Motion in FCP timeline - Compressor render isn't pretty

I've had this problem for as long as I can remember, and I've always used a work-around. I would like to understand what gives.
When I do a title in Motion, over some footage for example, and I roundtrip back to FCP, everything looks nice in the timeline.
When I render out the movie, though, the title always ends up blocky. I've always worked around this in a couple different ways. 1) I export directly out of FCP as a quicktime (not compressed, just the full movie). The titles always look great. 2) Rather than roundtrip a .motn file, I just export from Motion as either a ProRes or Animation or whatever and import to my FCP project. Ends up looking great.
Why is it that if I use a .motn in the timeline and export through compressor it looks blocky?? Is this a compressor issue?
Am I crazy or doesn't everyone run into this issue?
NOTE: I am usually exporting to AppleTV or iPhone when it becomes obvious. A DVD compression isn't bad, but it's also not "HD" in theory.

Hey Patrick:
I checked and all looks good:
The sequence has no field dominance, the motion project has no dominance and the project has no field order.
So it's completely progressive.
After some playing around here's what see:
The original footage in FCP is ProRes422(HQ). I have 2 graphics, one compresses great, the other not great. The difference is the Motion file format.
The graphic that compresses clean and sharp is a graphic I did with the original file format in DVCPROHD 1080p24.
The graphic that does NOT compress cleanly was footage from my FCP timeline that I decided to "send to motion." It's a short ProRes(HQ) clip that I added a title to. The format of the Motion project is XDCAM HD 1080p24. This is by default to match the frame size of ProRes, I assume since:
XDCAM is 1920x1080
DVCPRO is 1280x1080.
Even though it matches the frame size there's something in the sizing that FCP doesn't handle very well.
Since almost all of my footage is ProRes422 HQ (I am editing film that was scanned), this is always an issue I run into!
So my guess is: Compressor doesn't encode the Motion default (XDCAM) mixed with ProRes correctly. If I recall correctly, I think that if I export directly out of FCP the compression is FINE. It's only if I export through compressor that this happens. Will have to do some tests, but the full export takes a long time.

Similar Messages

FCP crashing with Motion project in timeline

I have update 10.4.4 and Motion with DeckLink desktop on, works fine, but FCP 5.0.4 crashing with Motion project in timeline.
Karel
G5 DP 2GHz, 2.5 GB RAM, ATI X800 XT, AJA Io, BM DeckLink SP, Medea VideoRaid RT3 Mac OS X (10.4.4) FCP 5 Studio, Combustion 3.04, AE 6.5

Hi, Patrick
here is crash log
Command: Final Cut Pro
Path: /Applications/Final Cut Pro.app/Contents/MacOS/Final Cut Pro
Parent: WindowServer [114]
Version: 5.0.4 (5.0.4)
Build Version: 2
Project Name: FCPApp
Source Version: 512141418
PID: 416
Thread: 0
Exception: EXCBADACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERNPROTECTIONFAILURE (0x0002) at 0x00000054
Thread 0 Crashed:
0 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aed9550 fegldetach + 32
1 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aedbe20 context_finalize + 180
2 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aee9b8c fe_release + 484
3 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aed94e4 fecontext_glnew + 404
4 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aecd7d0 -[MOCIOpenGLContext initWithCGLContext:] + 84
5 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0adcc510 OZCoreImagingEffect::getImage(OZRenderParams&) + 2208
6 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aa52368 OZElement::getImageWithEffects(OZRenderParams&) + 280
7 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aa53b40 OZElement::renderElement(OZRenderParams&) + 400
8 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aa53918 OZElement::render(OZRenderParams&) + 440
9 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aa536a8 OZElement::composite(OZRenderParams&) + 712
10 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0aa3932c OZScene::render(OZRenderParams&) + 300
11 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0ac5be84 GLRenderer::doSceneRender(OZScene*, OZRenderParams&) + 260
12 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0ac5a3e8 GLRenderer::renderNormal(OZScene*, OZRenderParams&) + 72
13 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0ac5a30c GLRenderer::render(OZScene*, OZRenderParams&) + 860
14 com.apple.ozone.framework 0x0ad64a68 OZXGetFrame + 888
15 com.apple.motion.component 0x00ad8324 dyldstubOZXGetAudio2 + 11347564
16 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5aafc CallComponentFunctionCommon + 1044
17 com.apple.motion.component 0x00ad8d70 OZQTCodecComponentDispatch + 96
18 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5a684 CallComponent + 260
19 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8f5e5484 ImageCodecDrawBand + 40
20 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8ee6a828 BaseCodec_DecompressWorkFunction + 1124
21 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b6d8f4 InvokeComponentMPWorkFunctionUPP + 24
22 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8ee68bac BaseCodecDecompressCallBackCommon + 2620
23 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8ee6b934 Base_CDBandDecompress + 4196
24 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5aafc CallComponentFunctionCommon + 1044
25 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5a684 CallComponent + 260
26 com.apple.motion.component 0x00ad8d9c OZQTCodecComponentDispatch + 140
27 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5a684 CallComponent + 260
28 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fad5680 ImageCodecBandDecompress + 40
29 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fac70b8 DoBandedDecompress + 13780
30 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fb3fb98 ICMAction_aligned + 1308
31 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fac38e0 ICMDeviceLoop + 3456
32 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fac9dfc DecompressSequenceFrameWhen + 860
33 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8eda20b4 v2m_rDecompressSequenceFrameWhen + 292
34 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8edaa3f8 v2m_decompressVideoFrame + 880
35 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8edaaefc QueueAFrame + 2580
36 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8edab97c v2m_doWhatTheMentorTellsUs + 1624
37 ...ickTimeComponents.component 0x8edad894 Video2MoviesTask + 2268
38 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5ab68 CallComponentFunctionCommon + 1152
39 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x90b5a684 CallComponent + 260
40 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fac05dc MediaMoviesTask + 52
41 com.apple.QuickTime 0x8fabf818 TaskMovie_priv + 3608
42 ...alCutPro.Plugins.QTM Reader 0x067a358c GetVideoFrame(KGDictInt*, MovieType**, KGSheetRec*, KGRect*, double, long, unsigned char, unsigned char, unsigned long long, unsigned char, bypassedYUVMatrixInfo*) + 3276
43 ...alCutPro.Plugins.QTM Reader 0x067a47cc FileGetVideo(KGDictInt*) + 2272
44 ...alCutPro.Plugins.QTM Reader 0x067b5c6c PluginMainEntry(long, long, KGDictInt*, void*) + 4144
45 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x002561a4 pKGGetFileVideo(double, long, unsigned char, KGCanvasRec*, KGRect*, KGDictInt*, KGFileRec*, unsigned long long) + 1708
46 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x00247eec pKGGetItemThumbnail(double, long, KGCanvasRec*, KGRect*, KGDictInt*, unsigned long long) + 840
47 ...Pro.Plugins.Timeline Editor 0x068610ac Draw1VideoItemThumbnail(TimelineViewRecord*, KGItemSpec*, double*, KGSheetRec*) + 1920
48 ...Pro.Plugins.Timeline Editor 0x0686a8c0 TLProcessThumbnails(TimelineViewRecord*) + 360
49 ...Pro.Plugins.Timeline Editor 0x06854670 TimelineViewMessage(long, long, KGDictInt*, KGViewRecord*) + 12300
50 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x0015ea4c KGTimerInvoke(__EventLoopTimer*, void*) + 236
51 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x90770aec __CFRunLoopDoTimer + 184
52 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9075d464 __CFRunLoopRun + 1680
53 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9075ca18 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 268
54 com.apple.HIToolbox 0x9318e1e0 RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 264
55 com.apple.HIToolbox 0x9318d874 ReceiveNextEventCommon + 380
56 com.apple.HIToolbox 0x931d2ca4 AcquireNextEventInMode + 72
57 com.apple.HIToolbox 0x931d2a94 RunApplicationEventLoop + 132
58 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x00167598 KGMainEvent(void*) + 64
59 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x002dde40 main + 100
60 com.apple.FinalCutPro 0x0000d83c _start + 392
61 dyld 0x8fe01048 dyldstart + 60
Thread 0 crashed with PPC Thread State 64:
srr0: 0x000000000aed9550 srr1: 0x100000000000d030 vrsave: 0x0000000000000000
cr: 0x24822204 xer: 0x0000000000000000 lr: 0x000000000aed9540 ctr: 0x000000000aed9530
r0: 0x000000000aedbe20 r1: 0x00000000bfffa6e0 r2: 0x000000000b373280 r3: 0x000000003979ade0
r4: 0x0000000000000000 r5: 0x00000000000003e8 r6: 0xffffffffffffffff r7: 0x0000000000000047
r8: 0x0000000000000008 r9: 0x0000000000000000 r10: 0x0000000000000047 r11: 0x000000000b2b012c
r12: 0x000000000aed9530 r13: 0x0000000044822222 r14: 0x0000000000000000 r15: 0x00000000bfffaa00
r16: 0x0000000039772350 r17: 0x00000000bfffa9a0 r18: 0x00000000bfffa9b0 r19: 0x00000000bfffa950
r20: 0x0000000000000000 r21: 0x000000000b28bc94 r22: 0x000000000b28bc94 r23: 0x0000000039734610
r24: 0x0000000000000002 r25: 0x0000000000000000 r26: 0x0000000031d3bc00 r27: 0x000000003979ade0
r28: 0x000000003979ade0 r29: 0x0000000000000000 r30: 0x000000003979ade0 r31: 0x000000000aed9540

Export sequence of still images (JPGs, TIFFs) from FCP timeline into DVD without interlaced issues using Compressor

Hi,
How to export a sequence with stills (jpg) into a DVD format by using Compressor without having the interlaced issue on the outcome? The stills in the Canvas look crisp but once exported to DVD format, the outcome images look interlaced. How can I best match the crisp look of the high resolution JPGs in time line when exported to DVD?
My Sequence settings match the image settings:
Frame Size: 1024 x 768
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square
Field Dominance: None
Compressor: Photo JPG
I tried to export the sequence of img as an independent QT movie file by using Apple ProRes 422 output settings. The video file looks great. I then imported it back to time line into new sequence and exported into DVD format trying both: deinterlace and "same as source" setting. Both output DVD files still have the interlaced issue.
I also tried to work with JPGs converted to TIFFs on a different sequence with same as Tiff settings and the issue still persists.
I will appreciate any advices.
Thank you,
Izabela

Dear Nick,
Thank you, I understand now it is the aspect ratio issue.
Are you suggesting that I should use Photoshop or Graphic Converter to convert the 1024 x 768 to 720 x 480 prior to importing them into FCP seqence?
> Give the DVD authoring software the correct size:
I am using FCP 7.0.3 to create the sequence of images (there has to be specific timing and transitions), which I then export to DVD format by using Compressor.
Do you mean that I should set the FCP timeline sequnece settings to 720 x 480?
Please let me know. Thank you,
Izabela

FCP timeline to Motion 3 "send to" clip length problem

I am having a problem with Motion 3 when I send a selected clip from an FCP timeline to a Motion Project (for some optical flow treatment)
It processes the entire source file associated with the clip- even if I have used a subclip to edit into the sequence in the first place- my source files are long so it takes several hours for a section only lasting a few seconds.
Is there a simple solution to this?
Thanks,
Andrew Parker

Thanks for these replies.
A bizarre design- making a nonsense of the integration from FCP sequence clip to Motion 3 for this treatment.
I'm hesitant to go to Motion 4 half way through a project- especially as there seem to be other teething problems from what I can gather on this forum.
I guess I could also re-ingest at short length those clips that I want to treat with optical flow blending- making it only a last stage process for all practical purposes.
Andrew

Motion projects look like VHS junk in a FCP timeline

Pro Res 422 sd FCP sequence, field dominance none. This is viewed through a Kona LHe on a Sony PVM-14M4U.
I have a bunch of Motion animations with particles and text. Video processing is set to 16-bit float to avoid banding on a bunch of gradients. When I edit the project into an FCP timeline, the result is a stair-stepping mess on every element much like VHS. If I export a self-contained movie from Motion, it looks like it should in the FCP timeline.
So the obvious answer is to export a movie for each animation from Motion and while I'm not adverse to that as an answer, I'd really like to know why a Motion project is looking so awful in FCP considering the project interchange capabilities that are supposed to be within FC Studio 2.
I am most likely missing something very simple as I am the King of User Error.
z.

Peter Wiggins wrote:
There are quite a few things that don't happen when rendering a Motion project within FCP.
Such as? Gotta link to anything as I'd really like to know. Perhaps my impression of sticking a Motion project into FCP is just faulty?

Best way from FCP using Compressor (too long render - 3 days?)

Hi
What's best quality, most efficient way to get our 85 min documentary out of FCP 6 to an SD DVD master?
Using 2008 model Mac Pro 3.0, 8GB RAM, I'm going from FCP to Compressor, via QT movie (current settings Pro Res) of Timeline, bring it into Compressor = NTSC, 16x9, 2 pass VBR best, 6.5 to 7.6 bit rate, GOP = IBBP closed, size 15, Frame Controls ON, resize filter = BEST, De-interlace = fast, Rate Conversion = Good...
I did a 2 minute test and it took an hour! And that was for a web-friendly 480 x 270 size. What's it going to be at 720 x 405 (the 16 x 9 version) - 3 days? What to do? Should I print the timeline to tape and bring it to a post house and they can do better or what? I know if I turn frame controls to OFF it'll speed up significantly, but then the FONTS/Text especially when over Black BG look horrible after compressed to 720 x 405.
Suggestions?
K

This ain't going to help much, sorry. Give us a few more hours, maybe a day or two, one or more of the DVDSP wonks will stop by and offer better advice.
What's best quality, most efficient way to get our 85 min documentary out of FCP 6 to an SD DVD master? < </div>
The DVD will be MPEG2. Working in anything higher quality than that has questionable benefits, the ratio of increased processing time to improved results is completely one-sided, a waste of time.
Compression is a disappointing series of compromises unless you totally understand the process. You can spend a few hours researching articles by Jan Ozer to help you decide what your workflow should be. Me, I would export a self-contained movie out of FCP to a codec that would hold a reasonable amount of spatial rez before going to Compressor.
Exporting self-contained creates a new media file that requires no further handling or rendering which is probably holding you up now. Every frame is being recreated before it can be compressed.But I never use Compressor to create the MPEG2, I let DVDSP do that for me. This shortcut produces every bit of quality I need for my projects.
Your situation, apparently, is different. And there is no real shortcut for you except to research it and try to find a recipe that suits your expectations. But whatever you do, MPEG2 is going to be a real bummer, especailly if you are shrinking or scaling your large format image to letterbox or anamorphic.
bogiesan

Exporting from FCP to Compressor, FCP causes crashes

When I export a particular FCP sequence to Compressor (with the intention of then moving on to DVD Studio Pro with the resultant compressed video and audio file)on first gesture to export I receive a message saying one render file is missing. However, when I was in FCP before launching Compressor, the sequence showed nothing that needed rendering. When I "render both" from the sequence menu, there is nothing to render. When I watch the sequence in FCP it views perfectly. Then I export using compressor. I receive the message that a render file is missing. I tell the system to continue without this one render file since I have no evidence that the file is missing. I then set off the compressor work, and it grinds away. Ultimately sometime in the two plus hour processing period (the sequence is 8 minutes long) FCP generates an error and Compressor aborts its work, blaming FCP. Any idea what the problem is and how to fix it? Please let me know if you need further info. As always, I am up against a deadline with this final output. The behavior is one I have never seen before in the four years I have been using this software. Thanks in advance.

Do you have motion files on the time line - a Google search shows posts about this problem:
http://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/8/1013775
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1460437
I would export a Quicktime Movie from your timeline File > Export > Quicktime Movie using current settings, then take that exported Quicktime Movie into compressor as opposed to trying to go direct from the FCP timeline.
Also, is you timeline fully rendered? Have you placed a checkmark on every Render condition -
!http://www.spotsbeforeyoureyes.com/RenderMarksChecked.jpg!
and then clicked on the timeline, typed Command + A to select all then Command + R to render the whole timeline?
Hope this helps.

Animation not carried over from Motion to FCP

In my FCP project, I sent a clip to Motion. In Motion, I imported another motion file of a car with spinning wheels that I made earlier and used that in the new Motion clip, along with some additional animation. Now, when I go back to FCP the car is visible, the additional animation is also visible, but not the spinning wheels. Is it not possible to embed Motion files within Motion?
When I export the clip from Motion directly to a QuickTime movie, everything is fine. But I'd rather don't go that route because it's much easier to move between FCP and Motion automatically.
Can someone please enlighten me? Thanks!

I'm guessing Final Cut is not referring back to the Motion file correctly. If that is the case here's a fix.
Open your Motion file back up (recent projects if you aren't sure what it is) and resave it by a different name somewhere you can easily find it. Alternatively you can export is a ProRes4444 clip if you don't want to have to render it on your FCP timeline.
Return to the clip in Final Cut. Control-click on the clip that should be a Motion document and pick "Reconnect Media." Point Final Cut to the resaved/exported Motion file you created. You may have to uncheck the box about showing only media with the same reel name. Hit Connect.

Best way to work between Motion and FCP

I use Motion on occasion but always seem to run into a problem when I export projects to .mov files and import into FCP as the same. The files always show up in FCP but if I return back to Motion to edit the Motion Project I get an alert that say that file is in use. Should I just import the whole .motn file into and FCP and render after or is there a better way? Any ideas would be helpful.

Hi Buck,
if you export your motion project as a mov file you create an independent file with properties selected prior export. That file becomes independent from all applications and will remain even if you delete the project it originated from. On the contrary, if you import a Motion Project into FCP it will always depend on and reference its native editor.
If you are using a previously exported mov file within both Motion (say you re-imported it, apply changes and try to save it with same name) and FCP at the same time then you may get the warning that the file is in use.
Any change you make in Motion to your .motn project should update within FCP timeline instantly.
Luca

.motn file stays black in fcp timeline.

.motn file stays black in fcp timeline when I saved it in motion it automatically makes the changes in the timeline. The only thing is, I can't see it , it's just black, the only thing i can hear is the audio. What am I doing wrong?
Ward
(edit: I discovered i can see it in my viewer when i doubleclick on the file in the browser, although it doesn't play smoothly)
Message was edited by: ward geerts

So it works i you need to click on modify and then set alpha to black. There's just one more thing that doesn't work well, when i set in view the render to best the imported movie file goes black, any idea how that happens?

Exporting multiple projects from FCP timeline hangs

When rendering multiple projects from Final Cut Pro's timeline through compressor, I get varied results. I am rendering 3 files - Apple Pro Res, MPEG-2 (VBR Highest quality for Blu-Ray), & 48khz AIFF audio file.
Typically we will set up 3 projects for one night to render overnight (30 minutes to 1 hour for each project). In the morning when we come in compressor will sometimes show up as 90 hours remaining, sometimes it will still be cranking out on the last project with 12 hours remaining. If we leave it going it will eventually finish. However when we shut everything down, reboot computer, start export from timeline and it completes the render in HALF the time compressor stated remaining before we closed it. Each project typically takes 6-8 hours to get all three files (pro res, MPEG-2, AIFF) we allow 18 hours for render.
Drive space should not be an issue. We have a 5 TB array (typically has 2 TB free for 4 projects), system drive has 350 GB free and the 4 projects rendered out will take up approximately 300 GB. The project reads, and writes to the array for everything.
Any help on trying to figure out why compressor slows down over time. Once restarting compressor goes as expected.
Thanks for the help in advance.
Don
All software is up to date latest versions of FCP and Compressor.

This is like an EDL...Edit Decision List. This basically is a metadata rich document that is used to transfer clip information between systems. You can export an XML from FCP 7 to FCP 6 so that you can open a sequence, or a project. Export an XML of the sequence and open that up in Excel to have clip name, reel and timecode information for tracking footage.
No media is enclosed in this file.

Is there a deus ex maquina for the hashed over HDV- DV conversion issues in the temples of FCP and Compressor??

I want to create a good quality SD DVD from 1080i/60 footage (20 minutes duration) from a Sony ZiU camera (mini DV tape) using FCP and Compressor. I can't do it. My hair has fallen out, but I don't want to throw in the towel.
I have imported the same footage with different FCP presets. The video quality in FCP is excellent.
But once I send the footage to Compressor. I end up with video exhibiting gradations of the following: blurry, jagged edges, jerky movement, darker color. Poor quality especially if a subject (kids playing football) runs fast.
The QT conversion process in Ken Stone’s article (May, 2008/updated in Jan, 2011) provides the most helpful information in getting a quality SD DVD. (Quality means looking as good as SD video DVDs). Except for the fact that the DVD is widescreen, the better quality alternative may just be to stick with the old 4:3 shooting, editing, burning methods that I’ve used for years. Unless of course, I am missing something. Hence my appeal to the knowledgable.
FYI Equipment/software: MAC Pro (OS 10.6.8); ATI Radeon HD 4870; terabytes to spare on 2 internal hard drives; FCS - FCP 7.0.3, Compressor 3.5.3, DVDSP 4.2.2. All applications are on Drive 1. FCP project files, scratch and other setups are on drive 2.
My current settings in FCP appear below. What's wrong here? Better alternative? Or it just may be HDV should not go to a SD DVD.
CAPTURE PRESET: HDV - APPLE PRORES 422
DEVICE CONTROL PRESET: Sony HDV FireWire
VIDEO PROCESSING Render 10-bit material in high precion YUV
I now send the Sequence to Compressor I've tried various settings, and the split screen preview in Compressor reveals on the right side the jaggy, blurred, darker video. Same shows up after submitting; and of course if I try to burn a DVD in DVDSP. I've followed Stone's Aug 31, 2009 article on Compressor 3.5. I experiemented with changes here and there without success (like changing field dominance of even selecting DV NTSC, etc).
If you got this far, thank you. And I really could use the help.
Sorry.Presets: Apple Pro Res 422 1440x1080 60i 48 kHz, HDV- Apple ProRes 422, Sony HDV FireWire. Capture Preset: HDV-Apple ProRes 422; Device control Sony HDV FireWire. Sequence Settings: 1440x1080 HD (1440X1080) (16:9), PIixel HD(1440x1080), Upper/Odd, 29.97, Compressor Apple ProRes 422. Message was edited by: Richard Fera

Michael,
Thanks for the helpful comments. Two tactics today helped. Where ever field dominance was indicated I made sure "upper/top" was the same everywhere throughout FCP and Compressor. That almost eliminated the jagged edges. Also, in the easy setup, I selected Apple ProRes 422 as the format, using HDV to ProRes HQ - Sony -1080i60. Sending direct to Compressor rather than through QuickTime conversion also help produce a clearer, less dark picture.
I'll try your suggesstions especially adding compression markers. I'll check back with you on results.
Thanks

Need help with non-video clip transitions on the FCP timeline...

Hi all, I am struggling with this problem with the FCP timeline: I have a mix of things; .motn includes, .psd includes, etc. and I want to put a transition between them and a normal video clip, BUT, as u can guess, it does not work well. I guess because FCP can't see the frames inside the Motion file, it won't let u do a cross fade or whatever with any amount of time applied to it. So what to do?
I started to modify the motion files but realized this would not work, as I often use bits of one motion animation in various places starting and ending at different timecodes. So i need to be able to place a transition at the beg/end of motion clip on the fcp timeline. I started doing this:
1) place a slug above the track of a joining of motion/video clip
2) place the transitions on both ends of the slug.
Is this the way to go? I have dozens of these that I need to fix asap, so all advice is appreciated!
coocoo

Hi Cooco,
there are several ways to find out whether it is a [*matter of handles*|http://www.larryjordan.biz/articles/lj_handles.html]
One is to select the clip>hit the S key (slip tool) clickandhold it . A brown line drawing a rectangle will appear and will continue beyond in and out point revealing the available clip's handles. If not handles are available then the brown line will stay within the clip on the timeline.
Visit the link I sent to you to more understand handle matters.
G.
Message was edited by: gogiangigo

Best Codec for exporting animations with alpha channel from FCP timeline

Whats the best codec for exporting animations (hopefully using loseless compression) that will retain alpha channel, and use the current sequence settings for fps and size?
Currently Im exporting image sequences, but I'd prefer a wrapper.. I don't know much about the 'Animation' export codec.. I did notice that set to current size had some funky value of 753x450 or something.. instead of my current project size of 1920x1080...
Anyhow.. Just seeing what others are doing..
basically Im reading out some titles that I'll end up dropping over video later.. but since they render out so slowly (**** lower 3rds is slow) Im trying to get a jump on the process..
Tx..

PNG should do it. I think PNG is lossless (that's what they say, anyway). But realistically, if you use PNG, Animation, or JPG2000 set on highest quality, I'd dare you to tell a difference.
I use PNG because it's supposedly lossless, renders twice as fast as Animation in a FCP timeline, and is usually about half the size.
If you use "Export Using Quicktime Conversion", you will need to check all of the settings manually to make sure they match your sequence settings. This is always true, no matter what codec you use.
If that sounds risky, your other option is to go into your sequence settings and change the codec to the one you want to render to (this will probably turn your whole timeline red), and then choose Export -> Quicktime movie.

Plugging camera in G5 via firewire showing up in Motion or FCP

I have a camera that I would like to plug into Motion or Final Cut Pro via the Firewire plug in my G5. Is it possible to have this live feed show up in Motion or FCP? I would also like to know if I could put a Green background in back of a subject as it's being fed into Motion or FCp to use a Green Screen?
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Motion won't capture for you - FCP will. Neither is a live keyer... Although the talented Peter Wiggins has a plugin that will bring live iSight into the timeline, so I suppose you could use that to key with - I haven't tried it yet... See this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3954467#3954467
for a link.
Patrick

Motion in FCP timeline - Compressor render isn't pretty

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