Formatting a movie for PC on a Mac

This isn't a question I ever thought I'd ask but a problem just arose. I made a movie edited on FCPX and need to provide it on a memory stick for use on a PC based system. I formatted the memory with Disk Utility and copied over the movie. When I tested it it played back properly. Unfortunately I don't have a PC to test it on. Now I just heard that it won't work on the PC that's suppose to run it.

Is there a way to format the memory so that it will run on both Mac and PC? If so would Disk Utility have that?

Think I may have found the answer. Will test tomorrow.

Just make sure it's formatted in the default FAT32/EX-FAT format, OS X, Windows, and LINUX can all read and write to those formats.

Also make sure the video is in a format the person on the receiving end can play.

Hope this helps,
Mark

Use Disk Utulity to format stick to fat32 or exFat for larger files (some very old Windows machines don't accept exFat)

in FCPX, Share. select AppleDevice (!), and in the following dialogue/settings, under 'devices' choose 'computer'.

Will result in a fast and nicely encoded h264.mp4 - suitable for any Windows (and Linux) flavour. And Mac, for sure.

Suggestion:
most people play direct from stick (instead of copying the file onto the internal HDD) - a slow usb2 connection + a fullHD video could cause stutter. Meanwhile usb3-ports, the blue ones, get more and more common, I prefer usb3 sticks.

Karsten and Mark, thank you both for the information. I did as you suggested and tested it at home (iMac) and it worked fine.

BUT, when the person who wanted this movie started it on her machine (PC Windows 10 OS) it gave her a message saying it was unable to play the video because of the encoding used. So now I could use some more advice.

The movie was edited in FCPX from which I made a master file. The master file has a .mov extension. What I need to do is find a way to give her a file that can be read on various PC-based machines she'll have access to in doing presentations at various schools. Any suggestions would be most welcome!

…The movie was edited in FCPX from which I made a master file. The master file has a .mov extension. …

no, that doesn't work on Windows, a) because of wrong wrapper mov, b) because of wrong codec inside, proRes. Both not supported on out-of-the-box Windows.

Why don't you follow my suggestion?

I'm dellivering daily ... ok, weekly that way, no issues from any Windows flavour (7, Vista, 8, 10) ......

As Karsten says, Share from FCPX for Computer.
I've never had a problem distributing media this way, and I have no idea what the receiving user is using computer-wise.

fcpx - share / Apple 720p devices (I forget the exact name).

This will encode a great looking file that won't take many computer resources to play back. If the aim is to have it playable on a wide variety of PCs this is your best bet. I've yet to come across school computers that can play back 1080p high bit rate MP4s without stuttering on playback (which is what the other way exports).

Exporting Master File, and choosing Computer, you will get an mp4 file encoded with the H264 codec. That is the most universal format you can get right now.
Also, heed the advice about playing directly from the usb stick. Unless it is USB3 and used on a USB3 port, it is better to first copy the movie to the computer hard drive and play it from there.

This is all great advice - but I have to stress a high bitrate MP4 isn't right for this audience. If it's to be played in schools your very likely to find ancient windows machines with super slow hard drives that won't be able to handle the bitrate and cpus that can't decode high profile 1080p.. Hell, they may not even have an internet connection.

To cover all bases you cold make a 'master' export as described and an apple devices 720p one as i describe and then you have the option - but I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND just going with the higher quality file.

Exporting a 1080p project to Master File; Computer, you get to choose not only 1080p but also smaller sizes (720p and even smaller).
I would suggest you make more than one version, then test at the venue to see which works better with the actual computer/projector combination.

There's better but there is still a difference. Apple device 720p assumes the device can handle a lower profile and bitrates of 4000/5000 mb per sec. It's designed for low powered devices.

Exporting a master h264 assumes you have unlimited resources for playback on a powerful computer. Even set to 720p it will encode the best quality 720p file it can - which could be as high as 7000/8000 mb per sec *nearly the double the bitrate* and it will also likely use a different h264 profile thats more cpu intensive to playback.

To be really safe you should assume schools will have old windows xp machines and have a wmv copy on the usb stick too just be safe. windows xp can't natively play mp4 files and often school computers are so locked down by administrators you can't install anything *like newer codecs* to aid with playback. But thats kinda complicating things further lol.

Thanks all for the feedback. Once again I've asked for the memory stick back and will try sharing as per instructions. Part of the challenge is that the person I'm providing this for has no clue about computers especially the ones she'll have access to in the schools. My hope was that she'd be using her own laptop but turns out she doesn't have one.

So I'm stuck delivering the video on a USB2 stick. Knowing how tight school funding is here it's unlikely any school equipment will have USB3. Given the nature of the presentations I'm sure the video will be played directly from the stick. I've discussed that problem already but that's reality.

I'll try the 720P approach and also add a lower quality version if I can (thanks lichinho). I'm really hoping I don't have to resort to an SD version. The video is on Vimeo but as CBlakeston pointed out internet access in the schools is probably blocked.

Karsten, I was hoping (foolishly as it turned out) that I'd be able to get away with the FAT formatting as a simple solution and keep the highest possible resolution. Once again there seem to be no shortcuts...

Having volunteered to provide this video to 'help out' I'm reminded (not for the first time) that no good deed goes unpunished!

I really appreciate all of you sharing your knowledge and experience.

… the person I'm providing this for has no clue about computers …

a variant of a Murphy Law, I assume - head of our filmclub at school is teacher for Latin & French and had noooo clue about photography, editing, computers ... now, after 2 years with me, it's getting better :lol:

last hurdle to go:

that person does 'know' double-clicking launches files ...
So, for usb2 = stay with 720.

As mentioned before, 1080 could cause stutter due to sheer amount of data ... when played straight from a usb2 stick. And we don't want to teach her about bitrates, don't we?

fat32, Apple720, computer = mp4 = all fine...... what could possibly go wrong?

That audience won't see any difference between 1080 and 720, stick with 720.

Karsten Schlüter wrote:

… the person I'm providing this for has no clue about computers …

fat32, Apple720, computer = mp4 = all fine...... what could possibly go wrong?

You obviously haven't had to deliver to a diverse enough Windows audience. If i had a nickel for every time I had to deliver a WMV file because some corporate Windows install couldn't play back a plain vanilla 720p .mp4 I'd have... well... a lot of nickels. Like, several nickels.

smg669 wrote: .... If i had a nickel for every time ....

LOL; excellent, resp. poor you! :lol:

Lucky me, h264.mp4 is some sort of standard in my area.....
Lately someone asked me for a 'Flash video' - kicked him out of the office................. :silly:

smg669

Just in case something else crops up in this project how do you create a WMV file?

Squamish ed wrote: smg669

Just in case something else crops up in this project how do you create a WMV file?

I use Sorenson Squeeze Pro to do mine. I have some colleagues who use Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate to do theirs. Typically just use their built-in 720p templates... or the 480p or 360p templates for particularly stone-age target audiences.

For wmv use Adapter, its a free App and does a good enough job.