Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Transcoding
Transcoding is the process of converting one video format into another. Even though Final Cut Pro can play
most video files, there are times when you'll want to transcode your footage to another format before you edit.
This is especially true when using heavily compressed video such as H.264, which makes big demands on your
computer's processor.
You can transcode your media to a more playback-friendly format by checking the Create Optimized Media
check box. The optimized media that this refers to is Apple's ProRes 422 codec. Transcoding to Apple's ProRes
422 yields high-quality images and improves computer performance, but these files also use up more disk
space. With this setting checked, Final Cut Pro first determines whether optimization is necessary; then it
transcodes to ProRes only if it decides it can't run the media natively. If no optimization is necessary, Final Cut
Pro imports the original media and ignores the Create Optimized Media setting.
The next transcoding check box is Create Proxy Media. Checking this setting converts the video that you import
into Apple's ProRes 422 Proxy. This is a lower-resolution format that has a smaller file size and data rate than
Apple's ProRes 422. Transcoding to this format is useful when you're short on disk space or when you require
even better performance from your computer, like when working on a laptop.
If you've checked either of these settings, Final Cut Pro places the video that it converts into a folder named
Transcoded Media
. This folder is found inside the
Final Cut Events
folder on your hard drive. You
can choose to check both settings and transcode to both optimized and proxy media if you can spare the disk
space. In this way, you can use the proxy format to edit your movie, maximizing your computer's performance,
and then switch to ProRes when you require higher-quality images, such as when doing color correction. Indi-
vidual video clips may be transcoded at a later date, but it's a good idea to perform your transcoding tasks when
you import media into Events.
To switch from proxy to optimized playback during an edit, select the Playback tab in the Preferences window
(see Figure 3.2) and choose between Use Proxy Media and Use Original or Optimized Media in the Playback
section.
If you chose to optimize your video during import, selecting Use Original or Optimized Media plays back at the
higher-quality Apple ProRes 422 during the edit. If the media was not optimized, checking Use Original or Op-
timized Media plays back the original video files. This setting also gives you an additional option for Playback
Quality, allowing you to select between High Quality and Better Performance from the pop-up menu. To follow
the examples in the topic, check Use Original or Optimized Media.
