FCP Removes Video Information from File upon Optimization

Hi All,

I am attempting to import a 1080 P video captured with the Rec app using an iPhone 8 operating under iOS 14.4.2.

When importing the video into FCP 10.5.2 the file looks normal. However, when FCP completes optimization of the file the video information is gone but the audio information is untouched.

Additionally, if I first transcode the file to ProRes 422 both video and audio information are OK.

I have attached a small file. Does anyone have an idea what might be going on?

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Don Barar

I don't see an attached file, but why are you optimizing this footage in the first place? I use iPhone footage in FCP natively all the time without issues. And specifically what metadata is missing once FCP optimizes the clips?

Hi Ben:

Thank you for responding. I tried several times to upload the file and am surprised to learn that no files were uploaded.

On to your question about why I am optimizing video files from an iPhone 8. I recognize this is not needed and that the files work fine without optimizing.

Most of what I shoot are UHD H.265 on an X-T3. Hence, I have set FCP preferences to generate optimized files upon import. These files definitely need to be optimized for use on my late 2016 MBP. However, sometimes for part of a project I will use a few iPhone 8 files along with files from the X-T3. I import all of the files at once and optimize them all. The optimized files from the X-T3 are fine. However, the optimized iPhone 8 files lose their video information.

The only work around is two imports. One with preferences set to optimize when importing files from the X-T3. Then perform a second round of imports with preferences set to do not optimize for the files from the iPhone 8.

I would rather not do this as it complicates importing. As an aside, I can generate ProRes 422 files from iPhone 8 files using Compressor. Not sure why, FCP optimization should be any different.

Hope this helps you understand my logic.

Don Barar

Exactly what metadata is missing when FCP transcodes?

Hi Ben,

This is not an issue of meta data.  Want happens is the video portion of the file is lost.  So all I have left is audio--no moving pictures just sound.

Don

Hi Ben,

This is not an issue of meta data.  Want happens is the video portion of the file is lost.  So all I have left is audio--no moving pictures just sound.

Don

Oh, that's very odd...

dgbarar wrote: ...When importing the video into FCP 10.5.2 the file looks normal. However, when FCP completes optimization of the file the video information is gone but the audio information is untouched....

What version of MacOS are you running? Have you updated to the latest version of Apple Pro Video Formats? In recent versions of MacOS, that's done in System Preferences>Software Update. 

Before Big Sur, the version of Apple Pro Video Formats you are running can be inspected in About this Mac>System Report>Software>Installations, then scroll down to Pro Video Formats.

I just did a fresh install of Big Sur and I no longer see those entries, so apparently in Big Sur they are automatically installed.  The pro video codecs are in /Library/Video/Professional Video Workflow Plug-Ins. 

Hi Joema:

Currently on MacOS 11.2.3. I am waiting to complete a project before updating to 11.3.1.

I looked at my library. There is no video directory.

Don

dgbarar wrote: Hi Joema:
I looked at my library. There is no video directory...

That directory is off the root, not in the user library folder. In Finder if you select the menu Go>Go to Folder, then enter this string (without quotes) it should go there: "/Library/Video/Professional Video Workflow Plug-Ins"

If you can upload a short test clip to DropBox, Google Drive or anywhere else, we can examine it on various versions of MacOS and FCP.

Can't repeat the problem with an iPhone 11, but I didn't see the problem in earlier versions.