Resampling 1280x800 video clip in Final Cut X timeline?

[pjny]

Hi,

I was making a little video tutorial of an app using SnapZ Pro X screen recording
software on my Mac Book Pro. I set the video to output a file in the H264 format.

Unfortunately, the video was recorded in an unconventional format of 1280x800(fullscreen on MBP) and when I try to add it to a Final Cut X project, FCPX asks to reformat it to another resolution. I have tested all other options such as 1080p, 1080i, 720p and the video output is fuzzy.

What can I do to properly resize the video for playback at 720p? I spoke for 20 minutes and don't want to redo the whole project. Thanks.

 

[cgbier]

I think the fuzziness has more to do with the h.264 than your resolution. What's the bitrate?

 

[nateo200]

Its probably trying to "squeeze" it vs "crop" it. Crop the vertical resolution so 80 pixels of the 800 from the bottom tray to 720p. If you do that it will NOT try to squeeze it. If its fuzzy though, that could be a bitrate issue but squeezing a file can do the same IME.

EDIT: FYI-Do NOT upscale something like this to 1080p!-Upscaling is really not a good idea for something like this but yeah just crop the 80 vertical pixels out.

 

[puckhead193]

i don't know final cut x, but can't you make a a custom setting?

 

[nateo200]

i don't know final cut x, but can't you make a a custom setting?

Not that Im aware of but it doesn't sound crazy. Though if he's using YouTube they will be sticklers about the dimensions.

 

[pjny]

Thanks for replying. I forget the H264 video settings but I set them at a pretty high quality setting. The video plays crystal clear using Quicktime on my Mac Book Pro as well as on a 24" monitor(limited to 1024x800 window).

I guess I will have to rerecord the tutorial on my 1920x1080 monitor using the screencapture software. Hopefully that will play well with the 1080p importing option in FCP X.

 

[careypo]

Thanks for replying. I forget the H264 video settings but I set them at a pretty high quality setting. The video plays crystal clear using Quicktime on my Mac Book Pro as well as on a 24" monitor(limited to 1024x800 window).

I guess I will have to rerecord the tutorial on my 1920x1080 monitor using the screencapture software. Hopefully that will play well with the 1080p importing option in FCP X.

Don't use H.264 for screen recording. Use the Apple Intermediate Codec or ProRes. You can then edit more efficiently in Final Cut Pro X and export to H.264 after editing. Record your screen at 1280x800 and put it into a Final Cut sequence that is also 1280x800. Edit and export a resized version. 1280x800 is a different aspect ration than your screen, so you may need to zoom and crop to fit 1080.

 

[pjny]

Thanks. I will do that. My screen IS 1920x1200. Good to know!

Don't use H.264 for screen recording. Use the Apple Intermediate Codec or ProRes. You can then edit more efficiently in Final Cut Pro X and export to H.264 after editing. Record your screen at 1280x800 and put it into a Final Cut sequence that is also 1280x800. Edit and export a resized version. 1280x800 is a different aspect ration than your screen, so you may need to zoom and crop to fit 1080.