HDV compatibility issue

Ok so at work, they have the campus videographer with some other media specialists. The main videographer uses Final cut pro studio with just recently a 2x quad core system. My job is for another department creating promotional videos but Im using a PC with CS3 suite.

All the HD .mov clips and interviews the campus videographer gives me that he has filmed and recorded utlizing FCP does not work with Adobe Premier Pro CS3, Adobe Premier Pro 2.0 or Final Cut Express 4.0 . The only way we can view it is through VLC. Even Quicktime Pro (windows and mac edition) will play them with sound only.

Ideas?

Open one of those files in QuickTime Pro and type command-I. Review the codecs (Formats being used. VLC has a similar information window.

Research the formats CS3 on the PC can handle. Both the codecs (video & audio) and container formats (.mov, .avi).

Communicate with the main videographer and do some experiments with small pieces to find the right formula.

xstep said:

Open one of those files in QuickTime Pro and type command-I. Review the codecs (Formats being used. VLC has a similar information window.

Research the formats CS3 on the PC can handle. Both the codecs (video & audio) and container formats (.mov, .avi).

Communicate with the main videographer and do some experiments with small pieces to find the right formula.

Click to expand...

Ok so I did the the information thingy you suggested with VLC and Quicktime Pro. Like you said the container is .mov and as far as VLC is concerned its a mpgv codec and Quicktime thinks its a mpeg-2 and from google searches, its one in the same. I wont get a new project for a few days so i'll have to keep e-mailing the videographer for more details and test stuff.

Thanks for the reply.

did some more searching and ive come across this post:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7626026

so that looks like a dead end cept a few things are suppose to work but they all cost either $99 or $999 avid HD is also suppose to work but i ahve no way of testing that either.

In your case you and the other videographer can agree on a file format. A little communication and work will solve your issue. You shouldn't need to spend a penny.

xstep said:

In your case you and the other videographer can agree on a file format. A little communication and work will solve your issue. You shouldn't need to spend a penny.

Click to expand...

well thats the problem though, he pretty much refuses the idea of converting and stuff, so i'll have to talk to him or find another type of solution since the main system for me is a PC at work and my department barely even has money to keep me on time slip to even think about buying a new mac machine.

The thing is, he is not natively editing that format either. So, where it is coming from. If it is something he is creating specifically for you, then he can easily cooperate.

You could try using Streamclip or ffmpegX to convert the content.

Perhaps your boss should be speaking to his boss. I wouldn't doubt, he doesn't want to waste his computer time for your side project. I'd try to sort it out before going up the chain. Try to understand where else those files might also be being used. Assuming a third destination, perhaps as a group you can come up with a common format.

Good luck.