I usually transcode my footage from Sony NX5U to ProRes in Final Cut Pro. I shoot 1080/30p and transcode to the same ProRes equivalent.

I have a friend I shot footage for and he asked me to give it to him in Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC). When I went to select the 'output' in Final Cut Pro, the only choices for AIC were:

720p 1280 x 720 29.97 fps Progressive
1080i 1440 x 1080 25 and 29.97 fps Interlaced
1080p 1440 x 1080 23.98, 25, and 29.97 fps Progressive

What's the deal? Where is 1920 x 1080, 29.97 fps w/ Progressive at?

Looks like the AIC does not officially support 1920x1080.
Final Cut Pro 7: About the Apple Intermediate Codec (http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/professionalformatsandworkflows/index.html#chapter=10%26section=6)

Looks like the AIC does not officially support 1920x1080.
Final Cut Pro 7: About the Apple Intermediate Codec (http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/professionalformatsandworkflows/index.html#chapter=10%26section=6)That 1440x1080 resolution is obviously a hangover from HDV format. However given that AIC is the intermediate CODEC used in iMovie it's surprising that it has has not been updated given all those consumer camcorders that record 1920x1080 nowadays.

Nigel wrote, "However given that AIC is the intermediate CODEC used in iMovie it's surprising that it has has not been updated given all those consumer camcorders that record 1920x1080 nowadays."

That too, was surprising to me. I've used iMovie '09 and brought in 1920x1080 29.97 fps footage in as AIC and output as the same on export. I've checked the 'Inspector' in Quicktime and it shows the same resolution and frame rate.

You don't think that iMovie is making the footage 1440x1080 and then outputting back as 1920x1080 do you?

I just took a look at FCP & it's just that there is no preset for 1080p AIC. If you Export>QuickTime Movie & then in the dialogue box for Settings scroll all the way down to the bottom & choose Custom it calls up the Sequence Preset Editor where you can specify 1080p AIC.

For future use you can create your own preset Final Cut Pro>Audio/Video Settings - Sequence Presets - Duplicate an existing preset then edit & save as 1080p AIC.