Keeping original video properties when sharing

[dmz]

Hi,
I have a HD mov file. When I drag it into my timeline I dont get a message to match the project properties to the file type even with the correct preference. I understand that with the mov file type this doesnt work in X4 anyway. Anyway, after a bit of trimming I want to create a file with exactly the same specifications as the original. I obviously cant use same as project settings option. For some reason I do not have the same as first clip option either. So how do I tell X4 to keep the original file properties when creating a new file?

Thanks

David

[Ken Berry]

Either make a template with the properties you want if you intend making a lot of these; or else Share > Create Video File > Custom, then choose the format, then select Options to assign the properties.

[dmz]

Thanks Ken. How do I know what compression format to use? When I view the properties of the clip there is a blank next to compression for the video. If I select none for compession, there is no video in the output mov file.

Thanks

David

[Ken Berry]

I can only repeat that we have to know what you are intending to produce. The compression factor is only one of a number of factors, and they -- including the compression -- all vary according to the format you are intending to produce. Saying it is a .mov file is equally meaningless since the .mov extension covers a multitude of sins. It is merely an extension/wrapper format used originally by Macs and now PCs to cover a variety of widely varying formats, though predominantly these days mostly one version or another of mpeg-4. But these could be standard or high definition, and the compression factor varies verrrrry widely between them...

[dmz]

What I am intending to produce is, I thought, quite simple.
I have a .mov file that I downloaded from my camera.
I want to do a few quick snips, then save it in the same format.
X4 does not allow me to say share with properties as first clip or anything like that.
When I look at the properties of the clip I can get some clues as to whats in the .mov file e.g. frame rate and user-defined width and height.
As to the compression, I have found a program called mediainfo which tells me this about the .mov file:


Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 56.2 MiB
Duration : 12s 471ms
Overall bit rate : 37.8 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2011-07-17 00:15:59
Tagged date : UTC 2011-07-17 00:15:59
CNTH : WÔ
com.apple.quicktime.make : Canon
com.apple.quicktime.model : Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Baseline@L5.0
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 12s 471ms
Bit rate : 36.2 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.729
Stream size : 53.9 MiB (96%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2011-07-17 00:15:59
Tagged date : UTC 2011-07-17 00:15:59
Color primaries : BT.709-5, BT.1361, IEC 61966-2-4, SMPTE RP177
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

So somehow from the above information I should be able to find what I need to set in my template for X4 to match whats in the .mov file?

Why doesnt X4 have the capability that mediainfo has to replicate the output format from the input format?

Cheers

David

[Ron P.]

Looking at your video properties, you could arrive at something very similar, however it depends on how set you are on having it in a MOV wrapper. That's all the MOV is, the real concern and identity is the codec used, which in your case is AVCHD. That codec in VS is wrapped in the MPEG-2 (transport stream) wrapper.

MOV File Settings
Notice that with this setting you get the MOV file wrapper, the Frame Size, plus close to the weird Frame Rate (24 fps), but it's using the MPEG-4 codec. After taking the screen shot I discovered there is a 23.976 frame rate, so that would match yours. The main problem I see is the audio. It doesn't allow much flexibility for the audio codec.

AVCHD MPEG-2 TS
This setting allows the frame size, allows the higher Bitrates, BUT does not allow for the 23.976 frame rate.