Editing issues in FCP re ProRes

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Level 1

8 points

Editing issues in FCP re ProRes

I face editing issues in FCP because I'm working with video files created 2004-2010, and 8mm movies converted to .mov. Apple support has told me my editing issues are because my videos are not ProRes compatible. I'm also including many old .jpegs, .PNG screenshots and some AI-enhanced .jpegs, so I'm not sure that only the old videos are the only cause of editing issues. When I started this project 1+ years ago, I had no problem editing, and perhaps the problem is upgrading to Sequoia and the most recent FCP. With many work arounds, I will get through this project.

My question is my next video project. I will convert all the old video to ProRes, but what about my image files? I have an iPhone14 which doesn't have ProRes like the Pro, so do I have to convert these files to ProRes? Apple told me that just because I edit images in Photos, I'm not guaranteed ProRes compatibility. And most irritating, Apple has no ProRes converter app and refuses to recommend a third party.

I would love to hear how anyone is dealing with this "ProRes" challenge.

iMac 24″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Oct 14, 2024 2:01 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 14, 2024 6:29 PM in response to gregmacosko

Start by converting the DV media. I can’t tell you if this will solve all the problems. There may be other factors in the system. You haven’t mentioned anything about the computer, the softest version, or the OS.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 28, 2024 1:55 PM in response to gregmacosko

Keep the frame size the same add the original

Use Fast not Very Fast.

Yes.

AAC.

Yes, you can make the destination a folder on an external drive. The application will create the folder structure it needs inside that.

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Answer 3

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 30, 2024 4:45 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I ran EntreCheck and then followed https://chrome-is-bad.com/ recommendations, deleting Chrome & MalwareBytes. Also deleted Microsoft and some other unneeded files in LaunchAgents/Daemons and have attached an image of current files. I convert a lot of .Pages to .pdfs. Re the EntreCheck attached, not sure what to do re minor issues although I did delete Wondershare Filmora which I don't use.

Since restarting the computer, I have not opened FCP, as it takes some time editing for the problem to occur. I am editing with no other Library, which reduced to 43 GB, so unsure if issue is just one Library.

Thank you for any specific thoughts regarding EntreCheck

EntreCheck Report

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 28, 2024 1:18 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, When I use Handbrake, should I:

make the preset the same as the video being converted, e.g. 720 vs 1080?
Does Fast vs Very Fast matter?
Resolution Limit: original video?
Audio: AAC vs MP3 (and a number of add possibilities)

Finally, when I consolidate Media that is already in a Library, can I now make the Media Destination a file on my external HD, and thereby save HD space?

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 14, 2024 5:55 PM in response to gregmacosko

You don’t need to convert the DV to ProRes. It’s really overkill for SD media. You can convert it to H.264 or HEVC. If it’s 29.97 convert to 30. I’d suggest using Handbrake.

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 15, 2024 3:38 AM in response to gregmacosko

I would still use Handbrake. It’sa free application.

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 28, 2024 5:37 PM in response to gregmacosko

I was just asking information about the computer, the OS, and the SOFTWARE version. It was a typo.

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,971 points

Oct 14, 2024 2:25 PM in response to gregmacosko

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Apple support, the “information” they provide is frequently misleading. ProRes is not absolutely necessary for Final Cut Pro. The application supports a wide range of formats, including JPEGs and PNGs for still images, which should not pose any issues. If the video files are causing problems, converting them to a QuickTime-compatible format is recommended. While ProRes is an excellent codec, it generates large files and requires large and fast drives to function optimally.

Please provide us with the exact specifications of the video media, and we may be able to offer some solutions.

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Answer 9

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2024 2:57 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

All play fine on QuickTime

.mp4 1/1/2024

.mp4 created 8/19/06 as .mov, from minidisk

.mov created from .avi from 8mm 2006

.mov created 2005 from minidisk

.mov created 1/29/19

.mov created ?2006 on minidisk, copied 11/27/16

.mov created 9/16/07 on minidisk, copied 1/17/14

.mov created 10/25/07 on minidisk, copied 11/27/16

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Answer 10

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2024 5:31 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I think I see the problem. 3 of my video CODECs are DV/DVCPRO-NTSC, the others are H.264 and a ProRes 422. The ProRes is 30 FPS and one H.264 is 25 FPS, the rest are 29.97. My resolutions are 1920X1080, 1280X720, 720X540 and all the rest 720X480.

So I assume I must convert the 3 DVs, likely to Apple ProRes 422. And perhaps others. Please recommend how I should do this and to what format FPS and resolution.

Thx

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Answer 11

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2024 6:19 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I cannot edit any of my images or videos. Are the videos, and not the jpegs that I've stretched to longer clips, what are causing my problems? So if I convert, then replace only the DVs to H.264s, should I expect (hope) the editing problems to go away? I don't need to convert anything else?

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Answer 12

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2024 7:37 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Current FCP and editing problems came when I upgraded to sequoia, so went back to Sonoma but same editing issues. I’ll go back to Sequoia. iMac GQ55C6YXY7 with Mac chip, M3 I think. I have UniConverter Wondershare. Will it do the conversions?

I appreciate your help.

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Answer 13

gregmacosko Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 28, 2024 4:39 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I don't know what you mean by "softest version." I have an iMac M3 w Sequoia 15.0.1.

Should I keep the parameters of a HandBrake conversion as close as possible to the original video clip's parameters? Audio AAC or MP3? Can I offload consolidated original media in a FCP library to an external folder?

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Answer 14

Oct 29, 2024 2:56 AM in response to gregmacosko

I don't know who told you that ProRes was essential but it is completely untrue as Tom has hinted.

Unless I have missed it as I skimmed through this thread, have you actually described to us how your editing problems manifest themselves?

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Answer 15

Oct 29, 2024 3:48 AM in response to gregmacosko

gregmacosko wrote:

So I assume I must convert the 3 DVs, likely to Apple ProRes 422. And perhaps others.

Maybe I am missing what editing issues are you having?

In my experience if the current macOS version QuickTime Player can play it, then also Final Cut can import with no extra conversions.

I have imported .dv movie files to Final Cut and then exported to the desired codec.

After Mojave Apple dropped some old codecs so those codecs and wrappers might very well need a conversion.

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