Understand my problem now - advice on settings?

Stymied wrote on 10/25/2013, 9:12 PM
Hello to everyone,

I previously asked for help and have been so kindly assisted by many of you here. Thanks again for your kindness.

Since my most recent thread, I've researched my questions till my head would just start throbbing from too much screen time. Couple that with just needing to finish this project already and I just started getting so depressed.

Now, I believe I've come to a basic understanding and I sincerely hope that someone is in the mood to steer me to the new answers that I am searching for.

Thank you all again for being around.


So here goes, sorry, background a bit long:

Until 3 days ago, I was ignorantly using an H.264 30fps 1920x1080 .mov file exported from FCP as QT file. Using this source, I edited footage and applied, cuts, crossfades, color correction, etc. (aren't us newbies so cute?)

After that, I was surprised (giggles), at how badly it all looked. I then painfully learned step by awful step how to troubleshoot. Which was all great, but I don't think I can do that anymore. I am acutely aware how much I don't know. If I had a bunch of cash, I seriously would never have attempted this on my own and would have continued to pay the pros for these last minute changes.

However, I'm happy that I've learned so much and feel that I'm close to the end (right).

Through a series of phone calls and research, I was able to find the hard-drive that contained the footage in Final Cut Pro. To top that, one of the editors that worked on the files before is suddenly in a position to help me.

This professional is willing to open the file in FCP and export the file according to any specs I request. And now I am trying not to panic as I want to make sure I am able to maximize this opportunity and give him correct and definitive settings so that I don't waste his time or yours.

Please help?

This is what I know and have inferred from various sources on the net.

1) The source file is telecined per seeing the 3:2 pattern in VLC, frame by frame. Explains combing and artifacts.

2) Mediainfo on this file that I found is below for reference. To be clear, I am assuming this was the footage that was up scaled to my "source".

3) I believe I need the FCP file to be exported to Compressor, inverse telecined and exported as Pro Res 422 HQ. at 23.98 fps? or 24p? I know I'm supposed to match the source frame rate but intend to deliver HD and SD discs in NTSC region.

OR...step #3 is incorrect and I just need for him to export from Final Cut Pro directly and just changing framerates?

4) Say all the appropriate settings are implemented, can I just open the Pro res file in MSP-12 or do I need to transcode to another format? I know about Handbrake and MPEG streamclip and needing to purchase that MPEG-2 codec (I already have QT pro). Also aware of Cineform but hoping to avoid any further degradation.

5) Wishfully, also wondering if I could just then right click and "replace" my media in my MSP-12 timeline? Or should I start edits fresh (afraid I have to?)

I'm hoping someone here could advise on the workflow. I'd love the highest settings possible with the detelecine; but I have just over an hour of performance footage and concerned that, settings will take 2 days to render.

Since this guy is being so kind, I just want to make it as painless for him as possible.

Again, Thanks so much in advance for all your help.

Best,

G


***Media info file



Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 92.3 MiB
Duration : 3s 504ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 221 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-22 07:00:09
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-22 07:00:20
Writing library : Apple QuickTime

Video
ID : 1
Format : YUV
Codec ID : v210
Codec ID/Hint : AJA Video Systems Xena
Duration : 3s 504ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 221 Mbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 3:2
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
Bit depth : 10 bits
Compression mode : Lossless
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 21.333
Stream size : 92.3 MiB (100%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2010-02-22 07:00:09
Tagged date : UTC 2010-02-22 07:00:20
Color primaries : BT.601 NTSC
Matrix coefficients : BT.601






Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 10/25/2013, 9:31 PM
I grocked your question in the first couple of sentences.
MOV is the wrong OUTPUT container, since AVC support is not available in QT for Windows encoders, including anything availalable in Vegas..
.
You must encode Sony AVC or Mainconcept AVC, and change the file extension from MP4 to MOV, if you wish or must.
Stymied wrote on 10/25/2013, 10:43 PM

Hi musicvid10,

Awesome of you to reply. I was hoping I wouldn't feel too dense, but...

"You must encode Sony AVC or Mainconcept AVC, and change the file extension to MOV, if you wish or must."

Please excuse my ignorance, but how exactly? is this an export option in FCP or compressor? Or do I need 3rd party. If so, any suggestions? Free, low cost would be great.

Thanks for all your help!

G


musicvid10 wrote on 10/25/2013, 11:04 PM
Sony and Mainconcept AVC are render codec options in Vegas, not FCP.
You don't have a Quicktime AVC render option in Windows!
Stymied wrote on 10/25/2013, 11:27 PM
Oh of course, yes I knew that. Sorry! I misunderstood. I'm trying very hard not to sound so dumb, I'm obviously failing to explain myself.

I am trying to get a Final Cut originating file into MSP-12 timeline for editing.

From what I am understanding (or not), I would want the editor to export from FCP or Compressor as Pro Res 422 HQ. I know I can't import that directly into MSP-12. I know there is a Windows codec for this, but it seems just for read only?

Now, what are my options? What format can take the PR 422 HQ file and convert it into something I can edit in MSP-12 for output to Blu-ray/HD.

I have read about Avid and Cineform, etc. - I personally can't afford to buy either of those at this time as I'd rather pay the money to the editor and make him happy. However, this editor has friends that might have access to these or other de/encoders, I just need to know what to tell him...

Settings would be most helpful at this point as well.

Please, pretty please - I know this exact question is being asked all over the forums. I honestly have tried to read as much as I can and it's all swimming in my head.

Could someone suggest the best format for importing into MSP-12 and I'll see if my friend can do that for me. He's only free for about a week, so I'm rushing to get him an answer.


Thanks again to musicvid and all,

G

Edited to add:

Found this convo in another forum - is what they are saying true for Vegas? Will this also work in Movie Studio or...?

http://www.designstudioschool.com/export-from-final-cut-pro-for-vegas-t34099.html
Stymied wrote on 10/26/2013, 6:58 PM

Hello everyone,

One more thing - I found this http://www.bigasoft.com/total-video-converter.html

Could someone please comment on this product? Anyone have experience with this? I'm leery because of the low price but willing to try it if it means I can then convert the Pro Res file to something that MSP-12 will import correctly.

Again, thanks for any and all help.

G
Tim L wrote on 10/26/2013, 8:57 PM
I don't know enough to offer you any advice regarding your original problem, but the website you linked to (www . designstudioschool . com) is a "fake" website that just steals forum posts from other websites. They make money with ads, figuring people doing websearches will stumble across their site.

The particular page you linked to is actually a ripoff from the Vegas Pro forum here at Sony Creative Software: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=696798.

You'll see the text is identical -- just robotically copied and posted via fake users. Most likely all of this is done automatically, with no real human intervention. It's sometimes funny to see what you look like on that other site -- i.e. who your fake persona is.
Stymied wrote on 10/26/2013, 9:24 PM

Hi, Tim,

Oh Wow. Thank you very much. Never ceases...

Best,

G