Final Cut and Quicktime

tomiskinky Got an separate 500gb external drive with all the big files on. saving the compressed files from QT on the server and using them.

If your working off a server that always causes problems and slows thigs down. Id have thought you should just be able to work off the external drive through a firewire or usb cabel, thats what i do and its fine.

If you have a fast computer then edit in HD and then when it's all finished export using compressor or some other such software to a lower res - that way you will get better overall pixel depth and quality, rather than exporting an already smaller quality file. I used a first gen iMac G5 and a 500gb SeaGate drive to edit some 1080p in full quality. I then exported in full quality as the deliv was for projection in full HD

+1

Keep it top res unless your final deliverable is like a Phone image or something really small.

Strange you should say that, it is for mobile content, so we can get away with less res.

I was gonna try just copying the files to my local hard drive (redundant for storage since having the server) then putting the files on the server at the end of the day for back up purposes.
Like I said, it's a learning curve, much like last month when I had to learn CSS - and Graphic Design used to be so straight forward!

+2
Don't fuck around with your source footage. Whatever manipulation you do will be better at top res.

Jeez! There's a lot of media types hanging out here!

no just a few of us, but very helpful ;)

Very helpful indeed - I can usually help with print design questions, and some web issues, but video is something i have not done in a long time.
And i used to use a video recorder with Premier and Sound Edit, but that was 11 years ago? Have been meaning to learn the moving image stuff
for a long time, but work has always got in the way, and now work dictates i learn it? Anyone know a cheap place to convert Super 8 into digital?

Green Lanes - some Internet cafe place Near Green Lanes Harringey overground station does Super 8 to DVD for £5 per hour. Never used them, just noticed a sign in the window as I pass. I get an address on my way back tonight if your interested.

I moved from TV post stuff to web video about 18 months ago; steep learning curve but it's not so bad once you get your head round some basics

Yeah, if you could. Got friends that way. Got a load of Super 8 i want to digitise and play around with. Cheers Fakenger. Might also encourage me to develop my mate wedding film from 4 years ago!!!!

Skullhead If your original files are 1440x1080 HD as I was guessing, and you want only SD PAL/625 as your deliverable (i.e. Standard definition - SD, rather than High Definition - HD) yes you can resize them, preserving the ratio would be 720x576.

Actually it would be 768x576 (D1 at 1.067) not 720, but of course you are quite right in that the output for both 4:3 PAL and 16:9 PAL would be 720x576.

I agree wi

jonaent (Jon) [quote]Skullhead Youir orig files are 1440x1080, which means you need to stratch them on import from 4x3 ratio (ana) into 16x9 (so they look normal, not ana).

No, if they are 1080 in resolution then they are HD and will have a native ratio of 16:9.[/quote]

HDV 1080 is 4:3 (1440x1080)

HD 1080 is 16:9 (1920x1080)

If you shot HD, then you need to set your capture and editing preferences to mirror this so that you are both capturing and working in the same format.

+1

If you don't match the footage and the new project to the same setting you will need to render the whole project, not a problem with a 10 second Tv ad, but a real issue with a half hour film on a slowish computer.

tomiskinky Cannot import direct to FCP because the cameras are USB and you need FIrewire to import direct, this is why we are optimizing them first in Quicktime.

USB camera work flow.

Drag the files off the USB camera.

import them into FCP.

No need to go via QTPro.

Make sure the FCP project is set up in the same way as the source files (MPEG4?)

jonaent (Jon) If you have a fast computer then edit in HD and then when it's all finished export using compressor or some other such software to a lower res - that way you will get better overall pixel depth and quality, rather than exporting an already smaller quality file.

More +1 action.

But . . . .

Remember a slow computer (slow processor) will be much happier and faster with massive uncompressed files rather than smaller uncompressed files.

Give a slow computer an uncompressed QT at 8 or 10 bit - or Animation codec at 100% - or PhotoJpeg at 99% (100% pushes the colour space over into 4:4:4 which the Panasonic HDC-SD5 does not resolve) - or any other lossless or very lightly compressed format and (if the drive they are on is fast enough / ie: most 7200rpms) then things will run a lot smoother than if your source footage is compressed.

tomiskinky And i used to use a video recorder with Premier and Sound Edit, but that was 11 years ago? Have been meaning to learn the moving image stuff.

SoundEdit ! :)

I love it, I use it to this day (runs under 'classic' on OS X)

Question: On newer versions of final cut there is a video effect called 'bad TV'. Its seems to be a plug in of some sort. On my older version of final cut aint got it. Anyone know of a way to transfer plug in effects across computers? Is it possible?? Or am i gonna have to buy it? Thanks.

I know how to do it for audio plug ins. May be similar for video?

Have a look in Library/Application Support

There are folders containing audio and video plug ins around there, can't remember exactly as I don't have my mac handy!

Anyway - someone may have some better info...

Bad TV is a Tinderbox After Effects plugin from The Foundry isn't it?

Edit: Although it does appear on my FCP on the filters menu and it is not exactly the same effect

Don't know how to move a plugin - sorry.

Youre right it is, but also seems to come as a stock plug in on final cut now. Damn my old version, damn it to hell!!

I've been using the dodgy rewinding VHS effect in that plugin on DSNitris only today...