exporting from final cut pro x to after effects and viceversa

Hello there, I'm having some troubles when I try to export a clip from final cut pro x to adobe after effects.

Once I've done with after effects I just export the modified clip and then I import it in final cut once again, but I find there are 2 frames missing. Do I make any mistake?

Thanks in advance for help

Cheers

Pietro

Where are you exporting from the browser or the project? What are the frame rates of the media and project? What frame rate are you using in the AE comp? Drop frame or non-drop?

Hi Tom, I made a video clip on final cut, then I have exported just a cut clip (a few frames just to put some effects on after effects), not the whole video... I imported the "exported clip" in after effects from the browser; put the effects on my clip and exported again (using adobe encoder). When I import once again the same file on final cut 2 frames are missing.

I create new compositions without changing any parameter: so it's 25 bit frames/sec. I use quick player as default settings and exported at H264.

About drop frame, honestly I don't know (I'm actually a beginner), but I use to work with all the standard options and parameters. Maybe I have changed something unintentionally?

Thanks Tom for the help

Do not export H.264. Export ProRes. Use Cmd-J to check the project properties, and report exactly what they are.

Are you exporting from the timeline or the browser? Export more than you export. Export with handles.

I'm exporting from the timeline... I was told that H264 it was a good quality for HD and youtube as well. So you suggest ProRes and have I to export with black frames (after and before the clip) or cutting the part from a near clip?

What's wrong with H264 anyway? (just curious..)

But you're not exporting for YouTube. You're exporting fro After Effects where you want to maintain the highest quality possible. H.264 is GOP frame, very heavily compressed format used in acquisition and delivery. It should never be used in production and never as an intermediate.

Not black frames, actually video.

If you're exporting from the timeline, use Shift-F to take you to tyne same clip in the browser. Make the selection a little longer in the front and back and export it from there.

Thanks so much Tom, I'll let you know how it's going. Anyway you look very skilled, may I ask you if you know a way to use the "clone tool" in after effects cc and make it move like "motion tracking"?

Don't know After Effects.

yes, Tom is right!
do not use H.264, it a codec that compress "between frames"
you need a codec that compress "in frame"

I don't know much about H.264
but what I know is:
if you use mpeg codec for editing, than export it , than import back
I'm sure you will get the problem with your clip duration, I've tried that.

you can just choose photo-jpeg or prores422 or uncompressed etc.
a lot of codec to avoid the problem.

and to make sure you use the right frame rate which is same to your clip,
you can drag your clip to make a composition in AE.
do not use creat composition by yourself.

H.264 will loose generational quality quickly.
ProRes won't.
No need for uncompressed these days.

yes,
prores422 will loose quality when I compress 10times.
and also dvcprohd.

we have done PNR tests.

Ok, ProRes is the best one, but I need anyway an HD video so I guess I have to use apple ProRess 422(HQ))?

Among the options:
Apple ProRes 4444
Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
Apple ProRes 422
Apple ProRes (LT)
Apple ProRes (Proxy)
Apple ProRes

H.264
Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2
Uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2

DVCPRO HD
HDV/ XDCAM HD (25Mbps)
XDCAM EX (35 Mbps)
XDCAM HD (35 Mbps)
XDCAM HD422 (50 Mbps)


Which one is the best for an HD video?
Anyway is ProRes good for the final export as well?
Am I going to have problems playing the video on others computer or players?

ProRes 422 up to 1080.

Best for export.

Depends on what has to play it back.

I suppose quick player and about computer a window and apple too. The truth is that a cameraman (defined DIRECTOR by himself) messed up with our video clip... and he couldn't even put the right sequence of the storyline.. I also was told that he could use fx of any kind... Now I got somehow the images and I'm just trying to make a decent videoclip. Anyway I need a high quality video for the producers and I'm in hurry.

Tom Wolsky wrote: ProRes 422 up to 1080.

Why up to 1080? Would it not be better to use the ProRes bandwidth figures?

From my reading it looks like most of the ProRes differences (ignoring ProRes 4444) are the supported bandwidth. Correct? If my DSLR camera captures 1080p30 with a video bandwidth of 47 Mbps what advantage does using ProRes 422 [147 Mbps] give me over ProRes 422 (LT) [102 Mbps]? Both will capture all that the original media contains. I could almost squeak by using ProRes 422 (Proxy) [45 Mbps] but not the proxy files used by FCPX which would also reduce 1080p30 to 540p30.

In a simple "how does it look" test using 720p media with about a 15 Mbps bandwidth I see no difference between

Original media: 13 MB H.264 720p
Transcode High Quality: 64 MB ProRes 422 720p
Export as ProRes 422 (proxy) 21 MB 720p

I do see a difference when looking at the FCPX transcoded proxy file -- 12 MB ProRes 422 (Proxy) (640x360)

LT is an excellent codec, and indeed it will serve most people's needs. However it does not recompress as well, especially if it needs to be reprocessed. ProRes will maintain its original quality through multiple generations and so is considered a better intermediate. But if you're happy with LT use it. Use Proxy if you like. FCP reduces the frame resolution when it creates proxies, but you don't have to.

Original DSLR footage is in H.264, a very efficient, complex, GOP structured codec, while ProRes is an I-frame codec so simply comparing data rates is irrelevant and wholly misleading.

But hey, do whatever you want. I have my opinion.

Ok then, I think I exported a good quality video using ProRes... now my problem is when I export from after effects and I import it on final cut again. There's no ProRes in after effects, how could I do this time? (thanks to everybody for helping me, I appreciate that)

ProRes will be available if you have one of the Apple pro apps installed on your system. You can also use Animation.

Tom Wolsky wrote:
Original DSLR footage is in H.264, a very efficient, complex, GOP structured codec, while ProRes is an I-frame codec so simply comparing data rates is irrelevant and wholly misleading.

But hey, do whatever you want. I have my opinion.

FWIW Tom, I trust your opinions more than many people's facts.

Tom Wolsky wrote: Original DSLR footage is in H.264, a very efficient, complex, GOP structured codec, while ProRes is an I-frame codec so simply comparing data rates is irrelevant and wholly misleading.

I was assuming that the published bandwidth figures represent video resolution of the decoded stream, not file size/transmission time. Your answer implies that my assumption is incorrect. If the bandwidth figures are only specifying transmission or storage requirements then of course they are not comparable.