N4 QT Video problem: Truncated video file length on import

Hannan Audio · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

Hi Rob, not sure what FCP is worth in your neck of the woods....

But if you import the offending clip into FCP timeline, hit yes to set your sequence up for the clip, then set your in/out points (select video clip then 'shift+a') then choose File>Export Qucktime Movie

This should make a new quicktime of the clip using the same codec/framesize/framerate as it originally was (if you leave 'use current settings') - this is what I have been doing. Sometimes needing to cross convert from DVCPROHD to ProRes422 HQ if the files come in in DVCPROHD (I mix from a windows machine and they dont like DVCPROHD! but ProRes works a treat)

Dont export via quicktime conversion, it will still truncate. Via compressor has been hit and miss for me too, i didnt waste any more time figuring out what the causing factor was....

Its boring yes, but its all I have for now :)

Sam
_________________
www.Cubendo.com

Fredo · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject:

Does anyone have a small example of a 29.97fps video?
I can try a few convertion methods and see what kind of solutions we can come up with.

Fredo

florane · Member Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 158

hi

+1 on steinbergs responsibility on the matter.

But bear in mind that it’s the editors’ responsibility to provide u with compatible material and our responsibility to assist them in finding out compatibility problems. Any editor/producer who assumes 100% compatibility is no guru and not professional (Directors have long requested to consider technical stuff as metaphysical). There are enough editing systems around which will not (export, transcode, convert 24bit to 16 bit, relink, export/import omf, ...) correctly. (Not to mention lack of communication like when there are files missing from the imported omf because the avid, won’t include in the export, files in any other format other than… , flags so on the screen, yet the editor don’t convert, exports and forgets to mention.) So if u know export settings that will work on your systems u ask the editor to export with those settings.

In fact ,Rob(Leggy) , for a production like the one u r talking about, they should come beforehand and ask u about settings and testing compatibility of omf/aaf etc and any experienced editor will take your issues seriously, they may laugh at the problem but carry on telling u a dozen similar stories of other systems including their own.

Specific to the problem, aged video engine, video engine's sync problems(for codecs with key frames), any n4 bugs and huge bug fix cycles

+1

Regards
panos

B · Junior Member Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 22

Export to quicktime from MPEG Streamclip has fixed the problem videos I have come across.

Hannan Audio · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

Hi Fredo,

I will try to find/make you one that is not a 60GB HD monster like I usually get :) I am pretty sure I have a couple of original offenders on a drive somewhere....mine will be 23.98FPS though - will this be muddying the waters as far as the bug is concerned. As in, is it called 29.97 truncation bug, or just QT truncation bug?

I have also tried the export to quicktime from MPEG Streamclip but to no avail :( Still was truncating as per the source file....

To repeat the only surefire way for me so far is as I described above....

Florane, I know where you are coming from - BUT - so often I get a call from a guy who has a doco needing to air VERY soon and there has been a tech FAIL on their mix etc etc so he rings me panicked like hell needing some valium :) I like to take his money and make him calm with my 'mixing valium' - in this instance maybe he just has a quicktime with him from the online and the splits of the mix etc etc....I need to be able to just open Nuendo and get him in and out the door with a finished product like that, snap!

If I am working on a series, then sure, we will have a way of doing things sorted for me to get around it - even then some GFX person I dont normally deal with sends me an updated GFX reel and I didnt get to run them through the speil - so back to square one I go....there are many times the world isn't perfect to allow easy and quick communications at all times between all parties...many will just assume you can open a QT no problems at all ;P

Sam
_________________
www.Cubendo.com

Leggy · Member Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 643 Location: London UK

Many thanks for the help and suggestions.

Rob
_________________
Rob Lord
Stylophonic Music Productions
http://www.stylophonic.tv

Nuendo 4.2, OS X 10.6.2, Mac Pro 8 core 3Ghz 32GB Ram, Decklink SP, MR816 X, CC1221, Motu Midi Express 128, Powercore FW, UAD-2 Quad, Lucid Genx192.

spikeo · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject:

Leggy · Member Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 643 Location: London UK

Ok so it sounds like if your video is originally exported at 29.97fps from FCP then you'll be fine - no truncation in N4 and if the export is done from Avid or another video editing program you just need to convert the file using mpegstreamclip or FCP to another 29.97fps Quicktime file and you'll be fine too?

Rob
_________________
Rob Lord
Stylophonic Music Productions
http://www.stylophonic.tv

Nuendo 4.2, OS X 10.6.2, Mac Pro 8 core 3Ghz 32GB Ram, Decklink SP, MR816 X, CC1221, Motu Midi Express 128, Powercore FW, UAD-2 Quad, Lucid Genx192.

spikeo · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

Leggy · Member Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 643 Location: London UK

Thanks John, sounds like we've got it sorted then. Just to be on the safe side I've downloaded the two files KDM posted here and I'll test those too.

Cheers,

Rob
_________________
Rob Lord
Stylophonic Music Productions
http://www.stylophonic.tv

Nuendo 4.2, OS X 10.6.2, Mac Pro 8 core 3Ghz 32GB Ram, Decklink SP, MR816 X, CC1221, Motu Midi Express 128, Powercore FW, UAD-2 Quad, Lucid Genx192.

TimelineAudio · New Member Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Canada

Hey guys, i've been running some test in regards to the QT truncation bug and i believe AVID is the culprit also. I've been recently working on a feature film outputted from FCP with no apparent problems, until recently i've started a new project where i've been receiving Photo-Jpeg QT's from an avid editor and too my suprise.........truncation occurs.

So far all I've had to do is re-encode the video with the same codec with Streamclip and all is well.

Thanks
_________________
NUENDO V-4.2.2
(Main Machine)
Windows XP SP3
Intel Quad Core
4Gb Ram
Matrox Parhelia 128mb
Firepod

kdm · Senior Member Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 1640

Hi TimelineAudio - yes, I think a few others also found some Avid files were susceptible (not all though), along with some Vegas QT exports, etc, with varying truncation amounts from 1 frame to 5-20 seconds in worst case scenarios. Maybe this will be fixed in the 4.3 update, or 5.x whenever it is released. It's been a year and a half since it was first reported I believe.

But, at this point I simply consider bugs like this to be lost functionality that I either: a) find a workaround I can live with and if necessary, work into my project budget estimates; or b) avoid completely with another DAW. Too much time lost researching this one and "proving" it here, hoping for a quick fix that still has yet to materialize.
_________________
Nuendo 5