Importing H.264 into FCE without decoding/re-encoding. How?

QuickTime cannot open my Handycam VOB files (mpgv/a52) so I'm using ffmpegX to convert them to H.264 (4000+ kbps). when I import the H.264 files into FCE, FCE insists on decoding the files, taking a long time to do so and producing very large in-project media files. I tried converting to the DV format; same problem.
I seem to remember with iMovie that one could place their media files into the project package in a specific format and iMovie wouldn't re-encode them. if I'm importing H.264 files into FCE, what format should they be exactly (video and audio), and how could I import them into an FCE project without FCE decoding/re-encoding them? I'd prefer to use H.264/Dolby+AC3 if possible.
sincerely,
Gregory

Ok, you should be converting directly to DV or Apple Intermediate Codec if you intend to edit the video in FCE. Not to H.264 and then importing the H.264 into FCE. You're going from one highly compressed format to another highly compressed format and then FCE is trying to render it into something it can edit.
Also, you can't directly import 5.1 audio into FCE. Even though FCE supports up to 99 audio tracks in a project, you can only import or export a single stereo pair at a time. There are ways to trick it out, but you can't do 5.1 all at once directly in FCE.
Have you tried MPEG Streamclip instead of ffmpegX to do your conversions?

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Why can't I import H.264 into FCE?

Hi
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Think you're right, might be a performance things as H.264 is quite a beast to decode....
Still odd as I can import the same video into After Effects with no problems!
Anywas...
just a hassle to jump between codecs

Importing AVCHD files into FCE without a camera

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I currently have a workaround where I convert the MTS file using third-party trial software, but before I go and buy another piece of software, is there any way I can import these files from within FCE?

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Has anyone been successful importing h.264 into Encore?

First, my system and goal:
A MacPro with 2.66mHz dual core and 12 gigs of RAM.
Multi Terrabytes of space.
I shoot on a Panasonic HVX-200, edit in Final Cut Pro and output Quicktime files as the basis for rendering to DVD and Blu-ray. I shot this stuff in 1080i. The camera codec is DVCPROHD and that is what I output to also.
I am trying to burn Blu-ray discs. I have an external Pioneer BDR-203 Blu-ray burner and it works fine.
I have done my tests and have decided that for Blu-ray, h.264 is far superior to mpeg2 in look and file size so I am sticking with it.
Here is the issue (and I have scoured this forum area and found no one discussing or solving this issue to date):
I have made hundreds of different DVDs with DVDStudioPro and am very familiar with it. Not to get off on a tangent but my beloved Apple has decided to betray me by not supporting Blu-ray (the ONLY way to output HD for us independents) so I studied up on Encore and have been using it to format my latest project to HD. The interface works pretty nice and even has some superiority to DVDSP but you have to have the patience of JOB to see your results. 5 Day (Remember. That's 24 Hour Days) Rendering is my tops so far. (OK. Full Disclosure... the documentary is 3 hours and 15 minutes long BUT DVDStudioPro took the same Quicktime files and crunched them down to mpeg2 for the DVD in about a day) Anyway about 6 days ago I had a 3 day render session that crapped out on me as it was finally recording to disc. For some reason it didn't like the BD-RE disc I had in the machine and just bagged the whole process. When I put in a new disc it just started rendering All Over Again. After that debacle I gave up on that method and now am rendering to BDMV folders which I then burn to disc using Toast. (While I am writing this my fingers are crossed that it will make it to the end - it's been another 3 days...)
I provide the details above to show why I am more than dismayed that I cannot figure any way to import h.264 files INTO Encore from another renderer. Either Compressor or Encoder render much faster than Encore. So I have tried render my project to a variety of output types from both Apple's Compressor and Adobe's Encoder with no joy any way I try.
(as a side note I am also dismayed that when I made a change to a MENU, Encore decided to encode The Whole Project Again rather than just the menu part...)
One of my latest file testing adventures was based on a theory that the problem has to do with DVCPROHD recording to 1280 x 1080 anamorphic rather than 1440 x 1080 (the "expected" frame size for 1080i). I fooled with that a half day but could not get either renderer to generate any test material from my FCP output that Encore would burn without re-rendering. By that I mean I cajoled and tricked Compressor and Encoder to output 1920 x 1080 files; 1440 x 1080 files and 1280 x 1080 files (all h.264) to see if Encore would recognize any of them without re-rendering them. No Luck.
So. Has anyone had success importing h.264 into CS4Encore from anywhere (but particularly using the same or similar gear I am using)? The Encore literature really doesn't give you much to go oon.
Lately I am very inclined to think the problem has something to do with this 1280 x 1080 DVCPROHD issue but I can't say for sure. I offer that as a suggestion if anyone else with a similar production stream is having the same problem and maybe it will trip a switch in their mind for a solution.
I like the Encore interface and design possibilities you have by swinging back and forth from PShop and After Effects but using Encore's renderer is like Chinese Water Torture.
Thanks for your help.

Brian,
I got your test file into Encore and got Encore to show its Blu-ray transcode status as "Don't Transcode".
Screenshots:
PrCS4 Export settings:
EnCS4 Project Panel:
Since it's hard to make out the En Project panel, I'll attach the same image to another message.
-Jeff

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Hi there,
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If you use iTunes to do it, make sure you set the encoder to AIF (with the proper settings) in iTunes preferences before you begin.
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Interesting question. The 2-way CC filter is a specific feature of FCE vs. the 3-way filter in FCP - it's one of the intentional differences between the two products, by design.
You would breach your license(s) if you found a way to get any of the embedded filters out of FCP, and also if you were to get them into FCE. From the FCP license - +"you may not copy, decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, or create derivative works of the Apple Software or any part thereof."+
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I bought a new Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera to use to finish a video project because my right hand is in a cast and I cannot use my HD video camera. Unfortunately for me, I have a deadline to meet.
I shot video at 720p and tried to import it into FCE 4.0.1 to edit using Log and Transfer and got the warning message, '"863_0156.MOV" contains unsupported media or has an invalid directory structure. Please choose a folder whose directory structure matches supported media.' I also shot video at 1080p and, of course, cannot import it into FCE either using Log and Transfer.
I am still a relatively new FCE user and would appreciate any suggestions you can give me. I looked in Tom's book (FCE 4 Editing Workshop)on page 73. Will Quicktime Pro 10 convert the files? If so what is the procedure?
I have seen similar questions in this discussion forum on importing .mov files, but I haven't seen a solution that works for me. How can I convert the .mov files to get Log and transfer in FCE to accept them?

Hi(Bonjour)!
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Everytime I attempt to import I get this message....
file error: 1file(s) recognized, 0 access 1 unkown
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1. Quicktime is a generic wrapper for a number of CODECs (Compression/decompression formats). What format is your file?
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Help: import iphoto images into FCE

Hi, Jake here. Hope you're all doing well....
I just bumped up from iMovie 06 to FCE. Loving it so far, but still overwhlemed by the learning curve.
Today's big question is how to best import a series of photos from iPhoto into FCE. I will be mixing photos & videos for most of my projects. I have tried these two things so far:
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2) Exported at max JPEG quality from iphoto to a location on my hard drive. Then imported file into FCE, then placed on timeline. It's every bit as blurry.
Both images have a green line above them, indicating a preview render?? I don't get it, but I just know photos weren't blurry in the store when the Mac guys showed this to me a couple weeks ago.
So what is the easiest way to do this? I want to import photos quickly & easily, then add effects & movement, but I can't believe that Apple has made it so cumbersome. I imagine I am missing something here. Please advise.
Thanks!
Jake

I think Jake did everything correctly but is expecting too much from a DV format.
I repeated the same with a 2304 × 1736 (4 megapixel) image and I got the same:
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- in addition the resolution loss from 2304 × 1736 to 720x480 (or 720x576) makes the image blurry
If you compare the iPhoto image and the imported image in the viewer (not in the timeline) you see basically the same quality; but the same image already converted into the timeline is blurry.
I'm afraid Jake has to live with this or move to HD. In any case iMovie could do no better than FCE.
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Piero

Importing raw images into lightroom4 without automatically editing.

when importing my raw images into lightroom4 they are automatically editing how do i change this?

My guess is that you just don't understand how Lr4 (and every other raw converter) works.
There is no such thing as viewing a raw file, only viewing the interpretation of a particular converter (of which your camera is the first raw converter to take a whack).
It's time to learn how to edit with Lr4 - what you start with in Lightroom will *always* be different than your camera, or your manufacturer software, or any other raw converter...
(assuming it's not an issue of inadvertently changed default settings or settings applied inadvertently upon import...).
Note: because Lightroom does not take camera-specific things into account, the initial starting point is often less optimized than your camera or manufacturer's rendition (e.g. no luminance noise reduction is applied, active d-lighting is not taken into consideration...)
PS - Lr4/PV2012 rocks - once you learn how to use it - it's the best!
A couple of specifics:
* Lr4 defaults to Adobe Standard (see Camera Calibration section in Develop Module), which tends to be run a little magenta-y, a little cyan-y, and a little bright. Consider a camera emulation profile, or try red (primary) hue +7 and blue (primary) hue +10 for portraits that use Adobe Standard (also camera calibration section). Also try pulling the lights slider left in the parametric tone curve. If you like this for some photo types, roll it into a custom profile using DNG profile editor (can even be precisely calibrated for your specific camera).
* Lr4 includes a little contrast boost that is not represented by the tone curve (nor the contrast slider). If too much for portraits, try -contrast, or -highlights...
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Import existing folders into iPhoto without copying

It seems like this should be an easy function, but I can not seem to get it to work correctly.
Just got my new Mac today and am still trying to navigate around (too many years of being a Windows user!) and would like to import my photos into iPhoto. I have a TON of pictures already on an external harddrive that are already categorized into descriptive folders. I'd like to import these folders into iPhoto, but want to keep my existing folder locations. Is this possible?
In the Preferences, I turned off the "Copyfiles to iPhoto Library folder when adding to library", but it seems that it is still creating a COPY of the photos in the DATA folder in the iPhoto Library folder. But in the ORIGINALS folder, the shortcut (alias?) is pointing to the original location on my external drive, not inside the Libary folder.
Is this possible? Or do I have to import all my files (essentially creating a duplicate of all files), and then delete the original locations that I have set up?
Thanks for your help!

cohencl
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
ut it seems that it is still creating a COPY of the photos in the DATA folder in the iPhoto Library folder.
These are tiny thumbnails that iPhoto uses for display.
But in the ORIGINALS folder, the shortcut (alias?) is pointing to the original location on my external drive, not inside the Libary folder.
Correct, the alias is exactly what I would expect to find.
Is this possible? Or do I have to import all my files (essentially creating a duplicate of all files), and then delete the original locations that I have set up?
This suggests to me that you've not quite grasped iPhoto, and how it differs from other apps.
It's a photo Organiser, and the idea is simple: do your organisation in the iPhoto Window and let it look after the files. Otherwise, all you need is a file organiser - put files into folders - and an image viewer. The catch with that system is that you need multiple copies if you want a pic in more that one album.
iPhoto works on the basis that where the FILES are is unimportant to you, it's the PICTURES that count. So, it, in the default setting, imports the pics to the iPhoto Library Folder and you can forget about them. Then set up your albums, smart albums etc., in the iPhoto Window. The same pic can be in 5, 50 or 500 albums with no wasted disk space.
You can very quickly recreate the filing structure you have in iPhoto: simply drag the folders of pics to the Source (or left hand) pane and iPhoto will create a new album with the same name as the folder, then create your enclosing folders in iPhoto (File -> New Folder).
Some people resist this because the feel they'll be unable to find their pics should they want them: There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
1. Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. Show File: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Rolls in the iPhoto Window (View -> Film Rolls) correspond exactly with the Roll Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library Folder. You can move photos between Rolls, you can rename rolls, edit them, create them, as long as you do it via the iPhoto Window. Check out the Info Pane (wee 'i', lower left) the name and date fields are editable. Edit a Roll Name using the Info Pane, the Roll Folder in iPhoto Library Folder/Originals will also have the new name.
You can run the iPhoto Library Folder from an external HD with no problems, just copy the iPhoto Library Folder there and then hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. Select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. Thereafter that will be the default iPhoto Library Folder.
Finally, if you choose to use iPhoto in the non-default setting, then remember iPhoto will not be responsible for the file management, you are. Therefore, you need to put the pics where they're going to live beofre importing, deleting will also be a multi-stage operation, as trashing the file in iPhoto will not remove it from your filing system. Migrating to a new machine can be more tricky as well. Frankly, I've never seen a good reason not to use the default setting, unless you're using two photo organisers.
Hope all this helps, by all means, post back if you need more info.
Regards
TD

Importing H.264 into Flash CS3

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Why can I not just reference the H.264 movie to play without re-encoding?

This is what I did. I saved my movie to the MP4 format in my video editing program and then I used this program to encode it with the H.264 codec. http://www.h264encoder.com Then I used this program to move the metadata from the back of the file to the front so that it would start to play before it completely downloaded. http://howbits.com/stream-mp4-website-h264-high which leads to this link http://rndware.info/download/metadatamover09
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I'd like to bring in some wmv files into a sequence in FCE. Of course this format is not directly supported. i'm having a rough time finding a third party app to use on my mac that would convert wmv files into something importable such as .mov. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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While I use it the other way round, to export wmv's for the web it will do what you want.
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wmv is meant to be a delivery codec, not an editable one.

Importing H.264 into FCE without decoding/re-encoding. How?

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