Flip Video and Final Cut Pro Workflow
I use my Flip Ultra HD camera often and especially for my show Chip’s Flip (go figure). I had a lot of people ask me about my Flip HD camera workflow (esp. with Final Cut Pro) so I created a short video tutorial on what I use and how I do it.
Feel free to leave comments and/or ask questions and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
(Update: I export MPEG Streamclip at 50% and it works fine for most web videos, but to get the highest resolution and the largest file size I would use 100%.)
June 12th by chip 45 Comments
45 Comments
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Great video, trying your workflow out now. I've got a ton of flip video I've wanted to use in FCP. Looking forward to making this part of my workflow if successful.
Thanks for the video
Thanks for your comment, I hope it is successful, I use it often and it works well for me.
Thanks. Just what I was looking for.
Nice demo…what version of FCP are you using? I use version 5, will your workflow work with v.5? Thanks!
Using FCP version 6.06 in this tutorial. I also have FCP 7 on another machine and I had version 5 and it worked great.
It works with all versions of FCP. I use FCP 6.06 but it works with FCP5 or the latest FCP 7.
Thanks I'll give it a try.
I take it that this will also work with FCE 4.0?
I haven't tried 4.0 yet, but if you have that it you should consider an upgrade.
Hey – thanks for this.
I have a question; will mpeg streamclip also work to convert high quality AVCHD files, or do you think I need Cineform Neoscene for that?
I actually have one more question. FCP 7 has a 'share' function, that puts things into a mov file for youtube.
I wonder how it compares to Cram Compressor… I imagine the transcoding time would be similar?
Mark, I don't have any experience with AVCHD files, sorry. I have FCP 7 and even though it encodes in the background for YouTube, I still like my workflow I have by exporting out my files first. I will do a test soon and post transcoding times.
Thanks for this. It was very helpful and well laid out.
What was the Lower 3rd Text preset you used? Was that one you created before and added?
Chris, for my lower-third text I used a free plug-in called Alex 4-D it provides more typeface, position and design options for adding text to productions. Download it from his blog: http://alex4d.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/free-final...
Cheers!
Thanks so much for that!
Hi All,
1) Good tips on the workflow for Flip footage. Any suggestions on using it in conjunction with other HD footage, namely DvcProHD from P2? One or the other will have to be converted and wonder if you have had success with converting the Flip footage to DvcProHD.
2) I just had to work with AvcHD footage (m2ts files) and had to use the following program though it only works with Windows currently. Otherwise OSX does not like these files at all.
Great tip. Concise information. I am thinking about purchasing a few Flips for use as anybody cams, but wanted to make sure FCP would work. Thank you. You sound like you are from B'more. (My old home town–still love dem O's, hon!).
Chip, this is a great help! I've just started doing a video blog and am purchasing a flip hd to do my vids. I am using imovie hd but havent ventured into the wonderful world of Final Cut. I have thought about FCE but am stuck on Imovie right now. Thanks for the info. I believe the filp will be great for my ministry. Talk to you soon. (Loved the Chip's Flip, by the way) Kirk Thompson
can you batch export files from mpeg streamclip?
Yep, really easy to batch export in MPEG Streamclip. Open the batchlist (List –> Batch List), and drag all your clips onto the batch list, then choose the settings to apply to your batch.
Chip, I have a suggestion for you.
When you use MPEG Streamclip, to make the Quicktime file, you are ending up with a much larger file size. I suggest you modify your workflow like this: In MPEG Streamclip's export dialog box, when you are exporting as a quicktime file, at the very top of that box, where it says "Compression:" you have it set to Apple Motion JPEG A. If you change this to H.264, I think you'll find the file size is about the same as, or smaller than the original Mp4 file from the Flip camera, but the quality is still good.
Just a thought. Best wishes and thanks for this video.
Thanks Martin for your comments. I have changed my workflow and H264 is part of it. I made this video in June of 2009. Thanks for your kind works.
thank you so much! this really helped me out!
Chip, after I import my converted mov file into Final Cut I can see and hear it within the "viewer" window, but when I drop it into my timeline it says unrendered. I followed your tutorial and I don't think I missed anything. I do have an old version of Final Cut 5. I changed my work flow by using the H264 and it dropped the file size quite a bit. I just want to begin editing. Augh! I'm new to Final Cut. Is there something else I can do?
I would suggest you upgrade to Final Cut 6 at least, it handles HD much better. If you can get Final Cut Express HD that would be cheaper and good. Follow the same work-flow and it should work out.
This really helped! Thank you so much. When editing with the mp4's which Flip creates I was getting a red screen and a general error.
Thanks! excellent post.
But, I need to do a project for cinema screening. would i still convert to mov files at 50% quality or go to 100%?
and when exporting – which compressor format will i choose to mantain quality?
Use 100% remember MPEG streamclip and ProRes is just an intermediate codec.
Use mp4 to upload to youtube and etc.
For exporting for a cinema screening use a self contained quicktime movie.
what compression settings would you use for exporting to self conatine mov. file? I have to work with final cut express for a project and have realised that i can only work with dv codecs (?) ie. 720×576 (letterboxed) pal – so need to at least export to keep highest possible quality for screening. Any tips appreciated
Using FCP 7, not able to get "clip settings" on these files. When I try, I get a message: "No items have files that are applicable to this operation." Also, the files exported by Streamclip still need rendering, even if I use DV format. What am I doing wrong?
Don, I will send you an email and I will help you through your issue.
Chip, thanks for the video, have a question. I used mpeg streamclip, but when I dropped the clips in my timeline they all played but had dropped frames at the end of every clip. How can I fix this? Thanks for your help
Hi,
I tried to follow your instructions but my Flip videos won’t open in MPEG Streamclip! Ok, they do open but they show neither video nor can i hear the audio track. Trying to export it, I just get a black video. I’m using the standard definition Flip and not the HD version, and my clips are in the avi-format. Do you know if there’s a workaround to this? I can open the videos smoothly in the VLC player but in no other player I tried on the Mac.
Hope you can help me out!
Richie
Richie,
Try to convert the avi files to .mov using compressor 3.5 if you have it. I have limited experience with the SD flip camera, but try that and see what happens.
Thank you so much!
This was driving me nuts, and I was using iMovie for the longest time.
I had a premade project, so I had to change the video compression of the project to match what MPEG Streamclip exported, but everything work perfectly. Thanks much!
Thank you for this. Solved all the problems I was encountering immediately!
Wow! No more rendering ’til the cows come home. An excellent, concise video. I can finally tackle that backlog of Flip Video clip conversions to FCP with ease. Thank you!
7MB mp4 doesn’t beat the 40MB mov, once you look at the size of the render files. I love Mpeg Streamclip and use it all the time. Best freeware ever.
Thanks for this, I’m working in Final Cut Studio HD, FCP 5, and in making a .mov just as described in the vid, exporting with MpegStreamclip, low and behold, I get the “render” bar in FCP. What is up with that?
Maybe I need to go set up things right at the outset to have that change. I’ll look at that now.
I can play the imported video’s in the viewer just fine, but when I pull them to the timeline, that is when I get the problem and have to “render.”
I don’t have a lot of the settings, no setting exactly for 1280 x 720, so I do that in “custom” for that sequence, which should match up everything just fine, right?
Good stuff here in this vid, just have this rendering glitch.
Found my Problem on Rendering.
My Final Cut Pro Sequence “settings” were all correct, accept for the Compressor. I changed it to “Motion Jpeg A” and now the render bar left, all the footage comes in magnificently and is ready to edit without any render issues.
Thanks so much for the great info.
Ok, great glad it worked out. Remember FCP 6 has all the ProRes Codecs.
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Hey Chip,
this is a great tutorial, but I’m having a problem and I thought maybe you could help.
When I open my flip video file in MPEG Streamclip (v 1.9.2 for mac), the audio is out of sync. The original flip video mp4 is fine, it is only after opening it with Streamclip. Needless to say, after exporting as a quicktime and importing into FCE 4, the audio is still out of sync. I have tried different clips, but they all do the same thing.
Any ideas?