Re-compressing Quicktime to Quicktime for FCP at DVinfo.net

Cameron Poole · December 21st, 2011, 10:03 AM

I am making a showreel from previous projects which were converted into Quicktime files at 1280 x 720. The highlights of each project I am editing in MPEG stream clip and compressing to Quicktime (for the second time) in Apple Prores 422, then I will stitch together the separate Quicktime movies in FCP7.

The original footage is taken on a Panasonic AV HMC 152 and GoPro Hero HD.

How much am I compromising quality by doing this and is there a better way of doing it?

For the record, the finished compilation/showreel is unlikely to be shown on anything larger than a laptop screen.

Les Wilson · December 21st, 2011, 10:41 AM

I dare say the last step you describe as "Compression into Quicktime -Prores422" is for all intents and purposes an Uprez and not lossy.

When you export from FCP to a "Quicktime File" (not using Quicktime compression or Compressor), FCP gathers all the bits from the timeline plus the render files and assembles them together in either a standalone file or as a reference file depending what you choose. It keeps the video compressed in the same format so that's lossless as well.

So if you went from the camera native format into FCP into a Quicktime (camera native) File into MPEG Streamclip into Quicktime (Prores), I don't see much loss going on. However, if you did apply compression when you exported from FCP, then that quality is what's going to come out the end of this current effort.

Make sense?

Cameron Poole · December 21st, 2011, 10:52 AM

That's pretty much what I was hoping to hear. Thanks again Les.

...And a Merry Christmas to you!

Daniel Epstein · December 22nd, 2011, 09:19 PM

My experience lately is you should try and edit the footage without compressing it in Mpeg Streamclip first for best quality. I have a client who sends me mp4 footage which loses too much quality if i convert it first edit and then output. Sometimes I use the converted footage as a proxy so I can edit something and then go back to the original for conforming. My point is recompressing does show up and may bother you more than you think. Also using compressor with a reference file for output looks much cleaner than Mpeg Streamclip. Still use Streamclip but not if i am concerned about the output looking its best.

December 21st, 2011, 10:03 AM	#1
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Re-compressing Quicktime to Quicktime for FCP I am making a showreel from previous projects which were converted into Quicktime files at 1280 x 720. The highlights of each project I am editing in MPEG stream clip and compressing to Quicktime (for the second time) in Apple Prores 422, then I will stitch together the separate Quicktime movies in FCP7. The original footage is taken on a Panasonic AV HMC 152 and GoPro Hero HD. How much am I compromising quality by doing this and is there a better way of doing it? For the record, the finished compilation/showreel is unlikely to be shown on anything larger than a laptop screen.

December 21st, 2011, 10:41 AM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Re-compressing Quicktime to Quicktime for FCP I dare say the last step you describe as "Compression into Quicktime -Prores422" is for all intents and purposes an Uprez and not lossy. When you export from FCP to a "Quicktime File" (not using Quicktime compression or Compressor), FCP gathers all the bits from the timeline plus the render files and assembles them together in either a standalone file or as a reference file depending what you choose. It keeps the video compressed in the same format so that's lossless as well. So if you went from the camera native format into FCP into a Quicktime (camera native) File into MPEG Streamclip into Quicktime (Prores), I don't see much loss going on. However, if you did apply compression when you exported from FCP, then that quality is what's going to come out the end of this current effort. Make sense?

December 21st, 2011, 10:52 AM	#3
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Re: Re-compressing Quicktime to Quicktime for FCP That's pretty much what I was hoping to hear. Thanks again Les. ...And a Merry Christmas to you!

December 22nd, 2011, 09:19 PM	#4
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: Re-compressing Quicktime to Quicktime for FCP My experience lately is you should try and edit the footage without compressing it in Mpeg Streamclip first for best quality. I have a client who sends me mp4 footage which loses too much quality if i convert it first edit and then output. Sometimes I use the converted footage as a proxy so I can edit something and then go back to the original for conforming. My point is recompressing does show up and may bother you more than you think. Also using compressor with a reference file for output looks much cleaner than Mpeg Streamclip. Still use Streamclip but not if i am concerned about the output looking its best.