What are highest quality export settings from iMovie to FCE 4.0?

I am using iMovie '08 to create Ken Burns effect movies from iPhoto photos to import into FCE. I want the least amount of loss from iMovie to FCE.
What are the highest quality settings for exporting from iMovie to FCE.
I do not care about size of file etc. Highest quality is all that matters to me.
Cheers,
Chuck

Well here are the facts.
My original question rephrased: "I want to know what are the settings to export Ken Burns created movies (therefore using photos) from iMovie (in this case iMovie '08) with the least loss and regardless of file size for importation into Final Cut Express".
I went to the local Apple store and some of the users (employees) of Final Cut Pro mentioned appropriately they thought .DV would be the best. However when we played some created videos they looked horrible when compared to .MOV with H.264. This just did not make sense, but we went by what we were seeing. Not being able to think with this I did more research and found this article which explained why .DV lookes like pooh pooh compared to H.264 video.
The article http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93002 explains a setting in Quicktime preferences that if not selected some videos appear pixelated.
So, when this preference in Quicktime is selected (never thought to try playing on VLC) the .DV movies look better than those using H.264. So with this resolved then my trial and error testing was realistic. That is I could try different export settings and see which ones looked better to determine the best export setting.
I tried what I thought was everything as far as "Export using Quicktime..." settings. Then I read in "iMovie '08 & iDVD: The Missing Manuals" under "The Video Codecs: A Catalog" an explanation of every type of compression when using the settings under "Movie to QuickTime Movie". Finally someone wrote more data on the codecs. I never found such explanation on the apple website (discussions etc). I really got tired of reading how H.264 is the better than sliced bread "greatest quality for the file size" which I think is true but did nothing to answer my original question. The book then mentioned the option "none". I was like I don't remember this option for "Compression Type". (BTW this all applies to iPhoto '08, Final Cut Express 4, and QuickTime Pro). So I tried "None".
Wow! Zero pixelation! Vivid colors! So I created three videos. One using H.264, DV/DVCPRO - NTSC and None (I had already tried many others but for this last experiment just these three). I also maxed out the Quality for each compressor. Results:
- H.264 colors looked a little faded from the original photos and minor minor fuzziness, file size about 6 MB
- DV/DVCPRO - NTSC colors a little more vivid and less fuzziness, file size about 60 MB
- None...Bam! absolutely photo quality resolution and color, file size about 600 MB. I didn't care about the size.
So, bingo "None" as as the compressor settings in Quicktime to export iMovie '08 Ken Burns effect slide shows for importation into Final Cut Express (FCE) with minimal loss and who cares about the file size. Yeah, this is mammoth file but this allows me to make snappy Extremely High Quality Ken Burns effect videos in iMovie for FCE. Then when I export from FCE I don't make a copy of a copy but make my first compression of the video.
That is my answer!
I consider this thread closed and will only open if I find any of this is incorrect. BTW I already imported the iMovie '08 video with compression "None" into FCE and after rendering it looks awesome and plays well.
Cheers,
Chuck

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http://forums.adobe.com/thread/713070
On the above thread I used the 5th anwer, and it's going to take about 7 hours to export a 4 minute video :/

It Stands for "Coder Decoder."
Your format is like a container for your video file. Certain containers can hold certain codecs and not others. Other containers can hold other codecs. Sometimes different containers can hold the same codecs.
This might be a bad analogy but I'll give it a try.
A coffe cup (container) can hold pretty much any liquid you drink, where a red solo cup (container) won't hold scolding water. So, the coffe cup would be your container of choice most likely because it has the most options for liquids (codecs). But, you might want a red solo cup for just a single crappy beer at a party (a moderate quality streaming video on the web). In that case, you don't need all the optoins of another container.
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Yesteraday I wrote a blog entery on Exporting from Premiere Pro and found that the MPEG-4 codec inside of the QuickTime container gave me much richer colors than the H.264 container/codec option.
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http://goo.gl/8GZq4i

What are the best export settings to use...

Operating system: Vista SP1
Camera: Canon HF100 (1900x1080 HD quality 29.97fps) -- uses AVCHD compression which is H.264 I believe.
I'm able to watch my camera video files in Vista nicely. However, I'm having trouble with the watching the results of my edited and exported videos. Assuming I want the same quality and playability as the source video, what settings should I use in the export?
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I've been able to edit and save the results of the edit using the crappy ImageMixer3 video editor that comes with the camera. The results are perfect and play in windows media fine. The files it exports the edited video as is the same as the soure... the file extension is .m2ts
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See
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Cheers
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Please help with highest quality export settings...

I have searched the forum and web for hours (no joke!) and I am still trying to figure out what are the best video settings to give me the highest HD quality video in daylight. I am using a Canon HF200 and the latest updated version of FCE. My problem is that I am unable to produce an HD quality video at 1920 x 1080 Full HD without being "jagged". I have two questions; what do you suggest to be the best FCE import and export settings to produce the best HD video, and what settings do you have your HF200 set to (for normal daylight conditions), to produce the best HD video file? The file will be played directly thru my computer to a plasma HDTV.
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Data Rate set to "automatic"
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Any suggestions for the best FCE settings and/or HF200 settings would be very much appreciated!
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Thanks again for the feedback
Let me try my best to answer the above (I'm new at all this and I appreciate you guys taking the time to try and help me out).
First off, I tried rendering and that did not help.
Here is my sequence. I am not going into FCE from the camera directly. I have archived the video file from the camera using iMovie (as well as just making an exact copy of the camera files; they both appear to me to be the exact same, both can be logged and transferred into FCE, and both files give me a jagged FCE result).
Once I log and transfer the file(s), I then take the clip and add it to a sequence file (rendering or not rendering the clip(s) at this point does not make a difference), and then click/highlight the sequence file in the browser and export it.
As for "editing the video in a 1920x1080i60 sequence", I think I am. I am not doing any editing to the clip. It is logged and transferred using the AVCHD Apple Intermediate Codec 1920 x 1080i and then exported using either as a Quicktime Movie or Quicktime Conversion (set for 1920 x 1080 using H.264 compression; both ways still result in a jagged video).
That's about it...log and transfer, add clip to sequence, and then export sequence...
I hope this answers the above, but if not, I apologize; I'm still learning!
Also, if I use iMovie, with similar export (share) settings, I get a non-jagged video (I have tried with deinterlacing and not deinterlacing, and both video results are fine)
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Evan

CS3 - What Are the Best Export Settings for Animation?

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FAQ: What are the best export settings?

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What are the best export settings for TV?

I'm making a video that i would like to have on TV and would most likely go through iDVD, i have a Panasonic mini-dv camcorder and all my footage is in 4:3. What would be the best export settings to accomplish this?
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From FCE, export a QuickTime Movie (do not use QT Conversion). If you'll create the DVD on the same machine, leave the "Make Movie Self-Contained" box unchecked for a quicker export. Drag the resulting QuickTime file into iDVD.

What are the best export settings for video with small text?

I am making videos of lectures (where slides show up next to a small video of a person talking). I would like the text to show up as legibly as possible, all while maintaining a small file size (smallest possible) and still maintaining quality. What would you recommend? The slides change every couple minutes or so, but I don't wnat to reduce the frame rate becuase I do have that small video in the corner. Which settings and format are best? Also, I'll be uploading this to Youtube.
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Keep in mind that the small video in the corner does not require as high a data rate as a full screen video. So, if a full screen video requires, let's say 5Mb/s for a talking head, you might be able to get away with 2Mb/s or less for the entire frame with a little video and a lot of static slide. Also remember that the less motion in the video, the lower the bit rate can be.
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Use the H.264 preset for YouTube at the same frame size as what you are editing, and then reduce the data rate to half normal. Export and check out the quality. Then halve it again and check the quality. Keep going until the quality is unacceptable then go up a little. Find your sweet spot.
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Best export settings in iMovie for later import to iDVD

Hello,
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I have a few different projects that I want to put on one DVD. What are the best export settings in iMovie to create files that I can later import using iDVD?
Cheers

I would sugest using the Apple defaults - which you will get if you use SHARE/Export Movie.
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Here is the HELP section on this.
http://help.apple.com/imovie/#mov3a9e47fe

Hey Apple, How do you export from imovie to fce without losing quality?

I am capturing my footage on a Panasonic hdc-tm15 full hd 1920x1080 avchd. The format recorded is not compatible with fce so i have to import to imovie first. what export settings do i need to use to ensure i dont lose quality when going from imovie to fce?

If you shot Progressive it won't work directly, whereas Interlaed will with the suggested File>Log and Transfer method over USB.
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Al

Highest quality import settings for iTunes 9?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;ylt=AooGuxvheq40oC0etoPY8yvty6IX;ylv=3?qid=20090909143724AALIlSP
*What are the highest quality import settings for iTunes 9?*
I just got iTunes 9 and I want to know what the HIGHEST quality import settings are with the exception of Apple Lossless. I usually import cd's as
AAC
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I was thinking about using WAV but I want a format that will be compatible with other/future personal media players as well such as Zune's and Creative MP3 players. Right now I have an iPod and don't plan on changing anytime soon. I just want the highest quality sound for my ears to hear.
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*Should I switch to WAV?*
& if you could, *What are highest quality settings for the other formats as well.*

well i personally think you should go with mp3 at 320kbps (max for that file format) main reason for this is that mp3 is compatible with pretty much everything, where as aac isn't although it is getting a bit better. the main difference between aac and mp3 is in the lower bit rates, i.e aac 128kbps sounds equivalent to mp3 192kbps (suppoesdly) but when you go from 192kbps and up both file formats sound basically the same, just a variation in file size. ig you want the highest quality for you ipod i would say 320kbps mp3. anything higher isn't worth it becuase most earphones cant even pick it up, only if you have high quality ones.

How does one transfer from imovie to fce without loss of quality. Using a panasonic hdc-tm15 full hd 1920x1080

I am capturing my footage on a Panasonic hdc-tm15 full hd 1920x1080 avchd. The format recorded is not compatible with fce so i have to import to imovie first. what export settings do i need to use to ensure i dont lose quality when going from imovie to fce?

It is suggested to output MOV with AIC codec to keep the raw video quality at max.
Output like this: Share->Export Using QuickTime..
In pop-up windows, click Options->in Moive Settings pop-up window, click Settings button->In Compression Type box, choose Apple Intermediate Codec
Good luck.

What is the best export settings for mini DV?

Hi folks,
Love this forum, it has been a huge help for a novice. I am looking for answers to a more tailored question. I believe this will help others too!
What are the best export settings for mini DVs (now in mov format) for the following uses and how do I input these settings:
1. archive an exact duplicate without any quality loss of an imported mini DV tape. My goal is to have the best quality/duplicate archived digital version of the original mini DV tape for later editing/use?
2. the best quality version of the mini dv tape for viewing on media devices such as WDLive, boxee box, pivos xios, etc?
I really appreciate you reading and considering response.

First, I do NOT write back to tape... so only have a few saved links with no personal experience... but my "general" understanding is that you simply play your timeline with Firewire output active and press the record button on your tape deck
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Export to Tape http://forums.adobe.com/message/4699448
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http://forums.adobe.com/thread/902499
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/880824
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