with apple only, so you need to try a different codec for the avi.

FCP5 - Problems with Quicktime Export Settings

Hello -- I'm experiencing trouble when I export a Quicktime file from my FCP5 to burn to a DVD. The DVD, which I burn using iDVD, plays on my computer buut not in my DVD player -- the DVD player doesn't recognize it as a playble DVD.
I've tested everything -- Regular commercial DVDs work fine in my DVD player, so it's not the DVD player that's broken. I haven't changed anything to do with iDVD. And finally, DVDs of the two types I'm using (Maxwell and TDK brands) once both worked fine in my DVD player when I exported from FCP and burned using iDVD, so it's not the blank DVDs that seem to be at fault.
The problem seems to have occurred when a friend asked me to change the FCP Quicktime export settings to export a Quicktime file for streaming on the web and also for exporting a motion mpeg file (I'm not even sure what you do with one of those).
Although I now choose "current settings" when I go to export, because I thought this would give me the old, preset standard settings that worked just fine in the past, I believe the FCP export settings must have gotten messed up, because nothing else has changed with my process, and yet now, the DVDs don't work in the DVD player.
I am inexperienced/beginner level with the FCP program and don't know how to get back to the correct settings, and hope someone could be kind enough to help me. Especially since the help manual hasn't shed much light on this.
Many thanks in advance for any and all assistance.
G5 imac Mac OS X (10.4.8) FCP5/iDVD 5.0.1

Make sure your sequence settings are progressive to begin with.
Here is more background:
http://www.larryjordan.biz/articles/ljprepping_still_imagesFCP.html
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1564835
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/973481

Best way/settings to export from FCP to DVDSP

Hey - I have a program I need to export from FCP to DVDSP.
It is approx. 1hr 15min long.
What would be the best settings to use to maximize quality?
I also want to include chapter markers for importing into DVDSP - is it better to create these in FCP or Compressor???
This is a very important showreel and quality is a major factor...
I am using: FCP 5.1.4 DVDSP 4.1.2 Compressor 2.3
Thanks for all your help in advance!
PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Hi:
<< What would be the best settings to use to maximize quality?>>
You didn't mention your movie codec. Assuming you are using DV, if your FCP projects has graphic elements and heavy filters like Color Corrections, etc. you must get the best quality exporting directly from FCP through Compressor.
If your movie is basiclally DV video with no graphics, you probably will get same quality and shorter encoding times exporting as QuickTime movie, self settings (self contained is my favorite flavor!) and using this file in Compressor.
In Compressor use the DVD: Best Quality 90 min preset as starting point taking the MPEG2 and the Dolby 2 (AC3) presets. You most probably will get the best audio level changing the followings parameters in the standard AC3 preset:
- Dialog Normalization: -31
- Compression preset: None
Using uncompressed (AIFF/PCM) audio in DVD-Rs is a major cause of playback problems and/or building errors because the high bitrate, and takes a lot of your disc space.
If you encode inside DVDSP (using the Quicktime movie file directly in DVDSP) you'll get AIFF audio. DVDSP doesn't encode your audio to AC3.
<<This is a very important showreel and quality is a major factor...>>
To save encoding testing times, take a short part/s of your movie and make some encoding test. Select some parts of your footage with fast movements in the image and/or heavy transitions to check the final result.
<<I also want to include chapter markers for importing into DVDSP - is it better to create these in FCP or Compressor??? >>
Allways create your chapter markers in FCP or Compressor. That way you can set the exact frame where to locate it and DVDSP will preserve that position. If you add a Chapter Marker in DVDSP it will be moved to the nearest GOP boundary, not in the exact frame you decided. Check this tutorial about Chapters and Compression Markers .
Don't forget to post your FCP movie codec/settings.
<<StirFry..>>
I think that a bitrate of 7.9 Mbps with uncompressed audio (DVDSP doesn't encode audio to Dolby 2) is too high and can cause some encoding/playback errors in some DVD players. Someone else can post his mind about this ! ;D
Hope that helps !
Alberto

Export from FCP directly into DVD studio pro?

Is it possible to export from FCP directly into DVD studio pro? If not, what is the preferred file format because my exported quicktime files come up as "incompatible format" when I try to add them into my DVD project. Any help is appreciated.

You need to encode audio as well from Compressor. You'll have 2 files - audio and video.
Here's a tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFgJpd7DEWw
Message was edited by: Eric Pautsch1

What should I use to export from FCP to DVDSP?

I'm sorry if this question is too basic, but I've searched past discussions and read the manual, and can't seem to find the answer. I am trying to put a nearly hour-long movie I made onto a DVD, in order to have hundreds of duplicates made. I'm using DVD SP, and I had been exporting my movie from FCP to a Quicktime movie file, then importing the Quicktime file into DVD SP. Then recently I came across something online that said you should actually be exporting from FCP to Compressor, then to DVD SP. I've never used Compressor before, so I have no idea what to do, or if I even should be doing it. The video was fine when I exported to Quicktime, but I of course want to have the best video quality possible.. so if there's a way to keep the video at the highest quality possible (higher than when using Quicktime), please let me know (and if it could be explained as simple as possible, I would appreciate that).

Hi Ryan,
I'm relatively new to this too but you're on the right track. I would export to Compressor.
There are various settings i.e. mpeg2 fast encode, high quality 60min, 120min, widescreen, 4:3 etc and all dependant upon what you want your end result to be.
You'll need to choose your format - I suggest mpeg2 - 60min High Quality Encode > your destination for both the video and audio > 'submit'.
You should end up with a file that resembles *My Movie.m2v*
Then import that file into DVDSP into the assets pane and you're away.
Good luck!
-Chuck

Problem exporting from FCP using compressor

Out of the blue - I'm getting batch failures trying to export from FCP for use in a DVD. Immediately after selecting compressor for export, I get an error reading "That file already exists", and a new tab appears in the media browser with a lengthy character string. Compressor opens fine, and I select Best Quality 4:3 encoding for video and aiff48 for audio. When the batch is submitted - it promptly fails and blames FCP for generating an error.
Did all kinds of restarts and work arounds to no avail. The promising news is that this error seems to occur only when exporting from FCP through Compressor.
My work-around is to export a QT movie of the piece, quit FCP, launch Compressor, and then import the QT for batching.
Hope this helps anyone else in similar situations
Martin
G5 PPC Mac OS X (10.4.8) FCP 512 post production

Hi:
How long is your movie?
The best workflow is FCP > Compressor > DVDSP.
You can encode your timeline directly to get MPEG2 video and Dolby 2 (AC3) audio files. Then import those in DVDSP and author your DVD.
Using Compressor you control the full encoding process. You can test with small parts of your movie (those where you got problems with iDVD) and find the best encoding options fopr your footage.
Of course the DVDSP learning curve is longer than iDVD but once you learned ir you probably never go back. Like iMovie and FCP.
To give you detailed info about what encoding settings to use you must post some info about your FCP project.
Hope that helps !
Alberto

Exporting from FCP to .mov - backwards compatibility

Am working from NJ with a client in CA. She is struggling to export her FCP movies into a .mov format that will play on quicktime (specifically on OLDER versions of quicktime). I've been able to assist her in exporting to the .mov format, but it only plays in the quicktime 7 player. Most of her customers do not have that installed and thus cannot view the movie (and, they do not want to take the time to install).
I would like to be able to walk her through the steps/settings/parameters necessary for her to export into a .mov format which will play in older quicktime players (without forcing the user to update their player).
example of .mov: http://advertisingusa.tv/0_home/index.shtml
many thanks in advance,
windandkitesurfer

Trying to export from FCP to backwards compatible .mov or .mo4 format.
We're trying to use Sorenson 3 compression, and are able to create this but the file is created without any extension.
We are using FCP, export using quicktime conversions, then under options->settings->compressor type = "Sorrenson Video 3"
Still are not able to create a movie file backwards compatible. Any further assistance greatly appreciated.
Note the time lapse between emails due to the problem of communicating coast to coast - the web developer is not the first in line for return emails
regards
Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Newbie question: How to share large QT movie files exported from FCP X?

Well, I've navigated through FCP X for the first time and I now have 16 QuickTime movie files I have exported from FCP X. Each file is a song from a live band performance. The files are:
- Apple ProRes 422
- 1920 x 1080
- 24-bit
- Frame rate 29.97 fps
Now I need to share these files with the band members. They will use them for two purposes:
- Watch, as feedback on their performance. In this case, I'd like to preserve the quality as much as possible
- Put some of the movies on YouTube, where quality will be lost, of course. They may post only short clips from the songs.
These 16 .mov files total 115GB. The smallest is 6.5GB, the largest is 13.9GB.
The quality of the movies is fantastic, both video and audio. I cringe to think about degrading the quality............but I have the practical problem of how to get the files to five different band members.
I normally distribute audio files I've mixed in Pro Tools via DVD-R discs, but the files are much smaller.
What are my options for sharing the files?
Do I need to use an application like Compressor to compress the files (ugh) to get them onto multiple DVD-R's?
I would assume this is a common problem that all FCP X users deal with.

I strongly recommend you to use Compressor. It is easy to use and there a lot of presets.

IDVD behaving strangely with HDV video from FCP X and FCP 7?

AVCHD exported from FCP X as ProRes 422 works perfectly in iDVD producing a 16:9 DVD.
HDV doesn't, even though QT Player plays it perfectly.
The odd thing is that 4 years ago, using legacy FCP my exported HDV videos had no problems being recognised as 16:9 by iDVD.
So why are FCP X produced HDV videos not recognised as 16:9?
P.S. I know that iDVD never recognised DV in the 16:9 format but it always worked with HDV.
Incidentally, the old trick of opening it in QT Pro and changing the frame size to 1024 x 576 does not work!
Even stranger, I have just opened the HDV clips in FCP 7 and exported them as a QuickTime Movie.
iDVD plays them back in the correct aspect ratio but look at the effect . . . . muted colours and green patterns all over.
This never happened in the past!

I mentioned several problems so I don't know which one you are referring to.
After experimenting I found some workarounds.
To cure the squashed image I created a ProRes 422 preset in Compressor 4 with a frame size of 1920 x 1080 and exported from FCP X using Compressor Presets.
Everything now works perfectly except the encoding seems to take longer.
I got rid of the moire pattern when using FCP 7 by exporting as ProRes 422 1920 x 1080.

Help with Quicktime Export from FCP

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