How to gete NASA file into FCP at DVinfo.net

Elmer Lang · September 14th, 2007, 12:59 AM

I downloaded the "Great Zoom into Los Angeles, CA: The Hollywood Sign" file, the 1280x720 option to the left of top pic, from NASA at this url: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002100/a002108/

It says it's an MPEG-2 file, 84 mgs. Though when I click on it in the folder on my MB Pro 2.33 it says MPEG-1.

Anyway, I can download it and play in the VLC player. But I can't export it to any kind of file that will open in QT, much less FCP.

Any ideas what to do?

best,
lmr

Mike Moncrief · September 14th, 2007, 05:48 AM

Hello,

Try using Mpeg Steamclip, it is a free program you can download.. And I am pretty sure it will convert your file to a useable foramt..

look here:

http://www.squared5.com/

Elmer Lang · September 14th, 2007, 11:19 AM

Thanks for the reply, Mike, but I tried MS and it wouldn't even open the file.

I'm stumped.

lmr

Jonathan Jones · September 15th, 2007, 12:17 AM

Although it might be a little costly, there is a solution you might consider, but I make no guarantees.

After reading your post I decided to download the file and see if it would open and export in any of my apps also, but just like you, I had a no-go. I could also open it in VLC, but not in anything else, nor could I open it in QT to export into something else.

I already trashed the file, so I'm not currently able to try this out, but have you tried using a screen captue utilit like Snapz Pro, with the video capture feature? There are also a few other apps out there that capture screen video also, but Snapz Pro is the only one I can think of.. (I think it costs about $69)

If you have enough system resources, theoretically you could open up the file in VLC or their web viewer and just run a Snapz Pro screen capture video during playback and then save your captured file in your preferred video format.

Now, I should add that they may have it encoded in such a way as to deter folks specifically from trying to download, manipulate or even use the file, but aside from that, I'm just presenting a theoretical methodology.

-Jon

Chris Harris · September 15th, 2007, 01:48 AM

I also downloaded it, and couldn't open it in anything other than VLC. I tried doing an export in VLC, but I couldn't figure it out. My next step is going to boot up Parallels and see if anything in Windows can re-encode it.

Daniel Ross · September 15th, 2007, 11:03 AM

Video screen capture is what I'd go with as well.
Or, if you can, output your monitor's signal to another device and record through that... if you're lucky enough to have s-video out, etc.

Windows might be a decent idea, if you just search for freeware. Not enough of it on OSX, sadly.

Chris Harris · September 16th, 2007, 01:31 AM

I booted up Windows and used that Super C program, and from there, I was able to convert it to pretty much any format. If you're going to be editing in Final Cut, I'd use Super C to convert it to uncompressed (I didn't check if that was an option), and then use MPEG Streamclip to convert it to HDV or whatever your preferred format is.

Gregg Bond · September 16th, 2007, 06:54 AM

can you not just download the PNG frames and them import as an image sequence? I know Premier will do that.

John Cash · September 21st, 2007, 04:20 PM

Also if you can do it on windows a program called Fraps will capture from Google earth and such. Give that a try

September 14th, 2007, 12:59 AM	#1
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	How to gete NASA file into FCP I downloaded the "Great Zoom into Los Angeles, CA: The Hollywood Sign" file, the 1280x720 option to the left of top pic, from NASA at this url: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002100/a002108/ It says it's an MPEG-2 file, 84 mgs. Though when I click on it in the folder on my MB Pro 2.33 it says MPEG-1. Anyway, I can download it and play in the VLC player. But I can't export it to any kind of file that will open in QT, much less FCP. Any ideas what to do? best, lmr

September 14th, 2007, 05:48 AM	#2
Mike Moncrief Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: orlando florida Posts: 426	Hello, Try using Mpeg Steamclip, it is a free program you can download.. And I am pretty sure it will convert your file to a useable foramt.. look here: http://www.squared5.com/ __________________ Mike Moncrief mikemoncrief@gmail.com www.themikemoncrief.com

September 15th, 2007, 12:17 AM	#4
Jonathan Jones Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Healdsburg, California Posts: 1,138	Although it might be a little costly, there is a solution you might consider, but I make no guarantees. After reading your post I decided to download the file and see if it would open and export in any of my apps also, but just like you, I had a no-go. I could also open it in VLC, but not in anything else, nor could I open it in QT to export into something else. I already trashed the file, so I'm not currently able to try this out, but have you tried using a screen captue utilit like Snapz Pro, with the video capture feature? There are also a few other apps out there that capture screen video also, but Snapz Pro is the only one I can think of.. (I think it costs about $69) If you have enough system resources, theoretically you could open up the file in VLC or their web viewer and just run a Snapz Pro screen capture video during playback and then save your captured file in your preferred video format. Now, I should add that they may have it encoded in such a way as to deter folks specifically from trying to download, manipulate or even use the file, but aside from that, I'm just presenting a theoretical methodology. -Jon __________________ "Are we to go on record, sir, with our assertion that the 'pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers' are, in point of fact', magically delicious?" - Walter Hollarhan before the House Subcommittee on Integrity in Advertising - May, 1974

September 14th, 2007, 11:19 AM	#3
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	Thanks for the reply, Mike, but I tried MS and it wouldn't even open the file. I'm stumped. lmr

September 15th, 2007, 01:48 AM	#5
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	I also downloaded it, and couldn't open it in anything other than VLC. I tried doing an export in VLC, but I couldn't figure it out. My next step is going to boot up Parallels and see if anything in Windows can re-encode it.

September 15th, 2007, 11:03 AM	#6
Daniel Ross Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Marin & Davis, CA, USA Posts: 418	Video screen capture is what I'd go with as well. Or, if you can, output your monitor's signal to another device and record through that... if you're lucky enough to have s-video out, etc. Windows might be a decent idea, if you just search for freeware. Not enough of it on OSX, sadly.

September 16th, 2007, 01:31 AM	#7
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	I booted up Windows and used that Super C program, and from there, I was able to convert it to pretty much any format. If you're going to be editing in Final Cut, I'd use Super C to convert it to uncompressed (I didn't check if that was an option), and then use MPEG Streamclip to convert it to HDV or whatever your preferred format is.

September 16th, 2007, 06:54 AM	#8
Gregg Bond Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 28	can you not just download the PNG frames and them import as an image sequence? I know Premier will do that.

September 21st, 2007, 04:20 PM	#9
John Cash Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 253	Also if you can do it on windows a program called Fraps will capture from Google earth and such. Give that a try