encoding QT file FROM .m2v file

Hi:

I found an old DVD with data files. For this project, I didn't save a QT file of the final product. All I have are the .m2v and .aif files.

I was able to watch the video using MPEG Streamclip. Even tried (took alllll day) to encode from the file and make a QT file, encoding to Vimeo's specs.

The file is jumpy and pixelated.

Any other suggestions? Maybe I need to have different settings, since I'm using the .m2v as my source.

Thanks for any insight!
SK

stkirkland wrote: … old DVD with data files. … All I have are the .m2v and .aif files. …

just to speed-up any encoding: copy all files onto one of your ext. hard-drives - encoding straight from disk is painstaking slow due to 'mechanics'.

.m2v should be mpeg2 encoded, and is most probably SDef, so don't expect wonders in quality be transcoding it into anything .......

I would transcode it into proRes/480, add the audio in a FCPX SDef project and export to h264 .....

Karsten:

Thank you for replying. I'm assuming I'd use Compressor to encode the .m2v file (yes it's SDef...was made back in 2001). Will find a ProRes/480 setting.

When you say ProRes/480... do you mean ProRes 422 and then have settings as 720x480? I shouldn't have it as 422 (HQ) since it's originally in SD, right?

stkirkland wrote: … .. do you mean ProRes 422 and then have settings as 720x480?

exactly - a lossless intermediate codec, and in original res to avoid scaling losses.

422 HQ for standard definition is overkill. ProRes 422 adapts to what is being encoded. It keeps data rate, frame size, frame rate the same as the original, unless you customize a Compressor preset to force to a different configuration.

OK, so if ProRes 422 of any sort is overkill, what is the solution? Can you create a preset for some sort of QT file that has the right settings? Going from .m2v to... what?

Thanks for all this feedback!!

stkirkland wrote: OK, so if ProRes 422 of any sort is overkill, what is the solution?

Not what I said. I said ProRes HQ was overkill. Use ProRes LT to save disk space, or ProRes 422 if desired. Just not ProRes HQ nor ProRes 4444.

Karsten: OK, so I'm finally getting to finish this... I'm transcoding the .m2v file in Compressor, using the ProRes422/480 setting. I'm also going to open an SDef project in FCPX (never done it, but I'm sure I can figure it out fairly simply) and import the .aif file for audio, exporting the .H264 file from that.

Once I have these 2 separate elements, how do I combine them into one final file? Do I import the ProRes422 video file into the FCPX SDef project along with the .aif and export it all out into the final .H264 file? This might be what you originally meant several posts back.

Thanks for your help and insight.

Yes, drop both into one Timeline, sync up, export in whatever format you want.

stkirkland wrote: … This might be what you originally meant several posts back.

Thanks for your help and insight.

Ja

less insight, simple 'just do it'....... :woohoo:

■ karsten

Alright.. imported the file into fcpx and watched only the video so far. it's jumpy, doesn't look good. The file I'm importing is: ProRes422, NTSC SD, 720x480, 29.97 fps. I suppose these are the native settings of the footage I shot (I thought it was 24P, but this was shot on a Canon XL-1 back in the day). The properties of the project I'm importing into on fcpx are: 720x480, NTSC SD, 23.98p.

I think what's causing the jumpiness is the inconsistency between the frame rates (original footage doesn't look progressive / project settings in fcpx for frame rate are listed at progressive). However, I can't change the project property's frame rate; it's only option is 23.98.

If I go back and re-compress my original as 23.98 (if that's even possible) would that fix it?

Thanks.

Yep, once a project is 24fps, seems you can't go to 30i.

OK, create a brand new Project. Do NOT select the default "auto" settings. Manually force it into: NTSC-DV, 720x480 DV, 29.97i and you should be good.

Ripping from an SD DVD is not going to give you great quality. That MPEG-2 compression is hell on video. A second generation transcode from it won't be great. ProRes 422 will maintain the quality as much as you'll get. But I'd never expect great quality from video that highly compressed.

Ben: Thanks! That did it. I used the interlaced 29.97 setting and it actually looks pretty decent. I appreciate it.