LAFCPUG: Exporting and Importing FAQs

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Latest revision as of 07:42, 16 June 2008

How do I get timecode burn-in?

From Jude Cotter

Either :

1. Nest your entire timeline in a new timeline, then apply a 'Timecode Reader' or 'Timecode Generator' filter to the nest, depending on your needs.

or

2. You can use a small free program called QTSync available here : QT Sync. If using this method, your end user will need to know the start timecode of the quicktime you send.

or

From Nick Meyers

• Create an ordinary FCP Text object in the Viewer (CONTROL-X).
  
• Go into the Controls tab and erase the words "Sample Text".
  
• Now put the Text object into your timeline and apply Timecode Reader to it.

The Text object now acts like a layer for the timecode burn. When you don't want it, just select it and press CONTROL-B (Clip Disable). When you want it back, select and press CONTROL-B to enable it again. This saves the nesting step.

Like all generators in FCP, the basic text generator has a default length of 2 mins & 10 seconds (think that's right). To change it simply go to its duration field (top left, or hit TAB after opening it to go straight there) and type in the duration you want.

Tip : You can option-drag values between the timecode fields in FCPs viewer, canvas, and Log & Capture widow. In this case you could hold option, drag the TC from the duration field of the canvas (assuming no in/outs in the timeline) and drop it into into the duration field of the viewer. The text overlay will now have exactly the right duration for the sequence.

From Derek Mok

If you are using Modify - Timecode on the Text clip you must enter the entire timecode including 00s at the beginning, and must choose Source TC.

If Timecode Reader is already on the clip, Modify - Timecode will NOT update the filter. The timecode on the filter will continue to start at 01:00:00:00; it will not update to your modified timecode. If you cut the filter and paste it right back in, the numbers will be updated.

Also view the Quicktime movie over at Ripple Training : Timecode Burn

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How do I export to WMV?

From Jude Cotter

Programs such as 'Flip4Mac' are useful for converting projects to WMV. However, the free demonstration version of Flip4Mac will only encode half of your project. If you find that about half of your media is missing from your WMVs, you need to upgrade to a paid version of Flip4Mac.

Also worth a look are 'VisualHub' and 'Episode Pro from Telestream' which has univeral binaries (for Intel based Macs)

From Loren Miller

AutoDesk Cleaner 6.5 allows conversion of files to Windows Media up to WMV 7.

Find it here : Autodesk Cleaner

From Craig Seeman

Squeeze now comes with very basic WMV capabilities (1 pass presets only) which can be expanded with Flip4Mac.

Cleaner does WMV7 but can do WMV9 with Flip4Mac

Compressor, FCP, iMovie, QuicktimePro also work with Flip4Mac.

Visual Hub I believe does WMV8 and also is very inexpensive.

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How do I export still images?

From Andrew Balis

If possible, use an external (NTSC or PAL) monitor to view the frame you'd like to export. If the external monitor shows a "jittery" frame, you know its not the best choice. If you don't have an external monitor, then set the canvas in FCP to 100% which will show you both fields, and you'll be able to see the "jaggies" on the bad interlaced frames.

With the playhead parked over the frame to export, choose File > Export > Using QuickTime Conversion. Set to 'Still Image', click on the 'Options' button, and choose the file format of choice.

If your export has to come from one of these "bad" frames, don't de-interlace first in FCP. Export the still and use the de-interlace filter in Photoshop. Also, if working with standard def footage, the exported still will look "wide". To compensate, go to Image > Image Size. Change the horizontal proportions to 90% of original (make sure contrain proportions is turned off in the window).

or

From Nick Meyers

• Make a new bin.
  
• Put your stil image source sequence in the bin.
  
• Go through the sequence, stopping on each frame you want.
  
• Matchframe by pressing 'f'.
  
• Mark an in point.
  
• Create a Subclip (a new subclip appears in the new bin)
  
• Re-name to taste.
  

• Collect all the new subclips.
  
• Batch export (File Menu > Batch Export)
  
• Now do all the stills at once.
  

This article looks old, but batch export hasn't changed : Fun With Batch Exporting

Greg Kozikowski adds:

When you set the canvas in FCP to 100% to show both fields, it is also required that you pull your Canvas frame larger and larger until there is gray all around the picture. If you don't do that, you're still only watching one field.

For more information - check out Greg's Miller Checkerboard Motion Test

Michael Horton adds:

Here is a nifty video tutorial on how to export a still image and bring it into Photoshop for clean up : Exporting Still Images in Final Cut Pro

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How can I compress for the Web?

From Jude Cotter

This answer is provided in the interest of helping people who have no idea what to do to get a clip out to the Web at a reasonable size and quality. It can not and does not come anywhere near close to giving the definitive answer for compression, as this is an entirely variable artform, based on dozens of different factors. But, you never know, this might work for you. Give it a shot.

• Out of FCP, choose the section you want to export on the timeline using in an out, if required.
• Then go to File > Export > Using Quicktime Conversion.
• Then at the bottom of this window choose Format : Quicktime movie and click the 'options' button.
• In the next window that pops up click on 'settings'. Another popup - choose Compression type : H.264.
  
• Frame rate : You can set this to 10 or 15 if you need it to be really small, but set to 'current' is good if you need the motion to look good. Ignore keyframes for now.
  
• Data rate : Automatic. You can restrict it if you need to. I never do.
  
• Compressor quality : You can view what your picture will look like in the preview box and choose the compressor quality you like. Often there's not a lot of difference between best, high and medium, and lower compression quality does reduce your file size.
  
• Click OK.
  
• Then back in your Movie settings window, choose the 'size' button. In this box, choose Dimensions > Custom. Then figure out the size of your clip. In PAL they might be something like 720 x 576, or widescreen at 1024 x 576.
• Then divide these numbers by two, or three, depending on your needs, and put those numbers in the custom boxes. So, for example - 1024 x 576 divided by 3 = 341 x 192.
• Click OK.

If you're not using sound uncheck the 'Sound' box in the 'Movie settings' section as this saves space too. If you are using sound you will need to experiment with different settings based on the quality you need it to be. Sometimes you can get down as low as 11.025 kHz, mono and still have adequate sound. Also, check 'Prepare for internet streaming'. This makes the movie start playing while it's still loading.

And that's it, really. Please note that H.264 will only play on computers that have Quicktime 7 installed. Since the iPod, iTunes has a fairly deep penetration into the market, and lots of Macs and PCs are now running QuickTime 7 because of this, but there will be some people who will not be. If this is the case for you or your client, you will need to use a different codec.

Also

If you would like information on how to upload video for YouTube, read this nice Philip Hodgetts tutoiral : Uploading your movies for YouTube

And

A nice tutorial link from Michael Rouse : Exporting Video for the Web

Finally

If you're going to be doing a lot of this, think about getting this : Simple Encoding Recipes For The Web

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Compressor 2 : NTSC and PAL conversion.

From Jude Cotter

There's a great tutorial on this workflow here : Compressor 2 NTSC/PAL conversion

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Why does my 16:9 export display as 4:3 in Quicktime?

Here's an explanation and workaround from Apple : DV Widescreen export out of FCP

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How do I use XML to open my project in an earlier version of FCP?

From Nick Meyers

Final Cut Pro projects are not backwards compatible. You can't open an FCP 6 project in FCP 5, for instance. You CAN open an FCP 5 project in FCP 6, but it will permanently modified in the process, and then wont open in FCP 5. So what to do? Export As XML!

With Export as XML, you can export an entire project, just one clip, or anything in between: a bin of clips, an individual sequence or whatever. (You will see a summary of your selection in the Export XML window) You can then open the XML document in an earlier version of FCP.

IMPORTANT: Each new version of FCP includes a newly updated version of the XML protocol. You need to choose the version of XML you chose according to the version of FCP you want it to open in. (List follows below)

To EXPORT the XML

• Select your items
  
• File Menu > Export > XML (or right click on the selection and Export > XML)
  
• Select your XML version
  

To IMPORT the XML

• Double Click on the XML file
  

OR

• Import > XML (or right click in the browser and Import > XML)
  
• Choose if you want to import the XML into your current project, or create a new one.
  

That's the basics, and you can get a tutorial with PICTURES here: Open FCP5 projects in FCP4 with XML Export/Import or read the FCP Manual.

XML / FCP version Compatibility

• Use XML version 1 for going to Final Cut Pro 4.1
• Use XML version 2 for going to Final Cut Pro 5.0
• Use XML version 3 for going to Final Cut Pro 5.1.2
• Use XML version 4 for going to Final Cut Pro 6

• If in doubt, make more than one version.

• If you are taking this to an On-Line, or other post house, talk to them first.

• It should be noted that features that aren't available in your target version of FCP wont show up. For example you can't export an XML of a multiclip sequence, and expect to see multiclips in FCP4.5!

Andreas Kiel, XML guru adds:

• XML works fine with "simple" projects, but one may get in trouble with more complicated ones.

• Using XML for version round trips (constant going back & forth between FCP versions) may loose some information due to the changing nature of the XML implementation in different FCP versions

• Also it needs to be clear that the "plugin" setup has to be exactly the same on both machines otherwise filters or generators might be replaced or clips might be ignored.

• Keep an eye on new features of each FCP version: they may make their way into a lower version XML, but the elder version of FCP can't read it and may silently just ignore those clips or show errors which might not show a hint to the real error.

• Also keep an eye on linked multi-mono audio files. Even though there is not so much difference in the XML handling, different versions of FCP do parse them their own way - they might cause some strange errors (FCP 5 can't import them).

• Once more with feeling: for XML back always keep the project simple.

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How do I get my sound out to a CD?

There's a nice tutorial by Scott Taylor on this here : Exporting to CD

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How do I upload my Movie to YouTube with Maximum Quality?

From Michael Horton

"What people tend to forget is that you are sending YouTube a master for them to compress, therefore send the highest quality you can, that fits with their limitations."

There are a three tutorials you should read that will help you achieve maximum quality before sending your movie to YouTube for further compression.

Uploading Movies for YouTube with maximum quality. by Philip Hodgetts

Encoding for YouTube Using Compressor by Brian Gary

You Tube Encoding Locked and Reloaded by Brian Gary

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Which XML version should I use?

From Nick Meyers

• Use XML version 1 for going to Final Cut Pro 4.1

• Use XML version 2 for going to Final Cut Pro 5.0

• Use XML version 3 for going to Final Cut Pro 5.1.2

• Use XML version 4 for going to Final Cut Pro 6

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Media Manager: Media Not Trimming

From Nick Meyers

Sometimes you go to “Delete Unused” in the Media Manager and the Green Bar indicating your new Media size doesn’t get any shorter. Or as short as you’d like it, anyway. Here's some reasons for this, and suggestions for how to deal with it:

NO TIMECODE TRACK

• Media Manager WILL NOT trim files that don’t have a proper timecode track.
  
• Sound files such as AIFFs won't trim, but will be moved or copied in their entirety.
  
• Also if you get Motion Graphics from a designer, or that you make your self, they probably wont have a proper timecode track, and wont be trimmed either.
  
• Same goes for exports from FCP that you bring back in.
  

The thinking here is that if there is no proper timecode, the media didn’t come from a tape, and therefore may be THE ONLY EXISTING COPY IN THE UNIVERSE!!! So Media Manager doesn’t want to take responsibility for deleting that media. This can catch you out. In some instances you could have very large files without proper timecode. The good news is that it's easy to add TC to a video clip in FCP. All you have to do is give the clip a reel number, and you can do that in the FCP Browser. This will activate a proper timecode track in the file, and NOW it will be trimmed by Media Manager.

TECHNIQUE:

• To find all clips in your project without reel numbers, do a search in your browser for: "Type" Contains: "Clip". Add another filter of "Tracks" Contain: "V" to only get video clips
  

• Sort the 'Find' results by 'Reel'.

• Add an obvious Reel number to one clip, like "NO REEL"
  

• Then select all the other clips with no reel number
  

• Right or control click in the reel column, and you should get a list of all reel numbers used in the project.(If you can select and click on the clip you just modified, its new Reel number will be at the top of the list)
  

• Select the new NO REEL reel, and it will be applied to all selected clips
  

If there are clips in the sequence that aren't in the browser, select the sequence in the Browser, then go to Tools Menu > Create Master Clips. In general, there’s no need to trim audio files, as they are relatively small.

A few things to (un)check in the Media Manager before trimming:

• DESELECT “Include Master Clips Outside Selection”
  
• DESELECT “Include Affiliate Clips Outside Selection”
  
• DESELECT "Include Non-active Multiclip Angles"
  

Even after all this, FCP may be hanging onto some clips due to corrupt Master / Affiliate relationships. (This is fairly old behaviour, going back to FCP version 4 and 4.5. It isn't likely you'll have this in FCP version 5 or 6.) There are two ways to fix this:

• 1. Copy the sequence you are attempting to manage into a new temporary project. This will “wrench” the sequence away from any master clips in the original project. (This doesn't have to be a permanent project. it only has to live long enough to perform the Media Management.)

• 2. Control or Right click on the sequence you are attempting to manage and choose “Make Sequence Clips Independent”. NOTE: If you do this, you will lose the ability to Matchframe back to a bin! If you are not ready to put the project to bed, this might not be a good idea, so I recommend the "copy into a new project" method
  

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