Resolution, FCE-2 vs HD

I have used FCE-2 to create still image slide shows. Images are scanned at 1400 x 1050 to match the resolution of my canon projector. Not real happy with the loss of apparent resolution in the conversion from FCE to Quick Time [using H-264 is it??]. Cant figure out all this 1080i stuff; is FCE-HD going to convert with any higher apparent resolution? In other words, do I want to purchase FCE HD to improve my satisfaction with this type of use?

So, FCE-HD will give me up to 1080 x 1920? Thats plenty to match my projector, and image scan resolution of 1050 x 1400 so why would I want to use iphoto? Am I still losing some apparent res in the conversion somehow? I need much more capability than what iphoto provides. Yes, I'm looking at Boinx too.
!!!What is the highest res put out by FCE-2?!!! Is quicktime resolution limited as far as what it can process?- not viewing size...I realize that can be customized.
thanks
rick

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Poor Output Resolution FCE-iDVD5

I shot a project last week on a Panasonic DVX100 60i in simulated 16:9. Import into FCE went without a hitch. Editing went fine. The problem came up when I exported my sequences for DVD authoring in iDVD. My crystal clear resolution in FCE turned to pixelated picture with dulled colors. I could not find output resolution controls either in FCE or iDVD. Can anyone here give me any pointers for getting clean DVD authoring with iDVD?

iDVD 5 and 6 have two encoding choices: 'Best Performance' for putting up to 60 minutes of content on a single-layer DVD and 'Best Quality' for putting up to 120 minutes of content on a single-layer DVD. Despite the names Apple has given the two modes, for content under 60 minutes, 'Best Performance' will give you the best image quality.
iDVD 7 adds a third mode: 'Professional Quality' that is two-pass variable bit-rate encoding. It will take twice as long to encode as 'Best Quality', but for content between 60 and 120 minutes, is worth considering.
How long is your video clip and what encoding mode did you use?
F Shippey

What are the best sequence presets and settings to use in FCE for the best resolution with the least amount on strain on computer?

Hello!
Can someone please help me figure out the best settings to use in order to obtain the best resolution in FCE4 for a television show that is going to be sent out on full size Sony DVcam tapes, with 4:3 aspect ration and audio output at 48kHz? I am currently working with mixed media sources in Final Cut Express, and I am wondering what the best settings (presets and preferences) are, in order to provide the HIGHEST resolution possible, while putting the least amount of strain on my computer system?
I am importing mini DV-standard definition footage and still photos (from Canon Rebel camera, HD CMOS Canon camcorder that records in 1440x1080 at 48 kHz, and cell phone photos). For voiceovers I use the tools in FCE.
I use Voltaic (which I use thanks to recommendations from Apple discussion boards, love it!) to convert the footage from the HD CMOS-Canon HD VIXIA (HG 20) camera, and then I am using print to video to output onto Sony DVcam tapes (full size). This is for delivery for a television network that broadcasts in Standard Definition, so I need to produce the highest resolution and best quality possible that also puts the least amount of stress on my computer system.
If anyone has any recommendations, help, or sources that can help me answer this question I would be greatly appreciative.
Thank you!
Susan Kayne

This is happening because your video clip properties do not match your sequence settings. This is always a problem when you try to insert video from multiple camcorders/cameras (that use different video codecs, frame sizes & rates) in a single sequence.
It will help a lot if you provide more specifics - what FCE easy setup did you use to create your sequence? For your DV footage, are you using standard 4:3 DV or anamorphic 16:9 DV clips?
If you plan to export to standard def (DV/DVCAM) and are mixing DV from a miniDV camcorder, stills, cell phone images and AVCHD then I would suggest that you use the DV NTSC easy setup for your sequence. Use MPEG Streamclip or similar utility to convert your non-DV video (your AVCHD video) to QuickTime/Apple DV-DVCPRO NTSC. Then all your video will match your sequence settings. Yes, you will have to crop the AVCHD footage to 4:3 and you can do that in MPEG Streamclip.

FCP & FCE Resolution

Hello
I want to know what differences in quality(resolution) between FCP and FCE
Thank You
Adolfo

FCE supports DV, HDV and AVCHD fixed resolution video only.
DV can be captured as DV-NTSC/29.97fps or DV-PAL/25fps
HDV and AVCHD are transcoded to Apple Intermediate Codec during capture/ingest.
HDV and AVCHD are supported at 720p30, 1080i50 and 1080i60.
Using DV or Apple Intermediate Codec, you are unlikely to see any qualitative differences between FCE and FCP.
FCP, however, supports many more codecs/frame rates/resolutions.

What is the best format to use for still photos in FCE that will produce the highest resolution?

Hello,
Can anyone recommend the best suggested format for photo stills in FCE that will provide the highest resolution and best quality output, to be broadcasted on a Standard Definition television network?
Thanks,
Susan Kayne

Personally, I prefer uncompressed TIFF or PNG. But many times it won't matter ... you'll be dropping the images into an SD Sequence, so they will lose resolution on output.
-DH

Imported quicktime files lose resolution when exported from FCE

I am having trouble with quicktime files losing resolution after I add titles and transitions to them in FCE.
I'm doing some video morphing so I use different software to create the quicktime files, and then I import them into FCE in order to add titles and transitions, and then I want to export again as quicktime files.
The problem is, when I export the completed movies from FCE, the quicktime file section of the movies ends up being a much lower resolution than when I had imported it. I am using all the same compression settings throughout: Sorenson 3, Best, Frame rate 15 fps. The movies are 1001x751 in size.
Any ideas on how to get the movies to come out as crisp and hi res as the original clips?
Thanks.
FCE 2.0.3 Mac OS X (10.4.5)
FCE 2.0.3 Mac OS X (10.4.5) Quicktime 7.0.4

Sorenson 3 is a web compression codec. You need to create your videos in DV NTSC at 720x480 at the 29.97fps. That the format that's specified in FCE.
All the best,
Tom

FCE - FCE HD: resolution independant?

Greetings,
I'm looking for a screencast editor (using iShowU / Snapz Pro to capture clips). Are either FCE or FCE HD capable of resolution independant settings? The main goal is to edit iShowU / Snapz Pro clips, add narration / music, and create a great looking screencast for the web.
I'll be more specific if i need to, just let me know
Thanks for your time!

Tom,
for my target screencast projects i use...
Snapz X Pro for all of my screen shot work for Screen, Objects, and Selections.
iShowU for all of my 'in game' real time compression while inside of a given game application. where Snapz would have to render afterwards, this is done on the fly with little system resources using iShowU. also with iShowU being i use it inside of a game, i can simply set up hot keys and record / stop / pause without waiting for rendering!
i use them both :P

FCE Import Issues with 720p resolution (from Panasonic GH1)

I cannot import 1280x720, 50fps videos from my Panasonic GH1 using the log and transfer window. If I try, the system crashes. Still they play in the preview window. With full HD everything works fine. I would assume that this format is not supported, since it does not show up in the easy setup menu (only 1920x1080 and 1440x1080 available).
The files imported using iMovie08 can be loaded with no issues. I would assume this is because the have already been converted.
Does FCE definitively not support import of 1280x720 material or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks in advanced

Hi,
the GH1 shoots full hd 1980x1080 with 25fps (30 for US market). I prefer using 1280x720 (which seems to be AVCHD lite?) with 50fps (60fps for US) which reproduces movement better.
Imovie09 convert those formats (AVCHD 25fps and AVCHD lite 50fps) to AIC while keeping the original format and frame speed. FCE can import the AIC files at the different formats - this I can see from what FCE is telling me in the browser.
In FCE I mixed both formats (1080 at 25fps & 720 at 50fps) in a small project and managed to get this exported to 1080 or 720 at different frame rates. I have not yet figured out what how the movie quality compares to each other, but IT WORKS.
Unless I have forgotten something FCE seems to handle all these formats but crashes as soon as I try to import of 1280x720@50fps files.
Which in fact brings me back to my question why FCE crashes. With all this capability of handling the different formats I would not have expected a program crash during file import. Which in facts makes me doubt if there still is something wrong....
I guess I should better start reading the manual.
Good Luck

First Project - Poor resolution when working between FCE and LT

I've put together a 1 minute sequence in FCE 4 (1920X1080) and it looks great when I export to QuickTime movie.
I then use that movie as a background in LiveType, adding a bunch of titles and graphics.
If I then render the movie in LiveType the rendered movie chokes and skips. If I import it back into FCE and export it back to a QT movie, it looks poor - compression artifacts and the text doesn't look crisp.
Is there a better way to:
1) Sequence and edit my clips (1 min movie)
2) Add tiles/graphics throughout
3) Output to HD format
Thanks!

I figured it out.....
Rather than rendering the movie in LT and importing to FCE, I just imported the LT project itself. Working between the two apps simultaneously, I can position the text and graphics from LiveType, save, then instantly see the results in FCE.
Everything is looking crisper....

Resolution recommendations for HDV, FCE and iDVD

The Canon HV30 camcorder outputs HDV in 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/30F, 1080/24F, 1080/30p. Which of these would yield the best results from a workflow and image quality point of view through FCE and iDVD for creating a DVD to be used on an HDTV fed by a progressive-scan DVD player?
Can any of these formats be edited and then written back to tape without losing a lot of image quality?
Also interested if iMovie 9 is the same in these areas as FCE (which I already have).
Thanks in advance!
MikeR

So, it doesn't matter what I shoot in - the quality will be equal no matter if it's progressive to start with or interlaced? I might have thought that keeping things progressive all the way through would be the best for a DVD played on an HD set.
MikeR

Poor resolution in FCE of JPEG photos

Can someone tell me why my JPEG images look bad (jagged edges and blurry) with FCE? I import them into FCE using both medium and high JPEG quality. They initially look good in the viewer but after I add them to the timeline and render, the quality is terrible in the canvas. I even burned it to DVD thinking it may just be in FCE but it carried over onto the DVD. It seems to be worse when I add keyframes and motion to the still images. Is there a timing or format issue here? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

OK, thanks for doing that.
You need to realize you are placing your very nice JPEGS into a timeline that is smaller (by several times) the size of your original, and is using a (by current standards) a minimum/low quality compression codec. When FCE reduces the size of your JPEG from 2000 px wide to 720, it throws out a lot of pixels.
This means that something has to give - and what gives is image quality and smoothness. A trademark feature of the DV codec is jagged edges along curved or diagonal lines, and a "shimmering" on highly detailed areas of the still image.
This loss of image quality can be acerbated when doing motion effects on the images.
To help with this try the following:
On the first JPEG you use apply a slight Gaussian Blur to it. Effects Tab > Video Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Drag the filter to the clip on the timeline, double click on the clip you just applied the filter to, and in the Viewer window, click on the Filters Tab. Set the blur radius to 1.
Render that clip and see if it improves it any. If it does, click on the clip with the blur applied, and type Command + C to copy it. Then select all the other JPEGS in your sequence by holding the Shift key down when clicking on them. Once the rest are all selected, type Option - V and from the paste attributes window, click on the check box for filters. Click OK, and the blur will be applied to your remaining images.
You will need to re-render all those clips.
Hope this helps.
MtD

Compatibility of Sony HC1 to Capture in FCE 3.0.1

I’m attempting to Capture HD video from a Sony HC1 camcorder to my iMac G5, EyeSight, Pre-Intel, 2.1 Ghz, 250G Built-In Hard Drive via Firewire. (No external FW hard drives are involved.)
I’m using FCE 3.0.1 which Apple considers compatible with the Sony HC1.
I have no problem capturing video from this camera if I select Sequence Preset DV NTSC 48Khz, but that captures 720x480 resolution.
If I select Apple Codec 1080i60 via Easy Setup, and go to File-Capture, select Capture Now, the preview window appears, but is black, no video.
The HCI camcorder LCD display is showing video but my Preview window is black like the video has been cut off. Anyone with any ideas why this is happening?
I wish there were a site that gives a step by step “setup” for capturing HD video from the Sony HC1 HD camcorder using FCE 3.0.1, or other major camcorders.
I called Apple and was told my version of FCE, purchased in Feb’06 is no longer “supported” because the newer version (FCE 3.5) is now being sold. They suggested that I go to the Apple support website for possible help, which I did do. The Apple rep listened politely to my problem but was unable to give me even a small clue, suggestions to try. He did offer to upgrade me to FCE 3.5 but then admitted that the Sony HC1 is not compatible with the FCE 3.5 version.
I found this post from CHRIS on April 15, 2005:
“A good question to ask at this point is does the Sony HC1 work properly with Final Cut Express HD in HDV mode?
Also is it true that Final Cut Express HD does not edit HDV in it's native format and FCP HD does?----CHRIS”
Has anyone determined an answer to this question that was posed over a year ago? I hope I don’t have to purchase FC Pro Studio to do HD!! If so, Apple needs to rename this software product minus “HD”.
BoBo
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 2.1 GHz with i Sight & 20" Display
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 2.1 GHz with i Sight & 20" Display

Hi(bonjour) BoBo!
I do not know this Sony model but for my FX1 the letters "HDV" or "DV" appears in LCD screen upon shooting.
I'm pretty sure that your output is HDV, so you have to set FCE HD to Apple intermediate codec 1080i50 or 60 (depending of your localized model of camcorder-European or US) to capture HDV material (wich will be handled by Apple Intermediate Codec, no in native format). On the FX1, there is a "blue" diode on side of camera and near the firewire socket to show the current mode of export and an indication on LCD.
You can also set the camcorder to downconvert your HDV shooted material to standard definition (SD) on exporting. With this setting you have to select DV-NTSC or DV-PAL (depending of your localized camcoder) in FCE HD to import the downconverted footage in SD DV format.
See the VCR output menu to select the desired output format.
Finally you can shoot your movie in SD instead of HDV (see camcorder's manual, camcorder's menu: format and screen) in 4:3 or 16:9 format. With this setting you have to select DV-NTSC or DV-PAL (depending of your localized camcoder) in FCE HD to import the footage in SD DV format.
Seeing HDV (in Apple intermediate codec format) in Final Cut Express HD is AMAZING on a HD cinema display: 1920X1080 pixels of pure color and details.
Remember: all "easy setup" changes will take effect for new sequence only.
Good Luck!
Michel Boissonneault

Question about resolution of project vs. res of material to be imported

i am trying to put a project together that consists of still images (which i can prepare in any resolution) and some film material (avi and mov) which comes in the size of 640x480, square pixel aspect ratio.
what do i have to do in order to set up a new project in FCe to so i can import this film material and be able to create an output that can be burned on a dvd and will play on regular dvd players without distortion (would it need to become something like 720xsomething?)?
my available tools are FCe 3.5 and QTpro. any help will be appreciated!

ok! - the key hints about selecting "DVCPRO NTSC" and "select the motion tab and tweak the scale and aspect ratio settings" is probably what i was seeking...
i wonder what happens to the material when i change frame rate from 35 to 29.7 (i need to do this, right?)
some possible quality loss is not concerning me in this particular case because i will have sepia and heavy grain and stains as photoshop layers over the whole project to make it worn and look old. blurryness will be ok as long the jpg artefacts stay not too large and distinctly boxy.
i will try this out - thank you so far! frame rates and codecs are still a huge mystery for me. i am used to dealing with all kinds of resolutions for web or offset print use, there i have dimensions at a certain number of dots per inch and once the system is understood, it is easy to accomplish about anything.
i wonder if there is somewhere a source that lists video and film sizes, resolution frame rates and codecs and explains it all, along with examples when to use which...!

When i crop a video using FCE, how can i export just the selection?

When using the cropping tool with FCE 4, say i just crop out a single square from near the top of the video. if i were to export this video now, the new video would consist of the cropped out selection surrounded by black. is there anyway i can export the cropped out selection without the black? i'm not looking to rescale the image, just to remove the selection at it's original size without all the black around it.

FCE's a fixed-resolution editor and there's no way to export at the resolution of your cropped image unless it matches one of the sequence presets. In FCP you could set a custom resolution and export as that.

Resolution Problems in Final Cut Projects

I'm still using Final Cut Express 4.0.1 and I notice there isn't a section for questions on that version, that this is the only FCE section. (I'll be upgrading eventually to FCP, but don't want to until I know I'll be making full use of it and actually need it.)
I have raw material that I converted, using iSkySoft Media Converter, to .mov files with a 720x480 resolution (the same resolution the original files were in).
Then I opened FCE, created a project, and imported the files. I then dropped one file in the view and made rough cuts, taking out whole sections of the video, and dropping them into a sequence in the project. At this point the video is unrendered and I had about 30 minutes of video, way more than I needed. I hit Command-R to render and the requestor said that'd take 2 hours. End of night -- went to sleep, but had woke up one time and it was still chugging away rendering and it was more than 2 hours later.
Then, when I trimmed it and did a test version, I exported a .mov file (doing the "flat" export without any settings) and it took a while to generate the file. When I loaded the .mov into Quicktime and looked at the info, the resolution was in HD.
I went back and checked my sequence and the properties said the resolution was 720x480.
Which leaves questions:
1) I thought FCE worked with .mov files internally. Why does it have to render the video from the .mov files (and re-render every time I make changes)? Is there a format I can convert to BEFORE importing into FCE so I don't have to wait so long for rendering? Perhaps settings I can use that'll match FCE's internal settings?
2) When importing my files into FCE, and reading the properties of the clip in the sequencer, it looks like the properties were of the original file the clip is from. What resolution is FCE actually working in and how can I change that resolution when I'm working with DVD quality images (720x480)?
3) Is there an easy way to just say, "These files are in 720x480, so keep it that definition all the way through start to finish" by working with settings?
4) Not quite the same thing, but it's close and I want to be sure I'm on target. Someone told me that when I have 4:3 video and 16:9 video files, that the project will take on the ratio of the first clip I use. Is this the first one I import or the first one I drop onto a sequence? And can different sequences in the same project have different resolutions? And does that first clip set the resolution as well as the ration?
Thanks for any help. I used to work as a pro editor back before everyone was doing it digitally and did some digital work for a while, but at this point I've forgotten more than I remember and I want to get back up to speed eventually.

Can you go to the Browser and right click the Sequence icon, then select Item Properties.
Post a screen shot or relay all the info please.
Do the same thing for a clip icon.
Final Cut Express>Easy Setups should be the first thing to be aware of using FCE.
When you select an Easy Setup this governs all Sequence settings until you change it.
Only NEW Sequences are affected by Easy Setup changes not existing ones.
Change can also occur when the first clip hits a New Timeline that doesn't match the Sequence setting,
you get a message asking if you would like to change it.
This method is like an auto Easy Setup selection that allows FCE to best guess, not the best way to set up a Project or a Sequence as it can get it wrong.
The right way is to know exactly what type of file is coming into FCE, dimension size, frame rate etc.
This file should match an Easy Setup exactly, if it doesn't, you will be plagued by continual rendering.
If the files/clips and Easy Setup match, no rendering is required for straight cuts editing.
If your incoming files do not match any Easy Setups then you use a third party app to transcode the files so they do match the Easy Setup selected.
Easy Setups have fine print that tells you about the type of file it wants to use.
Example: FCE>Easy Setup>DV-NTSC
This MAY be the one to match your incoming files of 720 x 480. Note that there are Anamorphic Easy Setups, these are used for 16:9 footage.
FYI: Changing the Formats and Rates popups gives you differing Easy Setup choices, select (all formats) and (all rates) to see them all.
Hope this gets you going.
Al

Resolution, FCE-2 vs HD

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