How to Transcode .MOV Files from a Canon T2i

[scarsprotv]

hi hey one question i tried this method its seems better but when i add the three way color effect its get choppy again is there like better setting to be able to add effect especialy to edit music video and still have smooth quality i know im gonna put the original back tho.

[SpotlightKid83]

Tried this with my *.3gp files from my LG Optimus P970H phone and it didn't work. I had to select "convert to MPEG" instead of Quicktime, then used h264 and it works perfect. Loses a tiny bit of quality but at least I can edit them. I chose "no sound" as I'm gonna add background music anyway. Hope it works for somebody.

[ilovethesimpsons8]

should i do this to my footage if im going to be editing in after effects?

[cybercab]

Thanks. Just what I needed!

[KISSAproductions]

WOW, great informative video. Thank you!

[theIMsponge]

Good job

[lvlik9]

on the color level window or tab....what is the diffference between the 709 and rgb color levels..

[ayamekechi]

what is the diff. of this in converting the video to avi ...help pls coz im editing my proj in sonyvegas....

[j0hNy0u]

do you lose any quality doing this process?

[mreae]

@j0hNy0u hmmm. It's considered "visually lossless" and your files are better prepared for color correction, etc.

[RIskateproductions]

IM using the canon t3i and when i convert it only audio comes up, PLEASE RESPOND TO ME

[mreae]

@RIskateproductions try my other method. search for "matrox t2i" and click the first result

[mreae]

@RIskateproductions dude, I don't know how to help you unless I'm talking to you specifically or looking at your computer screen

[alexjit]

and after your done editing the transcoded files.. you just render out normally to your preffered codec? Or is there another step during rendering? thanx

[deeeeeppppp123]

same here, there is no Avid DNxHD codec in the drop down box. i installed it but still not there

please help

[mreae]

@deeeeeppppp123 try the matrox codecs. they work great. Search for "matrox t2i" and click the first result. It's my other method and I like it better anyway.

[XxRoman08]

the avid preset doesn't even show up on the drop down box and installed it idk what is going on

[mreae]

@XxRoman08 try using the matrox codecs (instead of the avid codecs) . . . search for "matrox t2i" here in youtube and click the first result.

[ibsprintin]

@mreae at best, i think if ur'e on a pc, you went into streamvlip and went to export .mov instead of avi. but if u downloaded the mac version it will come under mov.

[BeatMuzikSquad]

My footage has a flicker line going across it. Any idea why. I trancodes as you said but for some reason its does this. does it have anything to do with white balance? Im going to post a video givin an example but i thought id ask.

[Lachlan1480]

Thanks, it helped a lot!

[industrialecho]

Your color space is wrong. RGB levels is the right option because those move files from Canon DSLRs use all the RGB color space 0-255. By selecting 709 you loose color informations, so you have bigger files with less color informations..........

[mreae]

@industrialecho It's a matter of choice. Blu-ray and DVD are encoded using YCbCr component color and it is the correct option for video rather than PC generated material. RGB (PC levels) can cause richer colors (higher contrast) but probably also lead to black crush,where you lose shadow detail (dark areas too black)

[industrialecho]

@mreae I am sorry this is wrong too, it is not a matter of choice. You must transcode to the same color space or else you loose information. "RGB (PC levels) can cause richer colors (higher contrast)" there is not such a thing, you can have a flat image if you setup correctly your camera. If you want to create DVDs or BDs is another story, but it has nothing to do with the first steps of your editing process. Feel free to do a research in forums like dvxuser.com, cinema5d.com and many more...

[guitarhero9990]

I need help!!! I did all the steps but when I tried to play it on Windows Media Player, it still says a codec is needed to play this file. Any idea what this codec is??

[EyewitnessMedia]

Thank you so very much! Extremely helpful! How do you convert your files soooo fast at the end? I saw on your screen the green bar was moving incredibly fast!

[mreae]

@EyewitnessMedia Using the matrox codecs is a preferred method. youtube.com/watch?v=tnL9k_bH2v­s&feature=watch_response

[mreae]

@EyewitnessMedia If you want your files to render quickly, then get a powerful computer.

[catfishruss]

You my friend are a savior. I had a ton of crashes with vegas and now I have none after watching this video. I have the same camera as you. This was a huge help.

[mreae]

@catfishruss glad to help but using the matrox codecs is a preferred method. Better control (more options for frame-rate, etc.) and, in my opinion, better quality. youtube.com/watch?v=tnL9k_bH2v­s&feature=watch_response

[Saggmos95]

I Tried this but now its just a .mov audio file! Help PLEASE!

[mreae]

@Saggmos95 Sorry, not sure what you're doing wrong. Try my other method (it's better anyway). youtube.com/watch?v=tnL9k_bH2v­s&feature=watch_response

[Saggmos95]

So this is what i have to do to edit in MovieMaker?

[remake1990]

i see that u chose -1080p/23.976 dnxhd 175 10 bit- ...do we have to do that even with 60p footage?

and another question: how about after effects? do we have to transcode h264 files?

hope u'll answer

[mreae]

@remake1990 You choose what matches your source file. If your source file is 1080p / 23.976 then choose that. If it's something else, then choose that!

[AccuracyFilms]

Thanks.. Very Helpful

[flashyg55]

what do ihave to do to have my files convert as fast as your do..

[mreae]

@flashyg55  buy a $3K computer

[felixayala05]

Works if you're using a T1i too, thank you.

[mreae]

@felixayala05 good info, thanks.

[Grimebeater]

great vid.. helped alot thank you

[Grimebeater]

@Grimebeater i take it back lol it still doesnt work =/

[mreae]

@Grimebeater try my other vid . . . using the matrox codecs. It's a better method anyway. 

[lollalot]

Not strictly off topic but: what kind of minimum spec system woud you recommed that would allow you to carry out basic video editing?

As in minimum ram, cpu, Gpu, and HHD speed? what's the minimum?

I have a 1.3ghz, 3gb ram, integrated graphics laptop that I used to make a music video for school (barely) and it was so shocking. (acer aspire 5810T)

I'm eyeing a Dell XPS 1558: 6GB Ram, core i7 cpu, deicated 1 Gb Ati MR 5670 GPU. Is that ok?

Thanks, really great and clear tutorial.

[mreae]

@lollalot core i7, 6GB RAM, GTX285 . . . everything's smooth. I crave more though!

[KnivesMonroe]

gnarly...but do you lose any quality?

[mreae]

@KnivesMonroe Not really. This codec is considered "visually lossless" which pretty much means you won't see any degradation.  It's also considered a mastering codec which means you can edit multiple times without seeing much quality loss.

[mreae]

@KnivesMonroe Not really. This codec is considered "visually lossless" which pretty much means you won't see any degradation. It's also considered a mastering codec which means you can edit multiple times without seeing much quality loss. Keep in mind there's a better method for this now with the matrox codecs. Do a search - matrox t2i - and you'll find my video.

[TerrorSkateboards]

cool video but i just updated sony vegas to 9E and mov files now work nicely for me

[mreae]

@TerrorSkateboards Glad to hear it. I have a high-end system and Sony Vegas 9 and I still have trouble with .mov files. I wish I had your version! Good luck.

[camelinthedessert]

Mreae > My question is,, after following this workflow do you usually just render out your final product or output from the DNxHD files itself. Or before final render you swap them with the native T2i movs. Your description in the video has contradictions. You say the canon mov files will not RENDER or playback properly in an NLE (true). But then later you say we can even delete the DNxHD files. Does that mean the DNxHD is only the proxy file and you use the native files for final render ?

[mreae]

@camelinthedessert Huh? Here's what I do (in order).

1. I transcode the original .mov files into DNxHD .mov files.

2. I import the DNxHD files into Vegas and edit.

3. I render my movie (File --> Render As).

4. I delete the DNxHD files. I don't need them. I still have my original (smaller) clips.

No matter your method, there's no point saving your intermediate files.

Try the Matrox codecs - it's a simpler solution. youtube.com/watch?v=tnL9k_bH2v­s (delete your intermediate files!)

[YouFirstEye]

Should RGB be used instead of 709 for Color level?

[mreae]

@YouFirstEye I've seen a tutorial that recommends the use of RGB instead of 709 . . . but I've used it the way I showed in the video and I've been very pleased with the results. You can view discussions on the topic by googling 709 vs RGB - click on the first link in the results.

[Spoonfull]

the .exe didn't install anything on my computer. I went to my program files to search for the codecs when AVID didn't show up on my options list and there wasn't even an AVID folder.

[mreae]

@Spoonfull Hm. Sorry, don't know what to tell you.

[MichaelFrymus]

Ah, that sucks. There's no 1080-30p. So, if it was shot like that, then I'll have to make it a 720-30p file then?

Also, after it finished converting, how do I know if it was converted properly? How to I check its still not a .Mov file? to be sure.

[mreae]

@MichaelFrymus It will still be a .mov file. You can check the file size when you're done . . . it should be bigger than the original. There is no 30fps option. I think I mentioned that in the video. Your other options are the recently free matrox codecs (which do have a 30fps option) or Cineform.

[elpidi0526]

I've followed your instructions to the letter and when I import the transcoded file into Vegas, all I get is the audio...no more video.

---

To boot, every time I try to play the original file with VLC and QuickTime, I either get a black screen or extreme lagging. I'm using the Sandisk 16GB Class 10 SDHC memory card so I don't know what else could be the problem. Any suggestions?

[mreae]

@elpidi0526 I'm not sure why! I wish I could help. Sorry. It's most likely a codec problem though. Anyone else?

[elpidi0526]

@mreae

Don't worry about it. Think it's my crappy laptop. Not enough graphics support for HD. Plays SD-resolution just fine with my T2I but as soon as I step it up to 720p or beyond, my problems begin. Plays just fine on the camera so it has to be the computer. Thanks anyway man...just have to wait for my next computer upgrade.

[cazz77]

@elpidi0526 you need to download an older version of quicktime ex. quick time 7.6 Not The newest 7.6.6 There is some incompatibility issues with vegas and the new 7.6.6 version...So go to apples quick time Website and download the older7.6 version and you should be able to play the video with video intact .

[blockerpopo5]

@cazz77 THANK YOU !!!!!!!

[blockerpopo5]

@elpidi0526 I get the same thing. Its a codec problem and I dont know how to fix it :(

[tberez]

the problem is that i can't see the the video in the preview at all...

it's only a black screen with audio.

i have a 7D shot at 1920x1080 30 fps.

can u help?

[mreae]

@tberez A couple things. Install Quicktime if you don't already have it installed. Also, what settings did you use in the DNxHD dropdown? There's no 30fps option. I don't know what happens if you choose 24fps or another framerate in the DNxHD dropdown in Streamclip if your original clip was recorded at 30fps. If you want to use 30fps, you should use Cineform (which has a 30fps option) or you can also try Pinnacle, which (according to many I've talked to) can edit the native .mov files.

[tberez]

@mreae

thank you for all ur help.

the problem was that i needed the Sony Vegas Pro 9.0e

and i was using the 9.0 version.

loved ur video btw. thanks.

[NgoMinhTan]

I followed your tutorial step by step, but in the end my clip is still a .mov file

[mreae]

@NgoMinhTan You're right. It will still be a .mov file, but it's transcoded with the DNxHD codec and will now play nicely with Vegas. Try it. You should be able to edit your videos without any problems . . . which is not the case with the native .mov files.

[NgoMinhTan]

@mreae Ah, okay. Thank you for your reply. Could you perhaps make a tutorial for optimal rendering in Sony Vegas? If not, then that's perfectly okay.

[mreae]

@NgoMinhTan Sure, I'll post my method. I use Sony AVC for rendering (h264).  I'm just using the trial version of Vegas Pro right now. It's similar to Vegas Platinum so you should be able to use either after watching the video.