How to Use DVFilm Maker with Final Cut Pro 5


1. Using FCP 5, capture clips from the Sony HDR-FX1/Z1 using the standard
settings for 1080i60 or 1080i50 HDV.

4. Start up DVFilm Maker, and then drag the clips
into Maker's batch processsing pop-up. You can play around with various options
in Maker's advanced options, but be sure to always turn OFF the YUV processing option.
The prerelease version of DVFilm Maker can be downloaded here.
(requires OSX 10.3+). The version you need for FCP 5

will only run with Quicktime 7 and OS 10.4 (Tiger).


5. In DVFilm Maker select the options for 60i->24P conversion if you have
60i video. Also select "Use 23.976 excact" If you have 50i video, then the
24P Edit options are not used and you instead simply select "Deinterlace".
On the batch popup, hit start to start the batch.

6. The clips are converted and each clip now has a 24P or 25P version stored
in the same folder with the prefix of "New". If you playback the clips with
the Quicktime viewer you will notice they are now displayed at 1440 x 1080,
their native frame size, instead of 1920 x 1080.

6. In FCP 5, the sequence must be set with the following options:
1440 x 1080 frame size, 4:3, square pixels, non-anamorphic, 23.98 frames
per second or 25 frames per second as appropriate. Other settings: Field
Dominance = None, compressor = HDV, audio 48000 Hz stereo 16 bits.

For FCP 5 you can use the HDV 1080-60i preset but 23.98 frames/sec and "no fields".

7. The clips can now be imported and dropped into the sequence.


8. After you have a rough edit you can switch the movie over to 16:9
viewing by checking the "16:9" button on sequence settings, and all the
clips in the sequence will be mass converted to 16:9 viewing as well.
This easier than starting out at 16:9, because each clip you bring in will
then have to have it's 16:9 property set by hand (using Edit->Item Properties->Format).

9. If it's all done correctly there should not be a red line at the top of the
timeline when you drop in a clip. With no red line, no rendering is
required when you play back from the canvas.


The project frame size is 1440 x 1080 because that is the actual captured frame size,
and it's better to edit at this native frame size than change it, since changing it entails
unnecessary image processing and will also slow down playback.

Nevertheless if you do need to show the processed clips in Quicktime at 1920 x 1080,
use this procedure:

Known Bugs and workarounds


Problems with Real-Time playback

Processing Time



More Technical Details

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