Final Cut Express Fuzzy Export Issue

[u2clone]

OK, I'm brand new to FCE first off. I've been using Screenflow instead for these little min-training videos and we decided to jump to FCE because of wanting to incorporate green screen technology.

Here is the problem - the output is terribly fuzzy - where screenflow has always been simple and easy to export a clean QT movie.

I filmed part of the video through the webcam via iMovie (green screen portion) and the other part (screen capture) via screenflow. I dropped them into the same timeline in FCE. Each stand alone looks fine in QT prior to the import. Each looks fine in the Viewer. In the canvas, they look fine as a still frame, but very fuzzy when playing. The export comes out fuzzy like the canvas.

I've done this compressed and uncompressed and the size of the files have gotten huge and the resolution still poor.

The final video will be run through flash to be made into a flash movie and streamed online. What do I need to do to get the export cleaned up? I'm at my wits end. I just don't know what to do on this.

Thanks for any help you might have.

Signed, Frustrated

 

[evil_santa]

What types of file are you exporting?

if you export a DV file and play it back through QT you will need to check the "Use high-quality video settings when available" button in QT preferences. QT default to playing a lower quality output on the screen for some reason.

 

[u2clone]

I'm exporting out the H.261 compression for the most part.

I don't think that the playback in QT is the issue as the screenflow exports have always been beautiful.

I'm thinking that the resolution iMovie generates via a webcam is garbage and that Final Cut has to meet the needs of the lowest common denominator upon export, but that is merely a guess. I assume this because when I just export out the screen capture from FCE, it looks fine. Totally weird. Hence why I think it is just making the whole thing 'match' for lack of a better term.

I think what I am going to do for this one is spit out just the green screen edits, drop that video back into screenflow and wrap the video out that way. In the meantime, I think having a better camera for the green screen capture will help, but again, I'm not sure.

I would love some advice or help on how to do this sort of thing if anyone has some. Thanks!!!

 

[tbasaldua]

OK, I'm brand new to FCE first off. I've been using Screenflow instead for these little min-training videos and we decided to jump to FCE because of wanting to incorporate green screen technology.

Here is the problem - the output is terribly fuzzy - where screenflow has always been simple and easy to export a clean QT movie.

I filmed part of the video through the webcam via iMovie (green screen portion) and the other part (screen capture) via screenflow. I dropped them into the same timeline in FCE. Each stand alone looks fine in QT prior to the import. Each looks fine in the Viewer. In the canvas, they look fine as a still frame, but very fuzzy when playing. The export comes out fuzzy like the canvas.

I've done this compressed and uncompressed and the size of the files have gotten huge and the resolution still poor.

The final video will be run through flash to be made into a flash movie and streamed online. What do I need to do to get the export cleaned up? I'm at my wits end. I just don't know what to do on this.

Thanks for any help you might have.

Signed, Frustrated

Dear Frustrated,
You are not alone with this problem. Google "ScreenFlow export to Final Cut Express" and you will find hundreds of people scratching their heads.
Several "experts have posted solutions but they have earlier versions of Final Cut Express. For example one expert, setup Final Cut Express with "Any Format!" My copy of Final Cut Express v 3.5.1 does not provide that item.
I have imported small test files from ScreenFlow and uploaded them to YouTube. The results were amazingly clear. HOWEVER, I spent SO MUCH TIME Rendering.
Someone Please tell me what I'm doing wrong. Why does Final Cut Express need to render ScreenFlow files?

Dying to know

 

[spinnerlys]

Dear Frustrated,
You are not alone with this problem. Google "ScreenFlow export to Final Cut Express" and you will find hundreds of people scratching their heads.
Several "experts have posted solutions but they have earlier versions of Final Cut Express. For example one expert, setup Final Cut Express with "Any Format!" My copy of Final Cut Express v 3.5.1 does not provide that item.
I have imported small test files from ScreenFlow and uploaded them to YouTube. The results were amazingly clear. HOWEVER, I spent SO MUCH TIME Rendering.
Someone Please tell me what I'm doing wrong. Why does Final Cut Express need to render ScreenFlow files?

Dying to know

ScreenFlow records to H264 encoded video files, something not meant for editing.
FCE needs its footage to be using the Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) or DV codec to properly edit it and have not to render anything.

The manual might have told you this, or a search via MRoogle.

Use MPEG Streamclip to convert your ScreenFlow videos to .mov files using AIC.


I'm grasping at straws, but will you be the one to tell me why you re-opened this thread instead of creating a new one?