Upgrade FCE to FCP Apple Prores etc

Hi,
I just purchased my first mac a few weeks ago. I was deciding between purchasing FCE and FCP, and ended up buying FCE. None of the specs I read mentioned the 1440x1080 resolution limit on importing AVCHD, nor did I read anywhere that the import codec was limited to a heavily compressed AIC codec rather than ProRes.
I've only had FCE since July 1. Now that I realize that issue, I want to upgrade to FCP, but called an apple store in the area and they said there is no upgrade path from FCE 4 to FC Studio. Is there any way I can do this? I really like the software, but these limitations were not mentioned. It said AVCHD support and when I read about that further, there was no mention of the bad compression and resolution limits. The footage looks about as good as 720x480 DV.
Is there any way that I could upgrade my FCE 4 to FC Studio and make use of the ProRes codec and I hope full 1920x1080 resolution?
Thanks in advance!
Adnan Hussain

Adnan,
I am very interested in your post as a new user of FCE and a AVCHD camera user for awhile now. Can you tell us what your camera records in? Is is 1920 x 1080 i60, something else? Also what is the output you wish to use...SD DVD, Blu-ray DVD, Apple TV or internet.
My experience has been that with AVCHD, and most other formats I suspect, some loss of quality is to be expected during the editing process. Comparing clips from the camera to clips that have been imported to editing software and then exported to some other format is not an apple to apples comparison. ( no pun intended ). How the clips are imported and in particular how they are exported have a huge impact on the final result. The Pro res codec in FCP may offer some higher quality output, but at a much higher price and depending on what you want to view this on......it may not matter. So bottom line, as Ian has responded, in your case switching to FCP may not help.
One final question is how have you tried to export the movie, what was the work flow you used? There might be some settings that you can change to get closer to the results you desire.

Similar Messages

FCP Apple PRORES 422 (HQ) setting-how to export?

I am importing and dropping in scanned images from the storyboard into FCP and then importting and placing on the timeline some digital animated images which have been done in the format 1920x1080 24fps. They have been put through shake and we chose the setting Apple PRORES 422 (HQ) which I have then set the FCP settings to match that. Everything works fine in Final Cut but then when I export the timeline to make it into a Quicktime movie, the digital animated shots dont play properly, they like skip frames. Do you know anything about this and how I get it to play smoothly? I have tried everything I can think of and nothing is working!

First off, ProRes HQ is VASTLY OVERKILL for converted flash video. That is for 10-bit high end formats. All you gain in using that over ProRes 422 is file size.
Second, 640x432 is a non-standard frame size. 640x480 is more like it, but really, FCP would like to see 720x480. ProRes doesn't really work in RT with the dimensions you have.
Convert the FLV to something like DV50 or just DV. but you have to get the right aspect ratio, or things will require rendering. Or better yet, get the MASTER footage, and not a flash video.
Shane

Possible to EDIT in APPLE PRORES 422 in fcp 5.1?

Probably wishful thinking -- but I'm a few years removed from the current fcp and all of its exotic codecs...
My fcp 5.1 can READ apple prores 422, but I can't seem to create a sequence using that codec.
I get an error message that says "codec not found. You may be using a compression type without the corresponding hardware card".
OK, I get it, but why am I able to PLAY material in my viewer with that codec?
Hmmmm...is there some sort of work around to this, or am I just being delusional?
Thanks,
Mark

Ok, ok ... I get it... time to upgrade, time to upgrade.
I cringe every time I get a new client... oh my god -- are they gonna be shooting on XD cam (unsupported by fcp 5) -- will they have material that lives as apple prores? What exotic new codec will I be UNABLE to edit with?
I bought this G5 just before the intel chips were introduced -- I think I actually bought the last one standing....
It's been good -- actually, it's been great...
Thanks for the advice fellas, glad you were able to have a laugh at my expense!
Mark

Problems with Apple ProRes 4444 and alpha channels in Motion 4 after upgrade to Snow Leopard. Has anyone seen this?

We've just now upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard and are having a problem with Apple ProRes 4444 and alpha channels in Motion 4. A clip with an alpha which keyed perfectly before the upgrade, now will not key. If I convert the clip to the Animation codec, it keys perfectly. If I export the Motion project as a ProRes 4444 self contained movie, it will key when brought into FCP 7 but if I import the project into FCP 7, it will show the key in the viewer but not the canvas. Has anyone seen this or have any suggestions on how to correct this? Is it a bug?
Thanks,

Motion 4.0.3
It just doesn't seem to recognize the alpha at all.

Choppy video playback with FCP 6 and 5D footage already converted to Apple ProRes 422

I am trying to edit a film I shot on the Canon 5D using FCP 6. I converted my raw files from the Canon 5D to Apple ProRes (HQ) .
But as I try to work on the timeline everything is super choppy and drops frames constantly. I am trying to sync audio as well and it's been impossible since the video in not playing properly.
I have read many post and did everything you say to do, but no luck.
I have chosen the unlimited RT and still dosent wanna play right.
I'm editing off a 1TB G-RAID drive. It currently has 200GB left of free space, so that shouldn't slow things down. My computer has a 500GB Internal Hard Drive and I currently have 250GB of internal free space. Here are the specification of my computer:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name:          Mac Pro
Model Identifier:          MacPro3,1
Processor Name:          Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed:          3.2 GHz
Number Of Processors:          2
Total Number Of Cores:          8
L2 Cache (per processor):          12 MB
Memory:          18 GB
Bus Speed:          1.6 GHz
THis should be a powerful computer, at least thats what I tough when i got it. There has to be a solution to my frustration..please help!!!

Try transcoding to garden variety Pro Res for great quality, much smaller files, and less strain on your system.
Russ

Can I combine codec m2v1 with apple ProRes 422 (HQ) in same FCP X project?

Can I combine codec m2v1 with apple ProRes 422 (HQ) in same FCP X project?
Everything else is same. 29.97, fps, 1920 x1080, Linear PCM, 48kHz, mono, .mov
If not, could I add the logo animation after outputting to compressor using QuickTime 7?
I'm re-wrapping footage from Canon XF100, which is why m2v1. I like working this way to preserve original footage.
I just had my logo animated and designer matched everything except the m2v1. Providing ProRes 422 (HQ)
Thank you for your thoughts. I'd like to avoid changing my camera footage to Apple ProRes 422 (HQ).

Hi Mary,
I'm new to FCPX too!
When creating a new project, if you click on Use Custom Settingsand then ckick on the Custom checkbox in Video Properties, you can specifyexactly what you want!
If you need to change it after the project was craeted, I found that you can click and highlight on the project in the Project Library window, then go over to the "info" button . The Properties window will expand from the right side (above the "info" button . With Properties selected it will show you the present settings, if you need to change those settings, click on the icon of the WRENCH on the bottom of that dialog box (Properties). You can then change your settings.
Good luck, and happy cutting!
Jb (James)

Jumpy playback from image sequences rendered in Apple Prores and then exported to h264

I will start by saying I have been using FCP since 1.0 and am in no way new to this software, but this issue has me going crazy.
First the Specs:
MacPro 2 x 2.66 Quad cor Intel Xeon
16 gig Ram
OS 10.9.2
FCP 7.0.3 (sorry but I am not a fan of FCP10 at all)
In other words, a beast of a system that has played back everything I have ever built on it for years until now. So now for the issue: I work with an amazing 3D Max builder and we have created a building animation exported from that program into and image sequence ( we have tried JPG, TGA and PNG still all with the same effect). I open Quicktime 7 Pro, build the image sequence, save as .mov, import into FCP and drop it into my 1080p30 Apple Prores (HQ ... we also tried SQ) timelines. The timeline renders perfectly and I can play the video perfectly through my system out of Firewire 800 to my Motu V4HD device which then converts the signal to HDMI to my 55" LED TV. The video and playback is perfect.... until:
If I try to play back the same exact time line into an exported video file, the file will play back with random jumpyness in it. I say random since you can play it back 10 times and it will hiccup during playback at different spots in the video. If you review every frame in the file though using Quicktime 10, 7 or VLC viewer, every frame is perfect. So, it must be the data rate right? Wrong. I have exported now to H264 MP4, M4V, MOV , ect, etc at different data rates from 4mb to 40 mb per second. They all have the same randow jumpyness to it. So it must be my computer right? Nope. I have a Macbook pro that is more powerful than this machine and I rebuild the file using the same method (something I have done a thousand times before) and the exported file does the same thing on that machine. I had my friend do it on his machine... same thing. ERRRR....
We have even tried using After Effects and Premier to the same result. Rendered it straight from Quicktime Pro, same. Rendered it to 720p30, same. Render it to 24fps, same. I had another editor render it using whatever methods he wanted to use... same. Tried Compressor, SAME. Tried Adobe Media Encoder, SAME......We even, god forbid, used a PC running Premier and built the image sequence and rendered to h264 at 30fps, 5mbs.... @#$@#$ SAME!
We just remade the 3D Studio Max export into a 60fps animation since I thought that the individual frames we appearing too far apart and thus causing the jumpyness. That was causing the playback of the upclose objects flying across the screen fast to appear jittery, but not the random playback jumps. The 60fps did smooth out the animation greatly during fast flybys, but the playback jumps are still there in all players, QT, VLC, the web, etc.
I was starting to think this issue is realted to Mavericks, but since the PC did the same thing that is not it either. I have linked a sample of the clip below exported to 720p30, 25mbs... something that is much smaller than the original and should playback smooth very easily on any of my systems.
FYI: I have now opened numerous projects I have edited over the last few years and noticed that all of them are now jumpy, so this isn't just an image sequence issue. While the other projects don't use image sequences and instead are shot footage edited together, there is still the random jump (far less than the image sequence as you will see) but they are now there... ***? I have cleared preferences in FCP which helps for a short period of time, but once exported I get the same glitch.
As I said... I am stumped... ANYONE have ideas for me to try?
Here is a sample file for you all to see and please tell me if anyone does not see the issue after playing it several times in a row.
www.media3lv.com/switch/NORTH-sample-720p30_25mb-sec.zip
One last thing to note... my main goal for these videos is YouTube or Vimeo playback via our company website. I have a few other animations online right now using YouTube and the problem is also showing there. At first I thought it was just my videos, but I have looked at numerous YouTube videos now showing 3D animation and alot of them are jumpy.
www.supernap.com/supernap-building-design.html
www.supernap.com/supernap-tscif-exchange.html
These don't show the issue as bad since the camera fly is much slower, but why is this occuring and is it coming from my source, or is this a known youtube issue? I can program this using out own modules, but YouTube and Vimeo allow for multiple resolutions and a checker script which makes it easier to share over all devices at all quality up to 1080p.
Advice is welcome and appreciated?

I have tried at actual, full screen, using 1080p30 size from the original compressed to 4mbs (something my system can handle without blinking), 720p30, etc. etc. etc. Nothing stops the jumps. Even the activity monitor shows only 5%-15% processing being used by QT and/or FCP.
I plan to pull my old G5 out of the closet, it runs 10.6.8 and is still rock solid for video editing in FCP7. If it plays smooth on that 8 year old system then I know it's Mavericks. I'll try that tonight. It floors me though why the original 1080p30 will playback perfect via FCP and Motu, but once I turn of external monitoring and just try to play it via the preview monitor it is jumpy as **** and then the exported file does the same thing. So strange. I even deleted prefences of FCP and that does help with screen playback initially, but it always gets jumps in it after playing for a while.
I knew I should not have started using Mavericks and I HATE FCP10.

Exporting an Apple ProRes before compressing for SD-DVD or Blu-ray (or AVCH

Hello,
this is my question:
does exporting a sequence to an Apple ProRes Self Contained file helps to gain quality when compressing for SD-DVD or Blu-ray (or AVCH disc)?

Thanks for answering, Tom.
Let me try again, though. (Also, just thinking about the footage, forgetting about effects, titles, etc.)
Do you think that this applies to DV-NTSC and HDV sequences?
I've compared a DV-NTSC sequence exported out using:
DV-NTSC compression and one -using Apple ProRes.
They do look different. Wouldn't you agree to this?
What about HDV,
- is it erroneous to think that (when capturing) by transcoding to AIC or ProRes you are gaining some quality?
- or if you already capture HDV natively, it doesn't make a difference to export an ApplePro Res version to make a SD-DVD from?
I am concerned with this, because I shot once some HDV footage at night with a Sony Camera, going to a hard drive, and when I transcoded the files from the hard drive to use in FCP, (using MPEG streamclip) I noticed a relevant difference in how much the noise was noticeable on the HDV compressed files vs. the apple ProRes compressed files.
Have you ever seen these differences?
Thanks!!!

Long FCP user considering FCE or FCP on mackbook pro

I've been using FCP on my PowerMacs for years, since version 3. Right now I'm still using FCP 5.1 on my Quad PowerMac G5. I work in broadcast cable and but use my own computer for freelance gigs or personal projects.
I want to buy a new MacBook Pro, and am considering installing the Pro version or having FCE pre-installed.
Is there a side-by-side list of what FCE can't do and FCP can? I consider myself an advanced user of FCP and would be annoyed if I needed to do something on my laptop that FCE just can't do.
Also does anyone know, if I have Apple CAre and FCE is pre-installed and, say, the hard drive dies and must be replaced, they replace it with FCE pre-installed again at no charge? And will Apple Care try to resolve bugs/errors if FCE is pre-installed?

While I agree with Ian, I'd like to mention a couple of features that I expect FCP pro users might miss in FCE: +Media Manager+ and +Log and Capture+ (about other missing features: Render Manager, probably you can do without, source timecode display, time remap, etc. there are some plugins filling the hole..., etc.). Personally I can easily live without them... but I'm not a pro.
Another point: while you can easily migrate a project from FCE to FCP, you cannot do the reverse: you cannot edit an FCP project in FCE. So having FCP on one Mac and FCE on the other doesn't allow you to switch a project back and forth between Macs.
Piero

FCE or FCP?

Hello all,
I'm a complete newbie when it comes to video editing so I wonder why I went and purchased a Canon HV-20 (it's still in the box in case I need/want to return it! LOL)... and an associate at Best Buy told me all I'd need is iMovie HD.
However, there's a class available at a local community college that teaches Final Cut Pro and how to use a camera, etc.
So, I'm thinking about taking the class, but afraid I may be over my head...
I've heard that FCE is very much like FCP so I'm wondering that if I take the class, will I be able to come back on here and use FCE?
Also, it seems an advantage of FCP over FCE is that FCP works with "native" HD while FCE works with AIC (whatever that is!) LOL I read in another forum that native HD will be edited faster than something with AIC? Or is there another advantage of working with native HD over AIC?
Any tips on whether or not I should attempt FCE or FCP or just stick with iMovie HD..would be greatly appreciated.
As I said, I'm quite a newbie and I don't mind reading a manual... I just don't want to get lost within Chapter 1!
Thanks for any help/advice!

Far be it from me to disagree with my fellow Brit Ian, (Eh up, si thi...) I believe you have 2 options.
1) Learn iMovie on your own - As Ian says it's free and an excellent program for one who's new to video editing with a learning curve that's not as steep as FCP/FCE. You could then move up later.
The problem with that is that a complete newbie, you have to learn this on your own (unless you are also privy to iMovie classes) and I believe that it's easier to
2) learn the whole camera/FCP with tuition, than option 1.
My judgement is coloured by the fact that this is how I learned FCP, albeit on a full-time college degree course and I found it the best way but, of course, it's horses for courses. (Incidentally, I also learned iMovie concurrently, but soon decided to focus more on FCP.)
Your decision will be shaped by your requirements - How serious do you anticipate your interest being?
Do you prefer and find it more suitable for you to learn on your own or do you prefer the first hand help of tuition?
Are you prepared to make the additional investment to step up to FCE.
My advice - take the course - get FCE - then upgrade to FCP if and when necessary.

Why poor quality AIC & Apple ProRes HQ when compared to original video files!

First, I'm a long time PC user who has recently switched to Mac's and I'm rather picky about the quality of my videos.
Problem: I have HD video from a Canon HF S10 camcorder and Canon EOS 7D that looks fantastic on a PC... but looks very so-so once imported into a iMovie or FCE or FCP. I've tried all three programs using AIC and yes I've even tried Apple Pro Res HQ and still end up with very poor quality mov files when compared to the originals. Part of the problem (or benefit of a PC) is that the PC actually plays the original RAW MTS/M2TS/MOV files without any trouble and and they look unbelievable. Where as my Mac has to import/convert the file to AIC or Apple Pro Res HQ... so no matter what codec I use, my Mac produces video that is not even close to what I get out of my PC. My original RAW files are all 1920x1080 60i and are MTS files from the HF S10 and Mov files from the 7D. Even the original RAW Mov files produced from the 7D don't look as good on my Mac as they do on my PC. I even took a SD card with the original files down to the local Apple store to see how they look on a Macbook Pro and they still don't look like the originals on my PC. Also, all my comparisons are being done side by side on two 24" Apple cinema displays that are calibrated. Any ideas as to why the quality is just so-so when compared to the originals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If you're working in Final Cut Pro you should try that forum. What version of the software are you using? The AVCHD media should be ingested using log and transfer. The 7D media should be converted using Compressor. You don' need HQ, ProRes is sufficient. How are you monitoring the video? Are full size on a video monitor? All this should be explained on the FCP forum. FCE does not work with ProRes in any form.

Aren't FCPX and Compressor supposed to be able to export Apple ProRes 422 LT? I just bought FCPX and Compressor and there seems to be no way to transcode HDV clips to Apple ProRes422 LT. Before buying I read LACUG tutorial by R Taylor that says it can.

Aren't FCPX and Compressor supposed to be able to export Apple ProRes 422 LT? I just bought FCPX and Compressor and there seems to be no way to transcode HDV clips to Apple ProRes422 LT. Before buying these I read an LACUG tutorial by R Taylor that says it can.

Tom is right. Codecs are shared software system-wide ("Core Video"). If you cannot find the option with any software (such as MPEG Streamclip), you won't find it in Compressor or FCPX either. The Quicktime ProRes codecs is part of the FCP menu > "Download Additional Content" you need to make after install FCPX (or Compressor.) These "pro video" codecs are part of all "ProApp" licenses for video related software from Apple (QT7Pro, Motion, Compressor, Final Cut, etc....) [you can also download them here: http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1396]
Most articles/tutorials you read by "long time" users are apt to assume the reader has been working with pro-video on Macs since the days of disk installs (like they have). In those days, the installation of those codecs wasn't even really an option (well, it was if you did a custom install - but who *didn't* install all available codecs??), it was automatically installed with the main software. Since the "App Store" venue... things have changed somewhat.

Does CC 2014 eliminate the need to have Final Cut Pro and/or Compressor installed to access Apple ProRes 422?

Hello:
Just today, I was working on a Mac system that does not have any of the applications that I would have expected to need to have installed in order to do more than just decompress movie files compressed with Apple ProRes 422.
I was expecting to have to install Final Cut Studio 3, Final Cut Pro X, Compressor 4, and/or QuickTime 7 with the QuickTime Pro key; however, none of those applications are installed and I am able to create custom QuickTime Apple Pro Res422 Sequences in Premiere Pro as well as export using Apple ProRes 422. After Effects and Adobe Media Encoder also show all the Apple ProRes variations.
Does CC 2014 eliminate the need to have Final Cut Pro and/or Compressor installed to access Apple ProRes 422? Is it something happening on the OS or QuickTime level that would affect CC or CS6 in the same way?
I've done a web search, but haven't really come up with anything other than older articles about needing to have FCP installed (and I typically work on systems with Final Cut Studio 3 installed as well as CS6, CC, or CC 2014). If more detailed information is available, it would be great to be able to read up on it.
The system is a 21.5-inch iMac running Mac OS X 10.8.5, QuickTime Player 10.2, and Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014 (8.0.0 - I know an update is available for PrPro, but it's not my system to make that change).
Thanks in advance,
Warren Heaton

Hi Emil:
I use ProRes all the time as well, but I have Final Cut Studio on my workstations.
I had not come across MindPower009's YouTube video. That explains how ProRes could be showing up without FCP or Compressor.
So, the answer to my question would be, "No, CC 2014 does not eliminate the need to have Final Cut Pro and/or Compressor installed to access Apple ProRes 422; however, if you are willing to be in violation Apple's terms of use, you can install the ProRes codecs anyway."
Even though MindPower009's YouTube video comments claim "FREE and LEGAL", it's clear from both the Apple download page and the ProRes codecs installer that Apple expects you to own at least one of their applications.
Thanks again for the link!
-Warren

Why is the image brighter after converting H264 to Apple Prores 422 in Compressor ?

Hello -
Very strange situation, keep reading please!
I am using Compressor to convert H264 1080p footage from a D600, to Apple Prores 422HQ for editing. Normal.
I am using the default Quicktime Settings named "Apple Prores 422 (HQ)".
The converted file is a bit brighter than the original... Why is this even possible! I find this a bit problematic because I'm loosing some details in the whites, at a way too early stage for signal alterationt!
So I tried different other stuff that you will find interesting:
• changing gamma correction in the codec settings had no effect
• I can see the change happening already in the Preview window
• and this is the best one : if I apply a resize, to anything, like 1919 X 1079, or 1280 X 720... then the color change does not occur, even when exported! If I apply a resize to the same size, then the output is brighter again.
I am proof checking in Quicktime 7 of course, with "FCP compatibility" enabled and disabled.
I know this is a hot topic and there are many unsolved aberrations like this around this topic, but maybe there is something I don't get ?
Thanks

Apple are so thoughful for making us loose the discussion we clicked on after we log in..
Alex CVideo > I am so happy that you wrote about this
Yes: this is the exact problem. Very nice screencap, this is exaclty it (even if I said it 2 times now).
I have a little secret for you:
I read in another discussion saying that he had this problem too.
The only time I ever did in the entire Internet.
here it is :
this guy re-installed her entire system
mac os + final cut systems
and this time it worked.
Right now I prefer to convert to 1079p than risk this entire operation even it it worked 100% lol
At least not right now
but maybe you will be boosted up enough to give it a try
Good luck to all of us and thanks again to Apple for these great moments we spend together talking about their wonderful mysteries

Are the Apple ProRes Codec's already installed in Final Cut Pro X or do I have to download them separately

I am new to Final Cut Pro. I recently bought Final Cut Pro X. Enjoying it. I cannot seem to find anywhere if the Apple ProRes family of codec come included in Final Cut Pro X or do I have to buy and download them separately?
I have 10.08.5 operating system

That it works in iMovie is irrelevant to FCP. Has nothing to do with ProRes codecs. Absolute crap web site. Zero information about the media these things shoot. Absolute incompetence.
From their web site:
Depending on what computer system you are operating on - Mac or PC, we can suggest a few video editing software packages:
If you're taking your first steps in video editing, iMovie (iOS) or Sony MoviEZ (windows), will be good options. Both are fairly simple to use, don't require you to convert your files, and are either free or very affordable.
Windows Movie Maker is another free option, but requires you to convert your files to a different format, such as .wmv.
Quicktime pro is the next step, and although it isn't free, it's very affordable.
Sony Vegas Pro (windows), and Adobe Final Cut Pro/Premiere (iOS/windows) are great options at the more professional end of the spectrum. These are fairly expensive, and are most suitable for users with a reasonable level of editing experience.
Say what? Adobe Final Cut Pro?
Maybe if you can open one of these files in the QT player you could get some real information about this media.

Upgrade FCE to FCP Apple Prores etc

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for