Intermediate Codec options in FCE 4

Hi, I assume FCE 4 is ready to be updated as it doesn't seem to include any of the Apple ProRes codecs. I wanted to check if anyone had come across any other options for transcoding files in Apples intermediate codec. As far as I can see the only option is to export at 720p at 30 fps. The camera I have shoots at 720p @ 24 fps which I assume would have some impact of the speed of the final sequence. If anyone's seen a way around this please let me know. Kind regards.

The only frame rate available on the camera is 24 fps. If I import the same files in to FCP 7, after transcoding in MPEG Streamclip, the files work natively without the need to render. I'm trying to workout whether the frame rate has any effect after the transcoding in FCE.

Similar Messages

I have converted m2ts files to .mov to edit in FCE (4.0.1) When I drag the clips into the timeline they need rendering, as much as a minute for a 30 sec. clip. Is this normal? I am using OS 10 . My easy setup is apple intermediate codec, 720p30. Any help

I have converted m2ts files to .mov in streamclip, for editing in fce 4.0.1. When I drag them into the fce timeline the clips need rendering, as much as a minute for a 30 second clip. Is this normal? My OS is 10.6.8. My easy setup in fce is apple intermediate codec 720p30. Any advice to avoid the rendereng would be helpful. Ann

To what codec, frame size & frame rate did you convert the files in Streamclip?
If it isn't AIC 720p30, you'll need to render.
x

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

FCE only used AIC for HD.
Al

When to use Apple Intermediate Codec -v- NTSC ???

OK,
After successfully creating two projects - one for YouTube and another on DVD - I found myself in a slump when 3 succeeding projects wouldn’t upload properly to YouTube.
After doing some troubleshooting with people who “might” know what the problem is, it seems the issue with my 4:3 SD uploads was compression. Somewhere, supposedly I had compressed the footage within FCE, and when uploaded to YouTube (which compresses it further) it just wouldn’t work at all (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3DonNt7B08). Somewhere, somehow, I did something in FCE that is prohibiting this video from playing properly (but it plays fine in QuickTime).
I still have no answer as to why 16:9 HD footage wouldn’t upload, unfortunately, so I’ve since removed it. That video failed to upload on YouTube at all; whereas my initial effort went flawlessly. It took forever, but it uploaded fine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhIDIsZ9i7E).
Anyway, back to the point. I’m ready to go for another run of capturing footage from my Canon XHA1, and I want to make sure I have the proper setting(s) within FCE so that when I’m capturing footage to my computer, where I can edit it for final viewing, it comes out non-compressed.
Where do I start? In Easy Setup for example, there are just too many options for me to know what the heck I’m supposed to use (other than PAL, which I believe was European?).
I thought on my initial video that I had used “Apple Intermediate Codec”. What does this mean exactly?
So far, I’ve chosen the following:
FORMAT - Apple Intermediate Codec
RATE - 29.97
USE - HDV Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60
After choosing this “Easy Setup” (in Preferances), I then go to File > New Project. Right away, it asks me to “Select Sequence Preset”, with some 16 options being given. Must these options jive with what I selected in “Easy Setup”?
Is there some way that FCE or my iMac are reading my camera through the Firewire & determining specifications?
Any help appreciated, thanks.

As Tom says, you have to select "HD" first.
The number "60" at the end of the preset shows that it is NTSC. PAL ends in a "50".
I don't know about YouTube but when I upload HDV to Vimeo I do this:-
Select File>Export>Using QuickTime Conversion.
Click the Options button and select Settings.
Make sure that Compression Type is H.264
Leave Quality on High and set Encoding to Faster. You may think this will not give the best quality, but I doubt if you will see any difference but your files will encode twice as fast.
In the Data Rate section insert Restrict to 5000 kbits/sec.
Click OK and then click the Size button.
In the Dimensions, select 1280 x 720 HD from the dropdown menu. Some people click the deinterlace button. I don't and I have never had any problems . . . your choice. Then keep clicking OK until you get back to the Save window where you can Save your video.
As mentioned above these settings may not give you the theoretically best settings but you are unlikely to notice any difference and your files will encode much faster (or less slower!) and be much smaller.

CODEC options on AVCHD video import

Pardon my posting this in 2 forums...
I am importing AVCHD file (from a Canon Vixia camcorder) recorded at 1920x1080 30P. After searching around I am using Roxy Toast Titanium. My goal is to import them for editing in FCE, without changing resolution, frame/interlace settings or losing video quality on the import. Of course my various outputs will have different quality/resolution/frame options but I want the source video as pristine as it was recorded.
I am a bit confused by all the CODEC options. Are there any pointers you know of that describe the plethora of CODECS that are part of OSX? And, in particular, is there any advice on what CODEC is the best to use for what I'm doing?
Thanks!

With FCE you're best off using the Apple Intermediate Codec which is the default for import of AVCHD. It provides good quality with manageable file sizes.

Upgrade to Leopard seems to have broken Apple Intermediate Codec

I recently upgraded my Macbook Pro to Leopard (clean install). Before doing so I made a bootable backup on my firewire drive (which I still have).
Prior to the new install I was able to playback files encoded with Apple Intermediate Codec (And the Codec also appeared in the drop down menu of supported CCodecs for export as I have Quicktime Pro). Now on my machine if I playback an AI file I get audio with no video and the CODEC does not appear in the export options.
Is there a simple way to fix this?
I had a look in:
Macintosh HD/System/Library/QuickTime
on both my old backed up OS and the new leopard but could not see the CODEC in either location (is it stored elsewhere)?
Thanks for any help give,
Rob

on both my old backed up OS and the new leopard but could not see the CODEC in either location (is it stored elsewhere)?
Stored in the root library folder on mine -- i.e., not the System folder. "~/Library/QuickTime/AppleIntermediateCodec.component"

Capture HD with AVCHD apple intermediate codec

I have captured video from my Canon xha1 previously. Today I went to capture some video. I have my presets to HD with avchd apple intermediate codec. When I go to capture I receive the message "capture preset must have video or an audio digitizer set to capture. Please change the desired preset in the audio/video settings. I go back to system settings and the "audio capture" is not highlighted. I'm not sure if this is how I set the capture preset or if there is something else I am looking for. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Hi Tom,
The camera settings are on HDV/DV. I haven't changed the setting, that I am aware of. I have tried a few easy set up settings. Last night I set to all formats and HDV. I was able to import video but not audio came through. I also tried HD with HDV or AVCD and received the message about needing a digitized audio preset. Today I received the message my deck could not be recognized. I loaded the footage into imove hd just to check my firewire. Video and audio both came through. Interestingly enough when I tried to import an imovie hd into fce, I received an error message. So my problem went from bad to worse. The other devices connected to my imac is an external hard drive and a printer. In the system profiler my camera is listed under the firewire device tree.
I am going to call Apple again tonight. I have only had this machine a month. So I am not very experienced with what can go wrong. But I guess I'm learning. By the way I have enjoyed your tutorial. I have learned a lot.
Thanks,
Jamie

Media Manager not deleting unused media from HDV (intermediate codec) clips

I have a project which uses HDV footage which I captured using the Apple Intermediate Codec. I now have a bunch of clips that are very large in file size so I'd like to use the Media Manager to delete all the unused footage from the clips. I have tried countless different selections of sequences, clips in the browser, clips in a timeline etc but can't seem to get the Media Manager to show a smaller file size for the processed files based on 'Use Existing' with 'Delete unused media' option. The two size meters at the top always stay the same. Can the media manager trim HDV/Apple Intermediate Codec footage? If not is there a way to get rid of the footage that I haven't used? Thanks!
Ben

I've never mastered MM. If I want a small section out of larger clip, I simply just export that section of the clip using 'current settings'.
Hope someone who has tamed the MM beast will step in here and offer you a better way...
good luck.
x

.mts to .mov (with Apple Intermediate Codec)

Hi.
I would like to ask you if is it possible to (batch) convert movies from my handycam Sony HiD AVCHD (.MTS) to FCE (.mov) with Apple Intermediante Codec inside the .mov file.
I successly converted my .mts files with FFMPEG:
ffmpeg -i 0011.mts -sameq -deinterlace 0011.mov
But, I need "Apple Intermediate Codec" inside the .mov file to avoid FCE from "render" again all my videos.
Thank you in advance

Hi there skalicki`.
Thank you very much for your help!!
I was a litle bit stressed here.
Well, it worked: I tested MPEG Streamclip to open one of my .mov and convert it to quicktime format with Apple Intermediate Codec and inserted that file into my Final Cut Express project and ... yes! it worked! No "re-rendering" processes.
For now, the steps I'm using are:
1) copy my xxx.mts files to /tmp
2) ffmpeg -i xxx.mts -sameq -deinterlace xxx.mov
* the annoying thing is that ffmpeg just cannot convert some movies:
[h264 @ 0x1003600]sps_id out of range
[h264 @ 0x1003600]B picture before any references, skipping
[h264 @ 0x1003600]decodesliceheader error
[h264 @ 0x1003600]no frame!
[h264 @ 0x1003600]B picture before any references, skipping
3) Open MPEG Streamclip and convert xxx.mov to /tmp/newmov/xxx.mov
codec= Apple Intermediate Codec, audio=direct copy
Now I'm looking for a way to use MPEG Streamclip from command line ..
Thank you again!

Frame rate problems with Apple Intermediate Codec.

Hi,
I have just upgraded to a new Mac Pro and FCE 4.1.
I went to carry on working with an existing FCE HD file. It loaded and updated fine.
When the project was played back it appeared jumpy and too fast.
I looked at the clip properties and the FPS for the project was at 32!! I'm working in 25 fps.
Its as if FCE is interpreting the movie files as 32 FPS
When the clips are played back in quicktime they are at 25 fps as normal.
The clips are AIC 1440 x 1080i.
I tried it on a new project and the same thing happened.
Other codecs like DV seem to be OK.
Has anyone had this problem before and know of a solution.
I have done all the usual disk repairs and the like. Next will be a re-install.

Hi(Bonjour)!
It's a must to use the correct setup in easy setup dialog to fit your shooted material on tape.
Here's the trail to follow if you want to edit in HD (by the way the FX1Ecan shoot in HD mode or standard definition DV- mode: wide or standard screen).
On your FX1E
-find the camera menu and set the recording format to HDV (it sould be 1080i50 as it's the HDV format used by this model).
-Set the output format to automatic or 1080i50 (this is the type of signal that will be outputed by your camcorder upon capture via firewire).
-turn off you camcorder and mac.
-Plug both devices with a firewire cable.
-turn on the FX1E AND the mac.
-Start FCE HD
In Final Cut Express HD
-Use "Easy Setup..." command in Final Cut express menu , select HD in format tab, 29.97 in rate tab and HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50. Click "Setup" button.
-From this point, any new sequences and capture session will occur in Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50 (the format used to edit in HDV).
-Use command-8 to open the capture window. HDV is captured via a simple dialog. There are no capture setings or log clips info.
-Start your camcorder in *VCR mode*(the play button on camcorder or on remote) and click the capture now button into FCE HD.
NOTES: there is no sound from your MAC upon capturing. There is a lag time between what is played on your cam and what you can see on your mac screen, so use the camcorder screen to monitor the content.
-Hit the "ESC" key when you want to stop the capturing process.
Once the esc key is pressed, your mac will continu to process the captured material and the capture window should close.
That's the way to capture HDV material into FCE HD.
Michel Boissonneault

No Apple intermediate codec found

I had to uninstall FCE4. When I reinstalled it, I get the error message "codec not found". I had deleted the Apple Intermediate Codec when I uninstalled the program. I tried to "move it" back (using the one from Time Machine), but that isn't working.
How can I reinstall the codec?

First, uninstall the right way with this app: http://www.digitalrebellion.com/fcsremover/
Next, reinstall FCE form the original install discs (or a disc image if you made one).
-DH

Log and capture not working with Apple intermediate Codec

Hi,
I just got my copy of Final Cut Pro 6.
I'm trying to capture HDV footage using the apple intermediate codec, but when I try to open the log and capture window, it just comes up with a window saying 'HDV capture', but with no logging options at all. It just captures from that point onwards from the tape.
Tom

You need a video IO card to transcode the signal to another format on capture - you're just connecting the camera via Firewire, yes?
(Incidentally, even if you could get this work, AIC is almost certainly the 'wrong' codec for whatever you're doing. What's your worklow reason for choosing that format? And finally - are you really running OSX 10.3.9? You need to be on 10.4.9 to run FCS2)

Intermediate codecs for 3D renderings + performance

Hello everyone!
I am looking for a codec to use in our offices. We produce fully 3D rendered architectural walkthroughs through 3DS max and vray. I am looking for a codec we can use for our workflow. Image sequences/passes are rendered, then composted in After Effects and sent to video editing for music and sound effects. I would like to find the best codec that gives best performance and quality when using Adobe Premiere.
We are all on PC here. Here's the issue, Some of the PC's here are on CS6 and the editing station is on CC. CC has Cineform built in which is wonderful and beautiful but is not included in CS6 (not for free anyway). DNxHD is free, but uses the QT32 service which really only allows the editing PC to max out at about 40-50% cpu usage. ProRes is not an option as we are on PC.
What intermediate codec supports 10bit that we could use in our production workflow? Also, secondary to my questions is: Is the included Cineform codec that is now bundle din CC different than the one bundled with the free one from GoPro Studio? Is there a quality and/or performance difference? I remember reading somewhere that the built in Cineform in CC is faster to process/render than the external codec. Thoughts?
Trying to make the best decision for the team here. Anywhere we can benefit from increased performance and utilizing the hardware we have is of great value. P.S. Our rendered resolutions do not go beyond 1920x1080 for now.
Video Editing system:
Adobe CC
Windows 8 64-bit
32gb Ram
2x SSD 1x Raid10
GTX 970
Other workstations:
Premiere and AE CS6
Windows 7 64-bit
Lots of ram, Multi cpu
Quadro cards.
Thank you for any advice!

I have done some tests based on your recommendations of Lagarith. Visually I can see no difference from Cineform. My test results show that Cineform in YUV 10-Bit renders the video in 3 seconds. 20 seconds in RGB 12-bit. Lagarith no matter what setting runs around 20 seconds render time. The resulting file from Lagarith is 40% larger. Another interesting note is that the Cineform files are not playable on any system besides within After Effects or premiere on the Video editing station. That leads me to believe that the built in Cineform codec with CC is only within the CC software whereas the GoPro Studio installs a system codec.
Here are my thoughts so far:
Lagarith Strenghs:
Losless Compression
Playback on all machines
Quick install!
Lagarith Weaknesses:
30% larger files
Unusually choppy playback in VLC, but fine in Windows Media Player (Only on editing pc, on other workstations there is no issue strangely)
Largerly increased render/transcoding time
Cineform Strengths:
Smaller file size
Faster render (by a long shot)
Cineform Weakness:
Lossy compression (not a huge deal here, it is an excellent compression)
No playback external to Adobe software
Uses MOV wrapper

Is there any way to increase the number of codecs supported in FCE?

Hi all - does anyone know if there is a way to allow FCE to natively edit more codecs than are listed in the default sequence settings? I use FCPro and have been encouraging folks at my University to use FCE for intermediate editing. I just found out that many formats supported in FCP are not supported in FCE.
Are there any plug-ins or anything we can buy to increase the types of files that FCE will support (in a sequence without rendering)?
Follow up: if not, can anyone tell me the specifics of the 720p30 AIC format that FCE uses?
Apple Intermediate Codec
1280x720
30fps progressive?
bitrate?
audio sampling rate?
It seems odd to me that FCE has such a limited number of formats it supports natively. And why isn't ProRes 422 a part of FCE? I thought that was their big thing now - HD wihtout taking up all the real estate that AIC does.
Thanks. I'm frustrated with both iMovie and FCE and wishing that Sony Vegas worked on Macs!

Hi(Bonjour)!
Well FCE is a stripped down version of FCP, for a fraction of the price. It was aimed to produce TV content in TV native resolution.
In the past years, HDV and AVCDHD were added through AIC codec.
For most of FCE users (from the beginner to intermediate video editors)those formats are adequate.
To have access to native HDV or to Apple ProRes 422, you have to buy Final Cut Studio 2. All those codecs will be available in FCE export with quickitme conversion settings.
Michel boissonneault

Apple intermediate codec VS apple fcp uncompressed 8 bit 4:2:2

i'm still very new here.
have FCE and therefore don't have apple pro res.
i'm getting mixed suggestions as to what format to use for highest quality.
i get better results playing back apple intermediate codec in FCE but want to know if its quality is as good as apple fcp uncompressed 8 bit?
ultimately want to output as quicktime H.264
thanks

"but don't i Want HD? i'm shooting with the canon 5D M2."
Yes, you do. But how would I know that you're shooting in HD or that you're using this camera? The Apple uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 codec is only used with standard definition media.
BTW, FCE is not the best application to work with this camera as it shoots in a non-standard video frame rate. Your media would have to be converted to QuickTime using AIC at 29.97 with uncompressed 48k audio. FCP allows you to create a sequence preset in 30fps, the frame rate used by this model.

Intermediate Codec options in FCE 4

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