MPEG-4 Question...

Does Final Cut Pro 4.5 read mpeg 4 files? how do i import a mp4 file to FCP?

This is not the whole answer. The FCP manual is incorrect. I have the same problem.
The FCP 5.1 manual flatly states that FCP will import MPEG-4 files. However, it won't for me. When I try, I get the same error as pol:
----- File Error: 1 File(s) recognized, 0 access denied, 1 unknown
Moreover, this is not a lo-res file, and it was not encoded for the Web; it was encoded for television at 640x480 and arrived on a DVD. So I cannot use the original file in a project. (The VOB was converted to MPEG-4 by Handbrake 0.7.1.)
Whether FCP cannot import MPEG-4, or whether there are many flavors of MPEG-4, but FCP can import only some of the flavors, the FCP manual is in error.

Similar Messages

Import mpeg-1 question

I am THINKING that I am reading that neither imovie 8 nor FCE 4 can directly import an mpeg-1 file (which is what my Sony camera records). If I take it through Mpeg streamclip does it degrade the video? If so is there any way I can get it into these programs without doing damage? Even to just string some of them together?

Your material was already degraded when it was recorded to the extremely compressed mpeg1 format.
It is not likely to be much worse for the conversion to DV/NTSC (or DV/PAL).
You are right to be concerned with the quality of material you bring into the editing program and the best way to ensure highest quality is to use a camera that records a format that needs no conversion. mini-DV tape based cameras are a good place to start. Everything that records on hard drives or DVDs needs to be transcoded to edit in FCE.
Good luck.
x

MPEG Muxed Question

Hi,
I am editing a video for a non-profit, and they've received some footage of a story about their organization on the evening news. They were given a DVD with a movie file that when I get info about it says its an "MPEG Muxed" file. Using Quicktime Pro I've tried to export the video into a format usable for Final Cut Pro, but when exporting Quicktime won't allow me to check the box necessary to include Audio in the export. I'm assuming this is because its Muxed, but when i export anyways I get no audio. Does anyone know how to demux a file like this? or know a work around for getting this video to work in final cut? Thanks.

MPEG Streamclip (free) and the $20 Apple MPEG-2 Playback Component should be able to convert with audio.
http://www.squared5.com/

Exporting to mpeg-2 question

My friend gave me a bunch of 720x480 mpeg clips from a music festival and asked me to edit them together.
When I play the raw files on my standard TV they fit perfectly...
But when I export the edited files as mpeg-2 in the same resolution...they are scaled down and dont fit the TV.
I know this will seem like fairly basic stuff, but I've searched and can't find an answer.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Maybe you could be a little more specific or show us a picture. what do you mean by "shrinks"
is it smaller in every direction or just squeezed letterbox? it must be a sequence or encoder setting for the resolution or aspect ratio.

Quick MPEG Streamclip question

Hi --
Following the great guidance of this group, I have just started using MPEG Streamclip to rip a bunch a home DVD's into editable form. The program and process work great, save for one annoying glitch.
*After setting in and out points and trimming, the newly trimmed segment will not display correctly when PLAY is selected.*
Specifically, when play is selected, the timeline counter progresses, but the image stays frozen. The image will change when using other controls, such as manual grabbing of the timeline or scraping on the mousepad. Unfortunately, this quirk makes it difficult to view trimmed segments to identify additional edit (cut) segments.
I'm looking for suggestions how to fix this issue. Software? My workflow? Hardware inadequacy (IMAC?).
Thanks again for all the great help.
Ken

FWIW, I tried to diagnose the issue and may have accidentally come upon a solution.
First, I looked to see if memory was an obvious issue. Using the Performance Monitor accessory, there was no obvious overload issue.
Then, I took the DVD out of the loop by copying the VOB file to the desktop and running from it. Same problem.
Then, I realized that playback DID work when I trimmed starting at the beginning of the file. I recreated that trim and it worked.
However, when I reverted back to the original and trimmed the next segment (after the original), it failed to work.
Next experiment, revert to original and trim an amount that encompassed both the first and second segment. Voila. The second segment played normally (along with the first.) A clue?
So I trimmed the second segment from the combined trim -- and back to frozen screen.
However, I tried the same process (revert to original and trim segments one and two), but CUT out the first segment. SUCCESS.
I have no idea why this works. Any ideas? Better solutions?
Is anyone else having this problem.
Thanks.
Ken

MPEG streamcip question

Hi everybody,
i am converting mpg muxed files in mpeg streamclip...what is the best export format for a dv- ntsc, 720x480 project? is it a quicktime mov file or a FCP uncompressed file? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
shelby

File > Export to QuickTime. Choose your codec.
As muxed MPEG 2 is very heavily compressed to begin with, there's not much point in using the Uncompressed setting. It won't make the picture any better. It will give you an enormous file.
Use DVC Pro or match it to the other footage in your FCP timeline.

Another MPEG-2 Question

I need to have some movie files that can play without QuickTime. Heresy, I know. They need to be somewhat generic .mpg files that will play on a PC regardless of which player is installed. In fact for the purpose of this project...QuickTime is not desired on the target system.
I realize QT Pro will not export MPEG-2 and some other stuff. I know the MPEG-2 QT component is a separate purchase but the Apple site is bit fuzzy on details. As strange as it may seem, I need to import .mov files and convert them to .mpg. Will the MPEG-2 QuickTime add on allow me to do this?

Microsoft (in their infinite wisdom) doesn't support "Industry Standard" MPEG-4 formats (the type of file created by QuickTime Pro).
In order for the .mp4 file to play on Windows it must use the QuickTime Player. To view Windows versions of .mp4 files Mac users must use Media Player.
The easiest way to create a MPEG-1 file is to use Toast.
Create a VCD ( a conventional CD that plays back in a set top DVD player) using your .mov files and Toast. You need not "burn" the CD. Toast allows you to make a Disk Image.
Open the Disk Image (.dmg) in the Mac Finder. Drag the blah.DAT file to the Desktop.
Change the .DAT file extension to .mpg (confirm the change) and you'll have an MPEG-1 file that Windows users can open with their favorite media player. Mac users can open the .mpg with QuickTime (or other media players).

Mpeg Streamclip question

Hey all,
I realize that this isn't an Mpeg streamclip forum, but I need to rip some DVDs and spit them out as QT's to use in FCP.
For some reason, when I import the DVD files into Mpeg streamclip the viewer window slices off a bar on the right of the frame. To be clear, the image isn't missing any picture, but rather it resembles a full frame 4:3 style image with a black bar on the right frame. I wondered if this was just a glitch in the preview window, but when I output a QT sample, the rendered video also has this black bar.
Oddly enough, this seems to happen at random and only with certain imported DVD files from time to time. The DVD I am attempting to rip is a 16:9 aspect ratio, and all of the settings are default as the problem occurs when importing the DVD files, before any actual settings are changed.
If anyone is knowledgeable about Mpeg streamclip and could help me out, I'd appreciate it.

Anyone out there?
My issue is persisting and has caused a total hault to productivity.
Once again, when I import ripped DVD files in to Mpeg stream clip, either via 'open files' or 'open dvd' the image becomes 4:3 in the viewer and leaves a glitchy and empty bar/space on the right of the viewer, when this is output either as QT, DV etc.. that empty space becomes a black bar in the output video.
I was able to successfully output a 16:9 DV clip only once by selecting 'open DVD' as opposed to 'open files' and this seemed to do it but this only worked with this particular DVD.
Any help would be appreciated.

MPEG-2 Question about DVDSP4

Why cant you import an MPEG 2 file into the assets of DVDSP? Or an M2T file? (Or is it the same?) Thanks....

As the gentleman above pointed out, you can't import transport streams. See in your settings where it says "Type: MPEG-2 transport stream"? That means you're creating a transport stream.
You need to create an elementary stream, which is the default setting if you choose one of the DVD creation presets in Compressor. This will generate a file with the extension ".m2v".
Create a new job for your media file by dragging it into an empty batch in Compressor (or submitting it directly from Final Cut, or however your workflow works). In the main Compressor window you'll see your file show up on a panel with some blank space to the right side of it, this is your job.
Below, in the "settings" tab, navigate into one of the DVD video presets, such as "DVD Best Quality 120 minutes", for example.
Select "MPEG-2 6.2Mbps 2 Pass" and drag it onto the job. You'll see that a new, small "panel" is created. This panel represents an output target. This particular target will create your M2V file when you eventually submit the job.
Then, separately drag an appropriate audio preset, for example "Dolby Digital Professional 2.0" onto your job, making sure to drop it in open space, and not overwriting your existing MPEG-2 output target. You'll now see that there are two output targets for your job. One generates an M2V, the other generates the audio as an AC3 file.
Submit the job, and you'll get an M2V video file and an AC3 audio file. Import both into DVDSP4, put them together in a Timeline, and you're good to go.

QUICKTIME OUTPUT QUESTIONS (4 dumb ones but I don't know)

I need to output my project file as an uncompressed 4.2.2. 10 bit SD quicktime of my 89 minute edit (using that to transfer to digibeta at an outside studio). I'm on fcstudio 2.
Here is the dumbness...
As I'm going to take it to a transfer place where I notice the people working go blank if you mention color space, bit rate, up-convert issues...should I in advance include on my quicktime I bring them:
1. the 1.85 matte output on picture
this is a 4:3 sd dv sourced picture. Outputting the file is double the memory and I've had issues nesting to output in order to matte with my memory when I output..."out of memory" when memory seems to be there is an issue on the apple boards and seems to come up sometimes, sometimes not ..but I don't want to render my file TWICE in order to have a file with a matte on nor do I want someone else to render the file again with a matte on it.
2. bars and tones
How many seconds MINIMUM do I need of them anyway?
And if I'm going to BOTHER reusing this output to create an mpeg 2 file (or should I not bother and just use a quicktimes settings self contained output for the mpeg 2?) is this ANOTHER reason to NOT put on the bars and tones? Must I should just be making a bunch of different outputs?
3. a countdown with tones or click
Does final cut have choices of countdowns? I don't see it in the fcp6 effects choices am I not looking in the right place? (I'll check the manual)
4. Is there a source for film fbi warning logos without being forced to go somewhere to author a dvd because they have it? anyone have a website to get this off of?
5. Does it matter if I use the quicktime settings as is and have my settings on my project show the compressor as uncompressed 10 bit or should i just skip exporting it to quicktime settings and instead just go right to compressor?
6. If I'm going to be using another compression to transfer to mpeg2s down the road, do I need to bother including chapter markers on the output I'm using to transfer because after that goes on digibeta, the digibeta is going to be upresed to hdsr as a widescreen then downconverted back to sd as one of the formats.
Thanks

To be honoust: I do not understand all your questions.
But the main question here is I think:
How is this outside studio putting the film to Digibeta.
If they are using Final Cut Pro for that, you could setup (a copy of) your timeline as 10-bit Uncompressed. And give that to them, AS WELL AS ALL YOUR FOOTAGE. So this implies that your project needs to be well organised and all on the removable drive your going to take with you.
If not, there are other ways.
Making a 10 bit timeline and export with current settings might also help.
Or applying the matte can be done different than nesting for instance.
You can create a matte in Photoshop for instance. Or download my free letterboxer Genterator plugin at http://www.lasserij.nl/fcp or use the one of Andy Mees. It makes it possible to render parts to prevent your macjine running out of memory.
Your MPEG 2 questions are a little vague to me. As well as "film fbi warning logos". What are those?
About bars and tones. Depends on where you live and who is going to broadcast your film. Every TV station can provide you with their 'delivery-specs' (specifications). films usually start 01:00:00:00 or at 10:00:00:00 (I always forget which of them is UK and which is USA; Here in Holland we just use a starting TC of 00:02:00:00, which is very unusual in the rest of the world, I think). But you also need to consider the loudness of the Tone. Is it -12 dB, -14dB, -18dB, -20 dB? And at what level does the mix need to be done (Or is it mixed extarnally?)
In other words: Find out what you need exactly (again: delivery-specs), before starting to think about how to output.
Rienk

Extracting video metadata from .mov files using QuickTime SDK for Windows

I'm trying to create a service which will process .mov files and extract some statistical information from it, such as length, bitrate, video height / width , and if it's possible info about audio, such as audio levels number of channels etc.
I've downloaded a sample application which came with SDK and it uses a visual control (Asp.net) to load file url into and then extracts a Movie object which has most of the info I need.
problem:
I don't have ability to load a visual control as my program is a service application. Can someone tell me how it's possible to load movie object without using visual control and fetch all the metadata I need.
Thanks
shorkun

QT does not export sound from muxed mpeg files: QT Mpeg Limitations. This freeware should do the trick: Mpeg StreamClip
If the mpegs in question are mpeg-2 you will need to buy the mpeg2playbackcomponent from Apple ($20 US). Note that these programs will not work with encrypted Hollywood movies.

Quicktime Pro for Windows

I bought Quicktime Pro for windows because of the beautiful advertisement. It had to be possible to convert every video into every format possible.
I tried to convert several mpg en mov files (from Sony camera) into mp4 and 3GP. Playing of these mpg and mov- files in QT is not a problem, even with audio. So it doesn't seem a codec problem. But after exporting these files into other format, there is no audio anymore.
If I change a mov or mpg file and save it in the same file-format, audio is not corrupted.
What is it that I do wrong?
Dell Inspiron 9300 Windows XP

QT does not export sound from muxed mpeg files: QT Mpeg Limitations. This freeware should do the trick: Mpeg StreamClip
If the mpegs in question are mpeg-2 you will need to buy the mpeg2playbackcomponent from Apple ($20 US). Note that these programs will not work with encrypted Hollywood movies.

Mpg and 3gp files

I am new to imovie and having trouble getting past the first step!! I cannot get any of my files to import. They are all .mpg and .3gp files. What can I do to make them import? HELP!!

QT does not export sound from muxed mpeg files: QT Mpeg Limitations. This freeware should do the trick: Mpeg StreamClip
If the mpegs in question are mpeg-2 you will need to buy the mpeg2playbackcomponent from Apple ($20 US). Note that these programs will not work with encrypted Hollywood movies.

Add existing video to iMovie theater

Hey Gang
I have about 250 home videos that I current have access to via Home Sharing to my Apple TV. I've upgraded to Mavericks and the latest iMovie and I'd love to get all my old videos into iMovie Theater, anyone know of a quick way to do this?
Thanks in advance.
Max

thanks justin ... but i think i haven't explained
myself correctly ... so here i'll try again:
i click file then import and a new window apears for
me to select wich file i want to import then i select
my video and then open, then instead of importing my
video an alert message opens and says "couldn't open
file, skipping it and continuing" and nothing gets
done i have tryed .mpg .avi .mpeg
another question what video formats are supported by
imovie?
thank you!
.avi is definitely not supportive toward imovie. .avi has a problem with quicktime for some strange reason, happens alot to me, but you can download ffmpegx that will convert your .avi to supportive quicktime formats. imovie should support .mov and .mpeg, as long as quicktime can read it.

Mpeg-2 flags, dvdsp, and 23.976 video question

just got through this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9786956
and have a remaining question. i looked at the m2v file in
mpeg streamclip and i see:
Video Tracks:
224 MPEG-2, 720 × 480, 4:3, 23.976 fps, 7.70 Mbps, upper field first
is the 'upper field first' just a flag to tell how to deal with
this file? or is it stating that the file is interlaced with the
upper field first?
the intent is to make a progressive dvd at 23.976. the original
material is film, captured and edited at 23.976, progressive. the
material was captured off of an old projector, a frame at a time,
with a digital still camera, so the original has no interlacing
or fields. this went to make an image sequence, which was rendered
to a qt movie at 23.976, also progressive, no fields. it was then
output through compressor to the m2v file which produced the mpeg
streamclip stream info dialog quoted above.
thanks,
BabaG

BabaG wrote:
is the 'upper field first' just a flag to tell how to deal with this file?
Yes, it's just a flag.

MPEG-4 Question...

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