Final Cut export to MPEG2?

[Alex_BGD]

I'm not working with Mac, so I'm interested is it possible to export MPEG2 from Final Cut, so I could use it later on PC platform?

[terryj]

if you have the Quicktime MPEG-2 plugin installed,
then yes you can export to Quicktime,
then from Quicktime, export to MPEG-2.

Or with Compressor installed, you can export directly
to Compressor and create the MPEG-2 there.

[Alex_BGD]

Thanx for the info

[jbritt]

Depends on which version of Final Cut you use. Since version 4.5 used with Tiger Apple has disabled the mpeg2 export using Quicktime Conversion. You must use compressor if you want a stand alone mpeg2 file that you can use on a PC.

[terryj]

Depends on which version of Final Cut you use. Since version 4.5 used with Tiger Apple has disabled the mpeg2 export using Quicktime Conversion. You must use compressor if you want a stand alone mpeg2 file that you can use on a PC.

Umm, no.

I'm using Final Cut Pro 4.5 on Tiger 10.4.3 with QT 7.04 Pro.
It does work,
see screenshot:



You do however have to buy/re-download/reinstall the QT MPEG-2
component, and it must be the component for QT version 6.4 or later,
otherwise it will NOT work.

[jbritt]

Sorry my mistake on the version. It still works in 4.5 but not in 5.0 HD unless they have made a change since last Fall. When I upgraded to 5.0 Studio last Fall I lost he abillity to export mpeg2 from FCP. For other reasons I wiped the hard drive and did a clean install of Tiger, FCP studio etc., Repurchased the mpeg2 export as well. Still did not work. When I contacted Apple tech support they said starting with version 5 they no,longer supported Mpeg2 export using QT conversion from FCP and that the mpeg2 component was for play back only. Apple advised me to use compressor.
Most of my projects are small and don't need compressor because it takes too long. As a work around they advised to export as a QT reference movie (not self contained) from FCP and import into DVDSP and let DVDSP do the single pass encoding. Have been using this ever since. Haven't checked to see if this has changed since lat fall and my system is tied up right now doing compressor encoding.
I have 2 4.5 sytems that still can export mpeg2 using QT conversion.

[terryj]

Sorry my mistake on the version. It still works in 4.5 but not in 5.0 HD, (snip)
As a work around they advised to export as a QT reference movie (not self contained) from FCP and import into DVDSP and let DVDSP do the single pass encoding. Have been using this ever since. Haven't checked to see if this has changed since lat fall and my system is tied up right now doing compressor encoding.

I'll save you the trouble, Our FCP 5.04 System at work won't do it.
I researched into this after your post. Our main guy at work, what he has done
for 30 min and under projects has done what you suggested, for projects
of 31 mins to an hour has done is used ffmpegx to create the elementary streams
( faster than Compressor 1 or 2) and for longer 2+ hour, he has used Compresor 2.

At Home, I just run things in batches, and create my workflow so that:

a. I perform my edits, and save my reference .movs from FCP to
a folder called "2COMPRESS"

b. I make my builds in DVDSP3 to get things to the point where
all I have to do is drop in the files and build.

c. Run overnight in a 12 hour period ( say 9pm to 9am) all my batches
for up to 2 longform or 6 six shortform projects, but never at the same time/all at once.
(becasue this would tie up the computer longer than 12 hours)

d. then batch run my A.Pack audio.

e. then drop into DVDSP3, and build my finalized DVDS.

then burn using Toast.

this workflow works for me, as I can still multi task a lot of things
and really push the computer; ie. have my background .jpgs
batch process in Photoshop, have my background menu audio
cut and convert in Amadeus II, etc. while building structure in DVDSP, etc.

[lildragon]

I am working with Tiger 10.4.8 and Final Cut Pro version 5.1.2 and I still have the ability to export MPEG2 using quicktime conversion straight from Final Cut Pro. I love this option because of how quick it is compared to Compressor. I was getting ready to wipe my drive because my display is not wanting to wake up from sleep and I figured it was about time for a fresh restart, but I don't want to lose this option to export MPEG2 from FCP. Has anyone else figured out how to keep this option?

[thatrader]

I just got the newest FCP Pro and am incredibly frustrated that I can't export M2Vs anymore. There must be some way around this. Anyone figure it out beside the person above me?

[neftv]

In out production we have Final Cut 5.1.4 and Compressor 2.3.
I have found that we have to output from final cut to mov file then use compressor to make an MPEG2. However the MPEG2 is a transport stream not program stream. I am wondering how do you get a MPEG2 program stream without adding another layer of software here.

[ali abbas]

Hi
I have Final Cut Pro 7
How can I export mpeg-2 without using the compressor?
Can any one help me , please ...?

Thanx ^^

[rumplestiltskin]

IIRC, Apple's MPEG2 codec is really just a de-compressor. You can't "export to MPEG2" from QuickTime Player Pro.