Final Cut Pro capture settings - what's optimum?

[harrymotion]

Hey guys,

I have FCP and the new iMovie on Snow Leopard.

I am trying to import/transfer footage from my HV40 connected via Firewire.

What are the settings I should have in the Easy Setup pane?

HD? 25 fps? ....?

Thanks,

Harry

p.s. is there any difference in quality if i import via iMovie?

[cgbier]

The same settings you shot with.

[harrymotion]

The same settings you shot with.

...HD video with 25 progressive fps

That narrows it down to 15 options.

See:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/755...00227at114.png

Thanks.

[Janke]

Actually, you only have one HDV 25p option there...

You could also use Apple Intermediate, this is compatible with iMovie.

[harrymotion]

Actually, you only have one HDV 25p option there...

You could also use Apple Intermediate, this is compatible with iMovie.

Thanks very much. I will use that option then.

Is there any mileage in using FCP rather than iMovie?

I haven't tried FCP yet, but iMovie seems wonderfully simple on automatic import; FCP can't be as easy.

[cgbier]

If you know what you are doing, it is.

Check your capture settings in iMovie also. You might accidentally capture in 960x540.

[harrymotion]

If you know what you are doing, it is.

Check your capture settings in iMovie also. You might accidentally capture in 960x540.

Thanks, legend

[harrymotion]

Actually, you only have one HDV 25p option there...

You could also use Apple Intermediate, this is compatible with iMovie.

If I 'Log and Capture' using Apple Intermediate, I get no control over the L&C process, it just starts playback and records indefinitely.

I switched it to HDV 1080p25 FireWire Basic, and got something which now looks like the proper L&C window.

I am confused! Which settings should I go for?

[cgbier]

The one you are more comfortable with.

[harrymotion]

Actually, you only have one HDV 25p option there...

You could also use Apple Intermediate, this is compatible with iMovie.

Janke, what you're saying is that there is only one setting in FCP that is actually for my recording settings and that is the:

"HDV 1080p25" setting, right?

I imported it without optimisation later into iMovie and it seemed compatible. How is Apple Intermediate more compatible?

Thanks sincerely,

Harry

[Janke]

1: "HDV 1080p25" setting, right?

2: I imported it without optimisation later into iMovie and it seemed compatible. How is Apple Intermediate more compatible?

1: If you shoot 25P, you must choose 25P for import. There are several 25P codecs in FCP, though.

2: AIC is the format that iMovie uses and thus also recognizes. AFAIK, some Pro formats can't be imported into iMovie, at least into the version I'm using.

[harrymotion]

2: AIC is the format that iMovie uses and thus also recognizes. AFAIK, some Pro formats can't be imported into iMovie, at least into the version I'm using.

1 & 2. Thanks, that's great info. Thanks.

3. You said earlier that there was only one option. I see this is true if I choose FORMAT HDV and FRAME RATE 25. Am I meant to choose FORMAT PAL instead to get more appropriate options?

Sorry to ask so many questions: I just don't want to transfer 20 hours of video and then it to have to be re-done because I chose the wrong setting!

[Janke]

Am I meant to choose FORMAT PAL instead to get more appropriate options?

PAL is only for DV recordings, not hi-def HDV. What did you shoot in?

[harrymotion]

PAL is only for DV recordings, not hi-def HDV. What did you shoot in?

Definitely HDV.