Recording video for use with Final Cut Pro

The most important thing is matching the iShowU settings to the FCP project settings.  FCP will complain (in a number of ways) if these settings don't match. The important attributes are:

  1. Video codec (Apple Intermediate, etc, whatever your FCP project is set to)
  2. Video size
  3. Interleave settings 
  4. Frames per second
  5. Audio codec (must be PCM, 48khz)
  6. Using fixed duration video frames

If any of these settings in the video differ from the FCP project, FCP will likely complain with General Error, error messages about the video not being optimized. In addition, if the settings aren't right then you won't be able to preview your edits in place without first rendering (say hello to a workflow that takes 10x the amount of time).

 

Setting up iShowU HD

First, examine the final cut sequence settings.

Here's what's important:

FCP Sequence Settings.png

So we have:

  1. Video size: 720 x 400
  2. Non interlaced, Apple Intermediate Codec @ 30fps
  3. 48Khz PCM audio

We need to match the output settings of iShowU HD to this.

Step 1 - Setup the video codec

Going into the Advanced panel, into the QuickTime tab and choosing video settings, we setup iShowU to use the Apple Intermediate codec, at 30fps.

iShowU HD FCP Compression Settings.png

Step 2 - Non-Variable length frames

I then go to the capture options (the first panel, with the icon of a monitor on it) in iShowU HD and make sure that the Variable length frame durations is turned off.  This takes care of the frame durations and makes them the same.  

iShowU HD Pro - FCP Settings.png

Turning Variable length frames off: If you don't do this, while the video might import into FCP OK - you'll likely find audio/video going out of sync over time.

Step 3 - Correct video size

Over in the QuickTime panel you can setup the video size.  In this case, 720x400.

ISUHD FCP Video Settings Size.png

Step 4 - Ensure the audio is PCM

This one's easy enough - again in the QuickTime panel, check that the audio is setup for PCM 48khz.

iShowU HD - chang eto PCM.png

Done

With that done, after dragging the media into an FCP project, you should see the timeline like this:

Checking video in FCP.png

The grey lines in the timeline area indicate that FCP can "RT extreme" this video. If either of these were red it would indicate that realtime playback after editing wouldn't be available (which is going to slow down your edit workflow).

 
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