Question about Final Cut Express 4

I'm editing videos I shot with a Sony CX100 this model only shot in AVCHD.
After I finish editing and export will not find a codex ideal for video that's perfect without being dashed
Anyone have any solutions or tips?
Or is it better if I buy Final Cut Pro once and for all.

Convert the original AVCHD files into AIC at the same settings you recorded, then import the resulting AIC files into an FCE project.
-DH

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Noob Question about final Cut express

Hey I am using FCE to create a home video atm, and I am trying to create a Title Screen out of Livetype, I'm not really versed in the mac so when I was setting up the preferences for FCE I just kind of took all the defaults without reading or looking. In retrospect a terrible idea, anyway to make a long story short the Title I have created in Livetype keeps saying Unrenderd when I try and place it onto the timeline and view the clip. My best guess would be that the settings are not matching up but I don't know how to check the FCE settings, any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Regardless of whether or not your settings are correct or not the LiveType project in the timeline will have to be rendered.

Question re Final Cut Express Capabilities

I'm about to make the jump from another editing system over to Final Cut Express 4.
One of the things I want to be able to do is line up and load three different angles from three different cameras and be able to edit "on the fly" as the scenes play. I have a concert video, shot in a studio, with three cameras on tripods. Now I've got three tapes and I want to load them all into memory and then crossfade or cut between angles on-the-fly.
As well, I want to be able to shoot interviews with two cameras, each one pointing at the different people interview. Can FCE handle two different simulataneous inputs and then store the scenes in such a way that I can then cut between the two during the editing process?
Is there additional software or hardware needed for this? In my ten-year-old editing machine I've been using, this can be done ... but it's a major workaround and a major effort. And in the later versions of my same old machine, they had a feature called "Quad Cam" which showed up to four scenes on your monitor playing simultaneously, but it was expensive and needed a fast processor, which I didn't have. I suspect my new MacBook Pro will handle this, assuming FCE4 is able to do it.

Hi
The Multi Camera function in FCP is very time saving. And there are other functions
in FCP that might add to the value to take the leap.
The Color correcting tool was so much better and Color included (even more sofisticated)
DVD-Studio Pro
AND - Compressor !
Still to get more than one Camera to hard disk in live.
I tried a simpler version of this "Capture Magic HD" - only SD but
on a PowerBook G4 1.5GHz
one extra FW-port on a PSCIA (or whatever) card - to get an extra individual FW-port
and TWO Cameras in real-time download to internal hard disk.
EACH Camera Must have a true FireWire port - not a split one as on Mac 400/800
(they are one and the same)
It worked as a charm. Ready to be edited immediately after Capture.
Yours Bengt W

Thinking about Final Cut Express

I am planning on getting an HD camcorder further down the line. For now all I have is my digital camera that records video. My question is, can Final Cut Express 4 work with .mpg and .mov files? And if I get FC4, is there any reason to still use iMovie? In other words, can FC4 do everything iMovie '09 can and more?

in addition ..
I was an iM enthusiast since vers2..
now, I'm a switcher - I like the options and control FCE offers, allthough the '1 click only' attitude of iM is still seductive
example: Ken Burns.
reading this (=the FCE) board, we frequently see posts asking for plug-ins etc to add the convenience of KB as in iM (two frame handles, done).
you have to understand the concept of keyframing and timelines and xyz-coordinates to create a KB effect in FCE - seems to be complicated, but offers you much more than iM ever did, incl. a simple zoom-to/from-zil ..
perhaps, you miss 'Themes' in the beginning.. after a while, you produce your own 'Themes' in FCE!

Question about Final Cut Studio 3/Final Cut Pro 7

Last year I bought Final Cut Studio 2 and got a student discount.
I was thinking about upgrading to Final Cut Studio 3, but I saw a post that said you can't upgrade if you have the academic version. First of all, is this true, and secondly how can I tell if I have the academic version?
If I can't upgrade, I can't afford to buy the whole package again. And surely I should have been informed of this! But can I edit a project on Final Cut Pro 6 and then work on it on Final Cut Studio 7, and back again? I presume not, but it's worth asking because I'm pretty much screwed if not and I can't get the upgrade.
Thanks

I want to upgrade because the macs at uni have upgraded, and I don't live near the uni I attend so it isn't practical for me to stay in their edit suites till late like everybody else does. I only bought the mac and final cut studio last year for this reason! So I prefer to edit from 2 machines: Mine, when I can, and the ones at uni when I'm collaborating with the 'crew'.
However, I cannot see academic version written anywhere. And I know this is going to make me sound even more stupid than I already do, but I can't remember if I got the student discount on Final Cut, or whether it was just on the mac. Does anyone know where I should be looking. I've checked the 'about final cut pro' details and looked through the packaging (and my emails for the receipt) but I cannot see anything.
Thanks

2 Questions about final cut pro 5

My first question is quite simple, I know that previously final cut pro could only use up to 2.5GBs of memory, now I'm just a bit curious if it can use more since leopard is a 64-bit OS. Right now I'm using Final Cut Studio 1. I'm just asking this question since I intend to get an additional 4GB of ram (Right now I only have 2GB) I'm going to get Muskin's MacPro memory. I generally run my system down to about 200MB of free memory and sometimes down to 10MB when I'm using photoshop in conjunction to FCP. What does everyone think about getting an additional 4GB?
Thanks for the answers.
Okay, to not make two posts I'm give me final question/Problem. Ever since I've upgraded to Leapord I noticed that the playback quality in the canvas and viewer is poor. There is bad gamma. What I mean by that is that i'm getting extremes in color, I have areas that look normal followed by areas of over saturated color. It's more on the over saturated side though. Besides that the play back quality is poor, even though my sequence settings are at "Best" for video processing. I also seem to get jagged lines on things like railings, people's shoulders, and on other edges. My picture quality is grainy, however there are no artifacts. Even on the FX transistions I get the jagged lines on edges of oh say page peels and what not.
Now when using DVD player or watching my MPEG2's on DVD Studio, they play poorly too. The image is clear however I get the horizontal lines when there is motion. Now when I put one of my DVD's in my DVD player (not computer) the problem goes away and everything looks fine. This is less of a problem (the horizontal lines), but I don't understand the poor playback quality.
The video looks fine on my external NTSC video monitor.
I have the GeForce 7300 graphics card, with the 24" samsung 245BW. I upgraded to 10.5 on a clean install.
Thanks a lot everyone!!

Thanks for my memory question!
However I'm still getting poor looking footage. Even when I open up my source clips and play them they look poor in quality. I'm getting the horizontal lines on everything that moves and corners are not sharp, they look distorted and jagged. I never had this problem before I'm not sure whats the cause or the solution. Even the footage from Final Cut Studio's tutorial looks bad (grainy, strange contrast, jagged corners and lots of horizontal lines). However the edges on my footage look a little more jagged. I think i mentioned it already but the FX transitions that are page peels, cube spins...etc give me jagged edges too.
I removed flip4mac and all other non-apple codecs too.
ugh i hate computers sometimes
-Tom

Questions about final cut studio 7 and motion 5

Hello!
I have two questions:
1. How do I find all the updates to the final cut studio? Last came out before the final cut pro x came out.
2. Works Motion 5 good up to final cut pro 7? Will there by any problem to use both prorammene against each other? And if so, what kind of problem can arise?
I would be grateful if someone could tell me this because I had settings alert Motion 4 (which now crashes at startup). And considering buying Motion 5 for I will not have to be automatically installed again my whole system that works one hundred percent. The job I would rather not do.
I'm not so good English so I hope you understand what I mean.
Can any help me for this little crisis I have a lot of work left and wait. :-(

This I have done to run instaleringen the entire final cut studio re-enter. Ran software product update. Have checked the final cut pro and then I have version 7 and version7.0.3 as I had before.
Before this, I have thrown the preference files for Motion 4, but disk utility to repair permissions on the system drive, I have not used.
But how can a fjærne entire final cut studio package also put it in again so we have aclean new installation of the programs?
How can we explain that this has happened? Just what I do not understand.
Are happy for all the tips I get. For I dread to put reindeer speakers the whole thing sinceit worked so well as it did before this happened.
Thanks to all who will help me. I will be very happy if this can be solved in an easymanner without having to spend a whole day on automatically installed everythingagain.
ke

Question about Final Cut Pro X and miniDV's

Hi,
I'm thinking in buying Final Cut Pro X and use it to import and edit many hours of footage that I have on miniDV's tapes.
I've heard that to work with miniDV's, Final Cut Pro X is not great, especially regarding timecode, etc. True?
Any thoughts and advises? Many thanks!

My experience is if you're shooting SD then you shouldn't have a problem unless you are trying to load a full hour. When I tried that, the computer went crazy and loaded the video as thousands of clips just a few frames long.
That was supposed to be for a multicam shoot. I went back to FCP 7 where I've never had a single problem after at least 80 multicam projects with as many as eight cameras.
I'll have to try it again in FCP X now that there have been two updates since my last try.
I've also used HDV mini DV tapes shot with a Canon HV40. The video looked great in FCP X and I had no problem with clips that were 2-3 minutes long.
I did not load my HDV clips as ProRes in FCP X because, when I did try it, they looked like total crap. I was afraid my finished exported video would also look like that.

Can you write about Final Cut Express?

Hello All,
I recently read this about a U.S. based filmmaking magazine that is looking for some writers:
"I am looking for someone to write an article each issue about digital facets of Super-8 filmmaking. For example, how to dump your files on to a PC or Mac. How to edit and add special effects, different programs to use to edit etc. etc. In other words, a series of "how to" articles strictly on the digital end of things. The idea of adding a little "digital" knowledge is to broaden the possible base of readers. Also I am in need of someone to write a review (4x a year) of a current music video that incorporates some Super-8 in it. Pay is $75 for each article, and the article need only be one complete page."
If you are interested you can contact the editor (Chris Cottrill) at [email protected] You can view their website at www.super8today.com
Mike

One snag I can see is that a page or so would not be sufficient to explain how to use FCE.
It would be plenty for giving an overview of the main features, but why not simply copy the info from the Apple adverts ?
Ian.

Final Cut Express vs. Final Cut Express HD

I am confused between Final Cut Express and the Final Cut Express HD. All the time I though I am using Final Cut Express HD version 4.0.1 which should be capable to capture HDV tapes (to my understanding) until lately I try to capture a tape shoot by a HDV camera (miniDV tape shoot by Canon) but was NOT successful. When I check back my application by opening a final cut project window >,About Final Cut Express, it shows I am using version 4.0.1, but I can’t capture the HDV tape shoot by the HDV camera. I went back to my application folder, I found I have 3 different Final Cut Express versions there which is including version 1.0.1 size 11.7 MB created Jan 25/03;version 3.0 size 160.3MB created Jan 25/05 (this version having HD wording at the end) and version 4.0.1 size 239.4MB was created Nov 6/07. Do I have to delete the version 1.0.1 and 3.0 to make the version 4.0.1 work well or something else in the system that I don't understand such as some kind of configuration should be set/change? Thank you in advance folks. By the way, some one can walk me through how to connect an old Mac 17” monitor to my new 27” iMac so that I can move the Canvas window over (I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask this question here, if not, I apologize)? Thank you guys.
PS

Thank you Tom
How everything connected: : Using Firewire 400 from Sony HC52 to the tower firewire port.
What setting on the media: Format: – NTSC Use :- DV-NTSC
What setting you’re using in Final Cut: : I look into Final Cut > System Setting but don’t
know which tab containing the answer. please
give me direction.
Version of the software of the OS: OSX 10.5.9
Quick Time 7.6.6
I hope I got most of the answer. Thank you again
PC

Treating source with 4:3 info as 16:9 possible with Final Cut Express?

I want to switch from Premiere Elements 3 + PC to iMac + Final Cut Express. But I need some help to make this decision.
The digital PAL format is with square pixels 768x576 and with rectangle pixels 720x576.
There is no difference for widescreen format, the pixel width is just only interpreted with factor 1.422.
Problem: Most HD/DVD set top recorders are not putting the widescreen information to recorded material. Unfortunately, most software for video cutting is not able to handle this source as 16:9 format and is interpreting this as 4:3.
FYI: Usually with source from DV cams having widescreen capability, there are no such problems.
Premiere Elements has the possibility to right click on source and say "Treat source pixel as PAL Widescreen 16:9 (1.422)".
I often edit material recorded with set top HD/DVD recorder.
For this reason, this function is essential to me.
Question: Has Final Cut Express (HD) also a function like decribed above implemented?
I really would appreciate any reply and help.
Regards,
Roland

OK, many many thanks.
What about Martin and you mentioned of iDVD?
May iDVD (HD) not directly produce anamorphic DVDs? Is it necessary to use third parity software as you both mentioned?
Please aware, that I am about to change from PC to Mac - due to the basic message of the current Mac ads: On a Mac fits everything - and specially multimedia work is much easier and better...
Unfortunately I have no idea, where I may test (in Liechtenstein/Switzerland) all this stuff before buying... Im am missing somthing like "30 days fully functional free demo version to download etc. etc..." (with most PC software you can do this - even with Office 2007...)
Apple makes it not easy to switch from PC to Mac...
Notebook 17" Windows XP Pro Toshiba Satellite P100-344

IMovie 08, iMovie 6, or Final Cut Express

I just got a new Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera. It records in 1080i. I tried iMovie 08, but I don't like the export options. I used the iMovie 08 import .mov file and opened it in iMovie 6. I exported the video and it doesn't look that good. I'm thinking about Final Cut Express but I don't know how it integrates with iLife apps. What's the best option?

iMovie 08 imports AVCHD in full 1080i. The AVCHD is converted to Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080.
The issue comes when you render the project. The iMovie 08 presets max out at 960x540 for Apple TV. Apple TV looks very good because most TVs will upscale it back to 1920x1080.
It is possible to export to Quicktime in full 1920x1080.
However, then you have the problem of how to play it back.
You can play it back at 1920x1080 on your Mac, if your screen is large enough.
You can play it back on a Sony Playstation 3.
You can play it on a BluRay Disk Player.
Toast 9 permits burning a BluRay Disk in full 1920x1080. You will need a BluRay disk Burner for this. Toast 9 also lets you do a short AVCHD/Bluray disk on a regular DVD on a regular DVD burner, but you are limited to about 20 minutes of playing time.
If you burn to a normal DVD in MPEG2, you are limited to 480i, so that is the worst option.
Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

Downgrading from Final Cut Pro Studio to Final Cut Express

Will Final Cut Express let me use the Boris Title 3D Video Generator effect that I now use in Final Cut Pro Studio?
Does it have an outline text video generator effect?
Since I have DVDSP 4.1.2, will I be able to drag my exported non self-contained quicktime movie into DVDSP? I have read I can use iDVD.
I see from the tutorial (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/tutorials/) it does not have the ability to log clips for batch capture later but it does have a project button. Does anyone use that and can share what it does?
I have a Canon DV20 HD camera which I use for DV also. Since I have read that FCE will not read HDV from this camera, has anyone brought DV in using this camera?
Does anyone see any other negatives to downgrading?
I have been using Final Cut Pro from version 1.5 since it did what I needed it to do. Over the years they have added a plethora of packages to it, none of which I use. So why spend 700.00 to upgrade when I can spend 200 to get what I will use?
Thanks for your input.

Lots of questions:
"Will Final Cut Express let me use the Boris Title 3D Video Generator effect that I now use in Final Cut Pro Studio?"
Yes.
"Does it have an outline text video generator effect?"
Yes, but don't use. Use Title 3D.
"Since I have DVDSP 4.1.2, will I be able to drag my exported non self-contained quicktime movie into DVDSP?"
Yes. Or you can use Compressor, which you should have, to encode your video.
"I see from the tutorial (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/tutorials/) it does not have the ability to log clips for batch capture later but it does have a project button. Does anyone use that and can share what it does?"
It allows you to log your material first, selecting the pieces on the tape you want to capture and then going back and letting the machine capture the selected pieces.
"I have a Canon DV20 HD camera which I use for DV also. Since I have read that FCE will not read HDV from this camera, has anyone brought DV in using this camera?"
Never heard of camera.
"Does anyone see any other negatives to downgrading?"
What version are you using?

Will Shake 4.1 link to Final Cut Express 3.5?

Ok, all this stuff about working seamlessly with Final Cut Pro, but what about Final Cut Express 3.5?

As far as I know, it only meshes with FCP in the "send to Shake" way. You can still export your footage and bring it into Shake and do what you need to do, but there is no "Send to Shake" option.
Shane

"The application Final Cut Express has unexpectedly quit."

I've try everything I found on this site about this problem and it didnt work. I delete my preference I downloaded the new version of final cut pro, I re-installed the program twice and it still didn't mwork. Can anyone that had this problem help me with it. I never had even the chance to open the program since I got it, it just won't open at all.

Josiane
Are you talking about Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro? If this is a Final Cut Pro. problem you should be in their discussion group.
Mike

Question about Final Cut Express 4

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