My Video is pixelated in very 2 seconds

When i'm using final cut pro x to make a video. the play back and even the exported video happens pixelated / mosaic images in every 2 seconds approx. It's very annoying. I don't know why but there's no problem with the original clip…


here are the images:

So this one is from the play back screen shot on FCPX


Then this one is the screen shot of playing the original clip on Quicktime player


Basically the pictures are not full-screen pixelated as you noticed. They are just partly blur / mosaic/ pixelated when objects move. If the objects do not move, it would not be blurred basically. For examples, this clip is showing a person comes to the desk and picks up the mobile phone. So you can see the part of the person and the phone are blur. On the other hand, the vase and the table, which do not move, are clear.

So it just happens when things are keep moving quickly.

What format are you exporting to? Does it appear in exported ProRes 422 files?

Pixelation could happen for many different reasons, including ram / hard disk issues, but more likely because you're overloading the export codec. So that's the first place I'd look, then once that's discounted look further up the chain.

If it's happening during playback within FCPX, if you render the sequence does it still happen?

Is it there is you step through one frame at a time?

It happens both in play back and the exported video. And I've checked the files in the folder of Final Cut Events / New Event / Original Media /. When I play the videos, they have no problems, no pixelation.

I've tried different codes they are just the same case!

And my other question about whether it's there or not as you step through frame by frame?

there it is!

Do you have any render files in this project? If so delete the project render files and then step through to see if the pixelation is still there.

If it is then move on to what else could be causing it, like do you have effects applied?

I've deleted the "render files" folder and reopened the software. it still happens when I step through frame by frame or play the videos.

I've only put some color changes effect on my videos. Like the pictures shown that they are quite blue!

but actually just some of the clip I've changed the colours. Not all of them. As most of them are already like this when I use the video camera to record. So I don't think it's the problem of those colour changed clips.

If you disable all the effects - including all colour changes etc, does it still happen?

What format (codec) is the source video?

What frame rate is the source video?

What frame rate is your sequence?

Do you have any speed changes applied?

how could I check all of your questions? i mean the rate of the source video etc? i guess the problem is sty the setting in FCP doesn't match the source video.

For speed changes. I've retimed some of the clips. but those have not been done have the same pixel problems.

Select the clip then in the inspector go to the info panel.

For the project, select the project in the event browser and go to the inspector / info panel.

Clip Codeces: H.264, Linear PCM

Project Render Format: Uncompressed 10 bit 4:2:2

I'd try optimizing, rather than H.264.
I'd also set refer to ProRes, not Uncompressed. Uncompressed is a bit out of date. ProRes is the same quality, smaller file sizes.

Do you mean select the clip, right click transcode media and click "created optimized media"? I did it. no change…

i changed to ProRes for whole project. no change.

FTH, i would rather use iMovie next time as it has no such a problem… I thought final cut pro would gimme the best environment to output the better video. it just pissed me off

Wen I look at the screenshot you have posted I only see some horrible bluish shape and I really cannot tell if it is pixelated or not because the quality is so bad. I don't even see the second screenshot, only a question mark.

Could you post a screenshot of an original clip that is of any better quality than the one you have posted and under it the "pixelated" version you say you see in FCP X? Then maybe we can see what's going on.

- Ronny

What model/year Mac are you using?
How much RAM?
What drive is your Library on?

Finally, I'd change the render from Uncompressed to ProRes. This is done in the project's settings.

Thanks Ronny.

here are the images:

So this one is from the play back screen shot on FCPX


Then this one is the screen shot of playing the original clip on Quicktime player


Basically the pictures are not full-screen pixelated as you noticed. They are just partly blur / mosaic/ pixelated when objects move. If the objects do not move, it would not be blurred basically. For examples, this clip is showing a person comes to the desk and picks up the mobile phone. So you can see the part of the person and the phone are blur. On the other hand, the vase and the table, which do not move, are clear.

So it just happens when things are keep moving quickly.

i'm using the last version on Mac book pro 13". not the newest and thinner version one. the ram is 2GB + 2GB 1333 MHz DDR3. The CPU is 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5. some clips are in hard drive and some are in external. but it happens every clips no matter they are in external or internal hard disks.

but i think it's not the problem with my laptop…right? nothing happens on iMovie. And mac book pro has the ability to do a bit advanced work, right? I guess...

my FCPX version is 10.0.6

Dann_Leung wrote: my FCPX version is 10.0.6

Why are you not using 10.1.1 like most other people?

I cannot see the screenshots, I only see large squares with question marks inside. Is it just me or does everyone else sees this as well? Could you make your screenshots smaller? Maybe they're too large for the forum.

Anyway, as you describe the blurring only happens on moving pictures this may be an interpolation issue. It would really help if I could see the screenshots.

- Ronny