codec video compression?

[coperta]

ok. I'm a mac user and I'm looking for a good freeware/opensource video codec for my video compression.
I would like to edit my video in final cut and the export it with this codec.
so far I ve found xvid, but apparently it doesn't work properly on mac.

plus, I was just wondering if it was possible to export the video with no compression at all in order to work on the "raw" file through another software, ffmpegx for instance. this software seems to be very complete and to work with xvid codec.

any suggestions are welcome.

thanks.

[redwudz]

You would likely get more answers to Mac questions in our Mac Forum. Moving You.

You should also check our ffmpegX Forums.

And welcome to our forums.

[terryj]

When you say "Doesn't work well on a mac" What do you mean?

Do You mean Playback? Xvid works fine with the Perian 1.0 Codec
installed, and I can play back xvid and divx encoded video
with Quicktime Player with ease.

Do you mean your Final Cut Pro timelines are exported in this codec
and suffer in quality on Playback?

Again, I'd have to question first, what type of video files areyou using
in your FCP timeline, and second, when exporting, what container
file are you using ( .mov or .mp4 or .avi) for your codec ( xvid)?
And then third, what specifically is the issue following that?
GIGO rules applied? Your Profile isn't filled out, so I cannot tell
if you have hardware issues, OS issues, etc.

Help us to help you, provide more info, and we can steer you
on the right track.

And for the record, ffmpegx ISN'T free. It costs $15.
And yes it does work with the XVID Codec, among other
codecs, but without knowing your source footage,
or a more specific answer to "Doesn't work well on a mac",
we can't gurantee it will be a fix to whatever issue you are having?

[rumplestiltskin]

I export to H264 and have found that all recent Macs and most recently updated Windows machines (XP) have no trouble with such files. Can't speak to Vista use, however, as you never know what M$ might have done to break things in this latest spin on their merry-go-round.

[coperta]

thanks terryj.
here are some clarification.
I'm working on a macbook with 2 gig ram. It's not the best "workstation" for editing but it's ok so far.
"it doesn't work" issue: When I try to export my work choosing FILE---EXPORT---USING QUICKTIME CONVERSION--- in format menu I don't have any xvid voice. (in ffmpegx I can choose xvid). I can't export files compressed in this codec then.

on the other hand I have no problem with xvid/divx files playback, not at all.

the files I use in my timeline are imported straight from a mini dv trought a sony handycam connected via firewire.
I'm quiet newbe, but I guess the container it's .mov cause I'm using a quicktime conversion ( am I wrong?)

I just would like to export straight from FCP using a good and possibly free compression codec.
but tell me... if I export the timeline in quicktime movie ( in this case the file is 14 gig big for circa one hour footage), I ll have a compressed or "raw" file? I mean can I process it using other software having no low quality problems?

I got ffmpex from the official website wich ask me simply to register if I enjoy the software!


thanks a lot!

[coperta]

You would likely get more answers to Mac questions in our Mac Forum. Moving You.

You should also check our ffmpegX Forums.

And welcome to our forums.

Thanks a lot!

[terryj]

thanks terryj.
here are some clarification.
I'm working on a macbook with 2 gig ram. It's not the best "workstation" for editing but it's ok so far.
"it doesn't work" issue: When I try to export my work choosing FILE---EXPORT---USING QUICKTIME CONVERSION--- in format menu I don't have any xvid voice. (in ffmpegx I can choose xvid). I can't export files compressed in this codec then.

on the other hand I have no problem with xvid/divx files playback, not at all.

You are welcome my new friend!
for encoding to xvid/divx, you can use the 3ivx codec in Quicktime based apps found here:
http://www.3ivx.com
or you can use the Divx Codec direct from the Divx site for $9.99:
http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/

the files I use in my timeline are imported straight from a mini dv trought a sony handycam connected via firewire.
I'm quiet newbe, but I guess the container it's .mov cause I'm using a quicktime conversion ( am I wrong?)

I just would like to export straight from FCP using a good and possibly free compression codec.
but tell me... if I export the timeline in quicktime movie ( in this case the file is 14 gig big for circa one hour footage), I ll have a compressed or "raw" file? I mean can I process it using other software having no low quality problems?

I got ffmpex from the official website wich ask me simply to register if I enjoy the software!


thanks a lot!

Your welcome!
First, to get this out of the way, here is the fine print on ffmpegx:
Register, pay $15
Major is a good friend, and time is fast approaching when for
final developement on ffmpegx.
Do not be left out in the cold, pay the man for his hard work.
'nuff said.

Now to your question,
Any codec you use to TRANSCODE your footage to a finalized format
will be COMPRESSED, and in most cases, un-easily editable.
These include any flavor of Mpeg ( mpeg-1,-2, -4).

You can transcode your timeline to a DIVX/XVID .mov or .avi file,
it will be editable in Quicktime Pro, and with minor tweaking,
it can even be brought back into FCP. It will at even Best Quality
be smaller than your RAW uncompressed footage in your FCP Timeline
( I have an XVID 88min .mov file on my computer right now that
is 702MB), but yes, it still will be COMPRESSED.

We like to call these formats "intermediate", because they still
allow for further editing/fine tuning, they just happen to be smaller
in file size than RAW, and are dependent that the editing app can decode
the data within the container.

So for instance, with either the 3IVXor DIVX Codec installed,
if I take my 702MB XVID file into FCP to do further editing,
yes I will have to TRANSCODE it into
.DV format, and will take a quality hit. But, if I just need to edit a few frames out,
say at the very end, I could take it into Quicktime Pro, drop the few frames, save it,
and experience no quality loss.

Just remember that FCP is the pickest of what it imports to use into the timeline,
and you'll be ok.

[coperta]

hi there!
you mean I can export once from FCP and than still keep on compressing it with other software (quicktime pro, ffmpegx... (...and yes, is just shareware )).
One more question. ffmpegx gives me two versions for each codec (If you can also explain me the meaning of those I ll be very happy!). one is ffmpegx and the other is mencoder.
the first one works properly, it process and compress files, but the other one once I press convert immediatly says "finished!" and all I have is a 4k big file.what's wrong?

thanks a lot for your patient!

[terryj]

First to answer about FCP:
Yes, you export the timeline out as a Quicktime Movie(.mov)
This will render all your video and audio, and thus "flatten" your timeline.
From there, you can take that exported QT movie file
into Quicktime Pro, ffmpegx, etc and transcode to any other format.

Second, ffmpegx and mencoder refers to the encoding engines used
by ffmpegx ( the app) to get the job done. Each relies on
a specific engine and it's own subsets to handle your incoming
file to transcode.

ffmpegx can use Quicktime to decode to files, and with a file from FCP,
this tends to be a faster encode when using this engine.

Mencoder, on the other hand, handles a wider variety of formats
you may get from the web, such as .flv ( flash video)
& .mp4 (mpeg-4 video), but may act up on Quicktime based files,
as you've seen (the 4k file quickly spit out).

your welcome, post back with any other questions!

[coperta]

ehi!
thanks a lot terryj, I got good result with your clarification.
the problem I ve been experiencing now is about converting my quiet raw file (900 MB) in h264 or divx.
in fact even though I put an high kbps (1500) the file I have will be small (40 MB) and lower quality than I want!
plus I ve noticed trought quicktime info that kpbs is stucked to 1000 and not more ( even if I but 2000kbps or higher).

the file is a 720x576 but I reduced it to 640x512. the software I ve been using for this job is mpeg streamclip.
I find it very useful, so I would like to sort this problem out.

thanks a lot!

[terryj]

Ok,
what if you do the following:

In MpegStreamclip's Export to Mpeg-4 Window,

Select H.264 as the choic efor Compression.
Select MultiPass as an option for best compression
Slide the Quality slider over from 50% (default)to Quality 100%
Do Not limit the data rate
Set the audio to Mpeg-4 AAC stero auto 192kbps
Set the Frame size as needed, select Better Downscaling

What happens then?

[coperta]

good good terryj.
I ve got actually a bigger file with better quality. the kbps now is 4000 more or less.
but why? why can't I set the framerate? I would like to use bitrate calculator in order to get quiet precise files.
any idea?

thanks a lot!

[coperta]

cough cough...