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Video
Before you start
When working on a project involving a video file, you first
need to set up your system according to your equipment
and your demands. The following sections provide some
general information about video file formats, frame rates,
and video output devices.
Video file compatibility
Because there are many types of video files, it can be dif-
ficult to determine if one will work on your system. There
are two ways to figure out if Cubase can play back a cer
-
tain video file:
• Open the video file with QuickTime 7.1 or higher, be-
cause Cubase uses QuickTime for playing back video
files.
• Check the file information of a video file in the Pool. If
the information reads “Invalid or not supported file!”, the
video file is either corrupt or the format is not supported by
the available codecs.
Video container formats
Video and other multi-media files come in a container for-
mat. This container holds various streams of information
including video and audio, but also metadata such as syn
-
chronization information required to play back audio and
video together. Data regarding creation dates, authors,
chapter markings, and more can also be held within the
container format.
The following container formats are supported by Cubase:
Cubase supports all these container formats, but prob-
lems may arise when the computer does not have the
correct software to decode compressed video and audio
streams within the container file. You must also know the
type of codec that was used to create the video file.
Codecs
Codecs are methods of data compression used to make
video (and audio) files smaller and more manageable for
computers. In order to play back a video file, your com
-
puter must have the correct codec installed in the operat-
ing system to decode the video stream.
If you are not able to load a certain video file, the required
codec is probably not installed on your computer. In this
case, you can search the Internet (e.
g. the Microsoft or
Apple web sites) for video codecs.
Frame rates
Cubase is capable of working with different types of video
and film frame rates. For an overview about the supported
frame rates, refer to the section
“Frame rate (speed)” on
page 305.
Video output devices
Cubase supports several ways to play back video files.
Viewing video files onscreen in the Video Player window
may work just fine for many applications, but often it is nec
-
essary to display video in a large format for viewing small
details and so others involved in the session can also see
the video. Cubase provides the ability to use several types
of video output devices to accomplish this.
!
If you are not able to load a certain video file, you
must use an external application to convert the file
into a compatible format or install the required co-
dec. For more information on codecs, see the sec-
tion “Codecs” on page 317.
Format Description
MOV This is a QuickTime movie.
QT This is also a QuickTime movie, but it is only used in Windows.
MPEG-1 This is the first standard of the Moving Picture Experts Group
for video and audio compression, used for making video CDs.
Files of this container format can have the extensions “.mpg”
or “.mpeg”.
MPEG-4 This format is based on the QuickTime movie standard, can
contain various metadata for streaming, editing, local play
-
back, and interchange of content. Its file extension is “.mp4”.
AVI This format is a multimedia container format introduced by
Microsoft.
DV This is a video format used by camcorders.
!
The names of codecs and container formats can be
confusing. Because many container formats have the
same names as the codecs they use within the file,
make sure to differentiate the container format or file
type (e.
g. .mov or .dv) from the codec used within it.
Format Description