From: Tony White L1 <email@hidden>
Subject: Splitting large .dv file into pieces with no loss?
I have a large .dv file (31 GB / 2 hours) that I created from a DVD
using
MPEG Streamclip and the default settings (I do not know enough yet
to change
them). Looking at the Movie Info I see:
DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, 720 x 480 Millions, DV, Stereo
I have watched it and identified approx 40 clip in and out points.
My goal
is for each clip to add an ending sequence and then compress for
the web, in
QT and .wmv (using flip4mac) format.
I am wondering if I can cut it in segments without losing quality.
Then when
the ending sequence is ready I will be working with smaller pieces and
rendering will not take so long. In the meantime I can be getting
the clips
cut up.
Tony, we run into this sometimes, and handle it two ways.
1. Import the DV clip into Final Cut Express, after setting Easy
Setup to DV-NTSC, drag it into the timeline, set in and out points
for each subclip, cut with the razor blade, separate the clips a bit,
and add the ending sequence. Or, work with the big clip from the
preview monitor, make each selection's in and out, drag subclip to
the timeline, and add your ending sequence. In the timeline, set the
in and out points for the "program" monitor.
Then go to Export>QuickTime Movie, Settings: Current settings. I am
assuming you can do the same in FCP. The point is, no matter what
your system, if you do not change the video codec, you will just
export the file without recompressing. You can usually change the
audio to 48 KHz 16 bit without too many problems, fit it's not at
that. You will probably have to render the added sequence before
exporting.
2. Open the file with QT Player Pro. Select your subclip, Edit>Copy,
then create a new file, File>New File, and Edit>Paste. Save as self-
contained. There are little tricks with QT Player Pro that let you
fine-tune the in and out points. You can also make a slightly longer
selection originally, and tweak it after the paste.
But then it would be harder to add the ending sequence, though not
impossible. Just copy/paste when the playhead is at the end of the
subclip. The added sequence should also be the same format at the
video clip.
There are probably more sophisticated ways to do what you want, but
with student workers the above are reliable for us.
Good luck,
Frank Fulchiero
Digital Media Specialist
Connecticut College
