Video quality in FCE at DVinfo.net

Steve Lewis · May 29th, 2008, 04:35 PM

Hey guys,
I am working in Final Cut EXPRESS and shooting with a Canon XHA1 and recording in HDV 108060i. I am obviously capturing with the Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60 and then exporting in MP4 at 1280x720 for the web. My question is: what is the Apple Intermediate Codec? Is it the same codec and quality of HDV? I ask because, while editing and viewing the footage within FCE it looks very good with few motion artifacts, however when I export with quicktime conversion (MP4/5mbps) the video becomes fairly washed out with more motion artifacts. Would upgrading to Final Cut Pro give me a vast improvement by being able to capture in ProRes or some other format? Any insight or help would be appreciated, thanks!
-Steve

Bob Diaz · May 29th, 2008, 08:53 PM

When using AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec) at 1080/60i, the data rate is around 14MB/second (112Mb/second) which is much higher than HDV. The AIC is intended for editing, so it uses a higher data rate.

I've never seen the washout effect you have seen, but I haven't tried everything on FCE. Someone else will need to help you there...

Bob Diaz

Les Wilson · May 29th, 2008, 09:26 PM

I see the same washed out problem. Adjust the gamma when you export to MP4. For some reason, it exports to a PC gamma.

Steve Lewis · May 29th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest House

I see the same washed out problem. Adjust the gamma when you export to MP4. For some reason, it exports to a PC gamma.

How should I go about adjusting the gamma? and to what to extent? Thanks.

Les Wilson · May 30th, 2008, 05:11 AM

What tool are you using to create your MP4? That's the first place to look.

There's a good discussion on the whole topic here:
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/983595

I don't know if FCE has a gamma video filter but FCP does and I'd be surprised of FCE does not. So, push comes to shove, you can apply it on the timeline.

I apply the filter using Compressor. Squeeze has it. Cleaner has it. Quicktime lets you set one for .MOV but not MP4. I don't know what that thread's poster is referring to when he mentioned a QuickTime Preference for "Final Cut Pro compatibility".

May 29th, 2008, 04:35 PM	#1
Steve Lewis Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 233	Video quality in FCE Hey guys, I am working in Final Cut EXPRESS and shooting with a Canon XHA1 and recording in HDV 108060i. I am obviously capturing with the Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60 and then exporting in MP4 at 1280x720 for the web. My question is: what is the Apple Intermediate Codec? Is it the same codec and quality of HDV? I ask because, while editing and viewing the footage within FCE it looks very good with few motion artifacts, however when I export with quicktime conversion (MP4/5mbps) the video becomes fairly washed out with more motion artifacts. Would upgrading to Final Cut Pro give me a vast improvement by being able to capture in ProRes or some other format? Any insight or help would be appreciated, thanks! -Steve __________________ www.spreefilms.com - Give me a museum and I'll fill it!

May 29th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#2
Bob Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LA, California Posts: 170	When using AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec) at 1080/60i, the data rate is around 14MB/second (112Mb/second) which is much higher than HDV. The AIC is intended for editing, so it uses a higher data rate. I've never seen the washout effect you have seen, but I haven't tried everything on FCE. Someone else will need to help you there... Bob Diaz Attached Thumbnails

May 29th, 2008, 09:26 PM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	I see the same washed out problem. Adjust the gamma when you export to MP4. For some reason, it exports to a PC gamma.

May 30th, 2008, 05:11 AM	#5
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	What tool are you using to create your MP4? That's the first place to look. There's a good discussion on the whole topic here: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/983595 I don't know if FCE has a gamma video filter but FCP does and I'd be surprised of FCE does not. So, push comes to shove, you can apply it on the timeline. I apply the filter using Compressor. Squeeze has it. Cleaner has it. Quicktime lets you set one for .MOV but not MP4. I don't know what that thread's poster is referring to when he mentioned a QuickTime Preference for "Final Cut Pro compatibility".