iDVD and Final Cut Express flickering screen problem

S

stulanka

Member
I'm trying to make a simple DVD for a client.

I'm editing SD footage in FCE, exporting as a Quicktime movie using the Quicktime converter and it comes out as a bit of a liney .mov file when there's any movement on the screen, but it's watchable.

Then I burn it to DVD using Apple's iDVD program and it flickers like crazy and is unwatchable.

BUT - the problem is only on a TV screen. On mac's DVD Player, it's fine. On a small portable DVD player, it's fine too.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a fix for this? Any help appreciated.

Thanks...
 
On what kind of TV are you noticing this? Old-school CRT sets only, or on newer HD sets as well?

As for your SD footage, what format are you shooting, at what frame rate, and is it progressive or interlaced? What FCE project/sequence settings are you using?

The other question: why on earth are you exporting from FCE using QuickTime conversion? To what format are you exporting? FCE (and even FCP) is a terrible tool for compression. Further, iDVD is going to chew up your video, so you need to start with the best quality you can. In FCE, try File>Export>QuickTime Movie and use current settings for a self-contained Final Cut movie. This will export a full-rez file from your project. Then drop that into iDVD and see if you don't get better results.
 
Is there a reason why you are exporting from FCE using QT conversion instead of current settings?

What codec are you using for the conversion?

Probably best to stay with an export using current setting. That will produce an exact copy of your sequence.

Let us know.
 
Hi thanks for your reply.

I'm pretty new to this. I have two options in FCE for exporting: 1 save as a self-contained final cut movie or 2 export using Quicktime conversion. I don't really understand the difference between the two, but was under the (probably wrong) impression that if I used 1, it could only watch it if I had FCE on the computer (because in the past when I have saved as 1 and when later watch it back, it opens FCE automatically to view it).

I shot it in DVCAM 50i SQ - I've been trying 2 for days trying to find a codec which will allow me to set the field dominance to bottom first so that it'll stop the flicker - possibly another red herring.

Sequence settings: my sequencing preset is DV PAL 48khz.

I'm going to try your suggestion of exporting using 1 - I'll let you know how I get on...
 
Self contained is a digital copy. QuickTime conversion convert to a different codec than the one used in your sequence.
 
stulanka said:
I'm pretty new to this. I have two options in FCE for exporting: 1 save as a self-contained final cut movie or 2 export using Quicktime conversion. I don't really understand the difference between the two, but was under the (probably wrong) impression that if I used 1, it could only watch it if I had FCE on the computer (because in the past when I have saved as 1 and when later watch it back, it opens FCE automatically to view it).

I'm going to try your suggestion of exporting using 1 - I'll let you know how I get on...
Click to expand...

A self-contained Final Cut movie is just a QuickTime video file that is an exact export of your project's sequence. The reason it opens FCE is because it is tagged with FCE metadata (just like a PhotoShop-generated JPEG will open PS if double-clicked, but is nothing more than a JPEG and can be viewed in Preview or iPhoto or any other program). If you drag the movie file straight into QuickTime player, it will open and play without issue.
 
C2V - you're a genius! Thank you. I'm sure it was really simple stuff, but you've just saved me a lot of stress and headaches! Tried it on an old style tv and no flicker to speak of. Not tried it on an HD style one, as they are failry hard to come by here in Sri Lanka, but this is really great. I'm so pleased. Thanks for making me happy!
 
Great - thanks so much for your help too. It's all starting to make much more sense thanks to you guys. DVX User is a godsend.
 
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