NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2004

John Paulsel · January 19th, 2004, 01:52 PM

Thanks, Jeff. Turns out it was a "order" issue. I should have known; it''s the same way in Premiere.

Mike Moncrief · January 19th, 2004, 09:11 PM

Hello,

Got such good help here before, i am coming back to seek more advice..I am preparing some animations and graphics for a FCP editor across the country( I am working on a PC) and from what I have gathered the Editor is pretty much of a Newbie to Mac and FCP.. I will be sending him some CD's with AVI files on them..What will he have to do to import them into FCP??
Convert to Quicktime?? Instructions please??

thanks so much..
Mike M.

Shawn Mielke · January 20th, 2004, 02:47 AM

"Specifically, Magic Bullet does not work with Final Cut Pro because Final Cut Pro supports the Adobe After Effects v3.0 API. Magic Bullet is written for the AE 5.5 API."

This is straight from the redgiantsoftware.com MagicBullet FAQ page.

I'm rather new to all of this. Aren't FCP users using MB? If so, how?

(I currently use FCE).

Thanks.

Shawn

Ken Tanaka · January 20th, 2004, 12:22 PM

To my knowledge, Magic Bullet is an After Effects plug-in. I've never heard of anyone using it outside of AE.

The common workflow would be to finish your cut and then export your work from Final Cut to AE for MB processing.

G. Lee Gordon · January 20th, 2004, 01:23 PM

Okay brothers & sisters of this forum, we need to pull together. I was one of the proud owners of the new Mac G5. I believed the hype and spent the money for it. One month later they put out a G5 dual 1.8, for roughly the same price as my regular 1.8 (because the original bench tests were slower than they expected) I feel that Apple needs to provide a program to upgrade the people who bought the original G5. A similar program to what they did when they came out with Panther. If we get enough signitures (or support) we can present the case to Apple... SO WHO'S WITH ME!!!

Shawn Mielke · January 20th, 2004, 03:53 PM

Got it. Now I get to go find out what AE is all about. Thanks, Ken!

Nicholi Brossia · January 20th, 2004, 05:06 PM

Lately I've been playing around with Windows Media Encoder and really like the results. However, as many of you know, I'm basically out of luck when it comes to running this program on my Mac. But what about Virtual PC?
Basically I'm just hoping to hear from someone that already has Virtual PC installed on their Mac. Will it run the free downloadable Windows Media Encoder?

Ted Springer · January 20th, 2004, 08:53 PM

I can't really relate to your situation, but Apple is one of those companies that does not focus very well (anymore). Customer satisfaction is far from top priority. Releasing incomlete software is commonplace, letting the people who purchase it beta-test for them (saving Apple money). Apple figures that there is no reason to release finished software, since they can always fix it with a "patch" later. This goes with the OS as well. They just wanna get it out the door and nothing more.

I love Macs and all, but if you do choose the Apple platform, your a-hole will eventually begin to hurt at some point. But that's typical with many companies nowadays. (Mods: I tried to say that as politely as I could).

Jeff Donald · January 20th, 2004, 09:13 PM

Ted, that is officially know as BOHICA (pronounced bow-he-ka), which stands for bend over, here it comes again.

Glenn Chan · January 21st, 2004, 12:19 AM

A company like powerlogix might come out with a dual processor upgrade.

The 1.8ghz G5 wasn't a very good buy at the time. I suppose you should have waited a bit.

Jeff Donald · January 21st, 2004, 04:29 AM

I don't use Virtual PC, but I haven't heard of a compatibility problem. However, many programs that involve heavy processor work, like encoders, run very, very slowly on Virtual PC.

Jeff Donald · January 21st, 2004, 04:34 AM

It will be better (higher quality) if the file is uncompressed. Your friend can import the uncompressed avi into QT Pro and convert to whatever format he needs.

Jeff Donald · January 21st, 2004, 04:36 AM

Search audio sync in this forum and you'll see some of the usual suspects to round up and look at.

Glenn Chan · January 21st, 2004, 11:14 AM

A lossless codec like animation (Quicktime) will be the same quality as uncompressed by at around 40% of the size. The Microcosm codec (costs money) compresses more than animation. If you need to go even smaller then a lossy codec is in order, but you could probably just span CDs with something like winRAR.

Brandt Wilson · January 21st, 2004, 11:56 AM

Anyone have a good method for color balancing against a Macbeth card? I'm looking for a way to use it as an RGB reference, but can't find a tool to balance anything but for what white is, or to manually tweak the image to taste. Nothing for specific colors on the card.

January 19th, 2004, 01:52 PM	#91
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Thanks, Jeff. Turns out it was a "order" issue. I should have known; it''s the same way in Premiere. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

January 19th, 2004, 09:11 PM	#92
Mike Moncrief Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: orlando florida Posts: 426	more on file formats Hello, Got such good help here before, i am coming back to seek more advice..I am preparing some animations and graphics for a FCP editor across the country( I am working on a PC) and from what I have gathered the Editor is pretty much of a Newbie to Mac and FCP.. I will be sending him some CD's with AVI files on them..What will he have to do to import them into FCP?? Convert to Quicktime?? Instructions please?? thanks so much.. Mike M. __________________ Mike Moncrief mikemoncrief@gmail.com www.themikemoncrief.com

January 20th, 2004, 02:47 AM	#93
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	MB & FC(P)(E)? "Specifically, Magic Bullet does not work with Final Cut Pro because Final Cut Pro supports the Adobe After Effects v3.0 API. Magic Bullet is written for the AE 5.5 API." This is straight from the redgiantsoftware.com MagicBullet FAQ page. I'm rather new to all of this. Aren't FCP users using MB? If so, how? (I currently use FCE). Thanks. Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

January 20th, 2004, 12:22 PM	#94
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	To my knowledge, Magic Bullet is an After Effects plug-in. I've never heard of anyone using it outside of AE. The common workflow would be to finish your cut and then export your work from Final Cut to AE for MB processing. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 20th, 2004, 01:23 PM	#95
G. Lee Gordon Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 431	Upset With Apple!!! Okay brothers & sisters of this forum, we need to pull together. I was one of the proud owners of the new Mac G5. I believed the hype and spent the money for it. One month later they put out a G5 dual 1.8, for roughly the same price as my regular 1.8 (because the original bench tests were slower than they expected) I feel that Apple needs to provide a program to upgrade the people who bought the original G5. A similar program to what they did when they came out with Panther. If we get enough signitures (or support) we can present the case to Apple... SO WHO'S WITH ME!!!

January 20th, 2004, 03:53 PM	#96
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Got it. Now I get to go find out what AE is all about. Thanks, Ken! __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

January 20th, 2004, 05:06 PM	#97
Nicholi Brossia Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 389	Virtual PC, Windows Media Encoder Lately I've been playing around with Windows Media Encoder and really like the results. However, as many of you know, I'm basically out of luck when it comes to running this program on my Mac. But what about Virtual PC? Basically I'm just hoping to hear from someone that already has Virtual PC installed on their Mac. Will it run the free downloadable Windows Media Encoder? __________________ Nicholi Brossia

January 20th, 2004, 08:53 PM	#98
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	I can't really relate to your situation, but Apple is one of those companies that does not focus very well (anymore). Customer satisfaction is far from top priority. Releasing incomlete software is commonplace, letting the people who purchase it beta-test for them (saving Apple money). Apple figures that there is no reason to release finished software, since they can always fix it with a "patch" later. This goes with the OS as well. They just wanna get it out the door and nothing more. I love Macs and all, but if you do choose the Apple platform, your a-hole will eventually begin to hurt at some point. But that's typical with many companies nowadays. (Mods: I tried to say that as politely as I could).

January 20th, 2004, 09:13 PM	#99
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Ted, that is officially know as BOHICA (pronounced bow-he-ka), which stands for bend over, here it comes again. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 21st, 2004, 12:19 AM	#100
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	A company like powerlogix might come out with a dual processor upgrade. The 1.8ghz G5 wasn't a very good buy at the time. I suppose you should have waited a bit.

January 21st, 2004, 04:29 AM	#101
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I don't use Virtual PC, but I haven't heard of a compatibility problem. However, many programs that involve heavy processor work, like encoders, run very, very slowly on Virtual PC. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 21st, 2004, 04:34 AM	#102
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It will be better (higher quality) if the file is uncompressed. Your friend can import the uncompressed avi into QT Pro and convert to whatever format he needs. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 21st, 2004, 04:36 AM	#103
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Search audio sync in this forum and you'll see some of the usual suspects to round up and look at. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 21st, 2004, 11:14 AM	#104
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	A lossless codec like animation (Quicktime) will be the same quality as uncompressed by at around 40% of the size. The Microcosm codec (costs money) compresses more than animation. If you need to go even smaller then a lossy codec is in order, but you could probably just span CDs with something like winRAR.

January 21st, 2004, 11:56 AM	#105
Brandt Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 220	FCP color balancing against Macbeth? Anyone have a good method for color balancing against a Macbeth card? I'm looking for a way to use it as an RGB reference, but can't find a tool to balance anything but for what white is, or to manually tweak the image to taste. Nothing for specific colors on the card.