High Quality Video Conversion

[Orion09]

I am by no means a video expert, especially when it comes to compression and rendering to different video formats while keeping the best quality. This is my situation. We record our videos through a PC based program and I used to edit them in speed edit which is absolutely horrible so I bought a Macbook Pro and we got Final Cut. When we record the videos they are in the mpg format and when I try to bring them into Final Cut, Final Cut cannot read them. So I have been trying to find a format I can convert them to that doesn't degrade the quality. So far the best conversion I have found is to Mpeg2 and I was told that Final Cut could read that file format but when I try to bring it in it won't read it. So if anyone could help me out it would be MUCH appreciated.

 

[gameface]

Download Mpeg Streamclip for free and transcode to Apple ProRes.

 

[boch82]

Download Mpeg Streamclip for free and transcode to Apple ProRes.

Did you get final cut pro or express?

Fcp - convert to prores lt
Fce - apple intermediate codec.

 

[THX1139]

So far the best conversion I have found is to Mpeg2 and I was told that Final Cut could read that file format but when I try to bring it in it won't read it.

MPEG is not an editing codec, it's designed for viewing. If you did manage to get MPEG into Final Cut, it would be slow. You're better off converting it to any of the editing codecs that Apple supports. Prores is a good place to start. I would use compressor and transcode it to that.

 

[alph45]

MPEG is not an editing codec, it's designed for viewing. If you did manage to get MPEG into Final Cut, it would be slow. You're better off converting it to any of the editing codecs that Apple supports. Prores is a good place to start. I would use compressor and transcode it to that.

isn't the purpose of Cinema Tools to conform framerate and transcode? Converting to ProRez is very fast via CT.

 

[Brucewl]

Here is the document about Final Cut Pro suppor video format:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=2%26section=2%26tasks=true

And I found another tutorial (http://www.leawo.com/video/avchd-to-final-cut-pro.html ) also convert HD video to MP4 format and import into FCP, and this format also belongs to QuickTime-compatible files. So you can also convert your HD video to MP4 format.

 

[WestSt]

MPEG is not an editing codec, it's designed for viewing. If you did manage to get MPEG into Final Cut, it would be slow. You're better off converting it to any of the editing codecs that Apple supports. Prores is a good place to start. I would use compressor and transcode it to that.

Did you get final cut pro or express?

Fcp - convert to prores lt
Fce - apple intermediate codec.

Download Mpeg Streamclip for free and transcode to Apple ProRes.

Just do as these guys are saying, and save yourself A LOT of time, effort, sweat and tears. Forget other codecs and containers, tools, and programs until you have really learned the ways of mac video editing. Trust me - been there!!

 

[Orion09]

Thanks

Thanks for all your help guys.