Total Newb: FCE Massive Render Times

D

drose

Member
Hope you can help me please!

I'm using FCE 4 to edit a 40 minute video podcast. I recorded a Skype interview to my Mac as one long clip and used the Import command in the File menu to bring it into my project pane. It is a mov file. The problem is whenever I go to make the slightest edit on the clip it needs to render the whole thing which takes in excess of 3 hours.

Is there a way I can edit this clip and see the video without having to render it anytime I make an edit?

Thanks for any advice!
 
What codec is the Skype interview?

If it isn't one support natively by FCE, open the clip in the QT Pro player, or MPEG Streamclip and transcode to an editing codec supported by FCE.
 
The file is a mpeg-4 video. I have Quicktime X and not pro. I don't think I can use that to transcode, but I'm unsure. I do have Adobe Media Encoder, I'm trying to use that to transcode it to Quicktime.
 
Okay, used Streamclip to transcode it to AIC. I'm still not able to edit any part of the video or move any clips around without having to render it each time. Pulling my hair out! Any ideas? Thanks so much.
 
Which pixel aspect size and frame rate did you transcode to? What size was the Skype video?

720x480?

1280x720?

Help us out with details.
 
Okay here is some more info on the original format of the Skype video. Maybe it is just a matter of getting the right setting in Streamclip.

Codec: Linear PCM, MPEG-4 video
Dimension: 640 X 480
Total Bit Rate: 6,071
Size: 2.36 GB

I am trying to layer this Skype video over a 16:9 720/60P source video for a picture-in-picture look. So I shot video with my HMC40 and loaded it into FCE via log and transfer (AIC). Now I want to bring in the Skype video recorded onto my Desktop and edit both clips.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to scale the Skype video up and down depending on who is talking, but I'm asked to render each time I scale the video. Hopefully this makes sense! Thanks!
 
FCE is not too useful for stuff that's not standard issue DV, HDV, etc. You would do yourself and your work a huge favor by investing in Final Cut Pro...

Noah
 
I would suggest setting an In and Out in MPEG streamclip of a one minute clip and test your workflow instead of trying with the whole clip. Nail down the method first. AIC codec should work fine by:

Drag clip to MPEG streamclip, select Export to Quicktime, Set Compression to Apple Intermediate Codec 100%, uncheck deinterlacing, leave audio as is, and click Make Movie.

It should work fine in FCE. But do realize any video filter or such that does NOT show in the menus as BOLD will require a render every time.

You might be better off to trim the 40 min clip to many sub clips to isolate portions to work on. And yes FCPro is better but Express can still do a lot of work. Master Express and you'll maximize your wallet.
 
Photo,

Thanks for the advice. I figured this out just before you posted. Here is what I did if anyone is interested.

I used Streamclip to convert it to AIC 16:9 even though it's 4:3. Then I opened it up in FCE on it's own. I then exported it using the QT conversion, 16:9 HD (even though it's not), and saved it. Then I imported it into the HD podcast video and now I have free reign to edit without render. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!

Especially when FCP is so far out of reach for many people financially. Thanks for the help.
 
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