FCP Quality Issues

R

rcubed

New member
So I recently upgraded to FCP from FCE and have been testing out ProRes, new features, etc. One issue I've run into is some loss of quality from my raw footage (using a GoPro HD Hero @ 720p 60fps).
Here is my workflow: I'm converting the mpeg4 file into a .mov file using MPEG streamclip. Settings in MPEG Streamclip are ProRes 422(HQ), 100% quality, then leaving the rest of em at default (aka 1280x720 unscaled, interlacing checked, etc.). Then I use Cinema Tools to conform the clips from 60fps down to 30 fps for slomo reasons. Then I bring the clips into FCP for editing, grading, etc. My default FCP settings are: Sequence Preset: Apple ProRes 422(HQ) 1280x720 30p 48khz Square Pixels Capture Preset: HDV-Apple ProRes 422(HQ)
When I exported I used the "Share" function to publish directly to Youtube as well as create a hard copy .mov file. The issue I'm seeing is both within FCP itself and then when exported. I notice a loss of quality in the FCP clip viewer at larger resolutions as well as in the final exported version of my edit. Anyone have any ideas as to why? I can't find anything wrong with my settings (or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places).
On a side note, I also just got Magic Bullet Looks to use with my color grading. I'm having trouble eliminating the washed out look that many of my clips have due to their brightness (bluebird days w/ snow reflection). Anyone have any tips on the color correction for ski footage? Trying to find a happy medium between bright coloring and non-washed out looking footage. Thanks in advance for any insight you guys have.
Here is a test edit to show you what sort of quality I got when exporting with the above settings (watch in fullscreen to really notice the drop in quality):/static/images/flash_video_placeholder.png
 
First of all, deselect de-interlacing in mpegstream clip, jesus.

Its how you're exporting it. You need to export as a quicktime movie or using quicktime compression. Export as h.264 medium to high quality. I export full quality from FCP and compress in quicktime pro, which is easy to acquire.
 
The export settings using the share function are set to h.264 high quality, but I will give it a shot just exporting to Quicktime normally as opposed to using that.. thanks for the suggestion. As far as the interlacing, I previously selected deinterlacing while using FCE but was told it wasn't necessary in FCP . . guess I was wrong. Thanks.
 
Oh and maybe im retarded but by "de-select deinterlacing" did you mean select deinterlacing or de-select interlacing? By default it has Interlaced Scaling checked and Deinterlace video unchecked . . . so switch that up or have neither checked?
 
Transcoding

First of all, don't use ProRes 422 HQ. It literally adds nothing to footage shot in 4:2:0 that ProRes LT won't add. In short, transcoding to ProRes 422 LT will give you the exact same quality with smaller file sizes. If anything, HQ will look worse because you are creating extra color space for native data that doesn't initially exist, so basically don't do it!

Interlaced scaling/frame rates are irrelevant. You are shooting tapeless progressive frame rates, interlaced settings don't concern you.

These should be your MPEGstreamclip settings:

Codec: Apple ProRes 422 LT

Interlaced Scaling: off

Frame Size: Unscaled

Everything else should be set at default.

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Cinema Tools

Since you're shooting in progressive mode, why not work in 24 fps aka (23.98 fps since we're talking digital). Slow motion is supposed to be played back at 24fps anyways. Conforming 60p footage to 24fps looks much more natural than 60p played back at 30fps.

For the record, when I say conform to 24 fps, I really mean conform to 23.98 fps.

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Grading

Grading is such a subjective and at times complex part of image processing, so I'm going to keep it incredibly brief here.

Steps:

1. Color correct footage before grading anything. Use 3-Way Color Corrector to set white points in the black, mid, and highs. This is crucial because any grading you do is based off of the initial color data, and if you don't consistently have the proper white balance, the process can be a huge pain that yields an inconsistent grade.

2. Once you start grading, set black and white points first. These serve as an "anchor" for your gamma (mid) adjustment. Use the histogram to ensure that you aren't clipping.

3. Adjust gamma to preference.

4. The artistic direction of grading is where it gets complex. There are many different processes and styles to do this, but a tried-and-true great looking method is to use Monet's theory of complimentary colors: shadows should be complimentary to mids. If you have a warm image, make the shadows blue (or analogous) to add chromatic contrast. Another cool and optional technique is to make the highlights tertiary colors, so in this case the highlights could be a voilet hue.

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Export

I'm going to use Vimeo export settings since no self-respecting filmmaker uses Youtube.

Codec: h.264

Framerate: current

Key Frames: current

Bit Rate: anywhere from 6500 - 8000

Multi-Pass (best quality)

Frame Size: 1280 x 720

Audio: AAC

Quality: Best

Bitrate: 320 kbps

If there's any settings I didn't list, leave them at default.
 
dude thank you very much for this

thanks Heath too.

you guys have no idea how those threads are useful for video noobs who are actually trying to do a decent job and to learn.

just thanks guys.

 
Ya i shot with go pro as well and find converting in mpeg streamclip can save a lot of time a quality.
 
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