The Popcorn Island Final Cut 2 After Effects Script is a simple way to move sequences in Final Cut into Compositions in After Effects. Not only does it allow you to work faster, it also saves storage space. The normal work flow of rendering out from Final Cut and opening in After Effects causes one to create temporary files to pass back and forth between the programs. The Final Cut 2 After Effects script will allow you to bypass that and simply use the footage that has already been imported into Final Cut.
NEWS: Gerard over at strypesinpost.com has put up a tutorial on using this script to move over project to windows! check it out
Links:
- Tutorial: Final Cut 2 After Effects Tutorial
- Download:
Features 1.1.2
- Auto-Truncate Long Filenames
- Marker Import
- Cross Dissolve Transitions (v1.05)
- Basic Editing Translation
- Segmented Clips
- Basic Keyframes
- Time Remapping
- Nested Sequences
- Multiple Frame Rates and Aspect Ratios
- Audio Channels
- Name Length Error Checking
- Support for PAL25 and 60
Version Info
- Version 1.12 Update
- Re-Work of the Cross dissolve importer
- Dialog for Auto Truncate all Long filenames Option
- Fix to All Transition detection
- Fix for center aligned Cross Dissolve
- Stopped work on Legacy Support (older then Cs4)
- Version 1.09 Update
- Center Point bug Fix, footage of different sizes using center point effects now import properly
- setValueAtTime bug Fix, Rounding errors in speed changes addressed.
- NOTE: I could use any community help debugging
this problem, though I now have a fix in place, I cannot be sure of the 1:1 frame matching between FCP and After Effects when using speed changes,
if anyone can run tests it would be extremely helpful. thx!
- NOTE: I could use any community help debugging
- Version 1.07 Update
- Markers are now imported into a marker layer in after effects. Name is used for flash events, comment for comment (thanks @Guillaume)
- Version 1.06 Update
- Updated Frame Rate bug for 50fps (and other unknowns) thanks @daniel
- CS3 Version 1.05 Update
- There is an issue with scripts compiled for CS4 using Extendscript toolkit CS4 that causes problems in CS3, the script will fail instantly. So I have had to split this project into 2 scripts. You will now see a script built for CS4 and one for CS3, these have been been confirmed working. Thanks to Kevin Brock for going back and forth with us on a couple scripts as we don’t have a good CS3 work flow here. We hope this helps everyone out! Thanks!
- Version 1.05
- FIX: Rounding Error on 23.976 footage causing Single Frame difference from original.
- UPDATE: Top Level Folder will now follow XML Filename, and not “FCP_Import”.
[...] 2. Final Cut to After Effects (popcornisland.com). This script is only CS3 as far as I can tell. The script runs similar to the first one I listed but adds these features: [...]
broken download link…
Thanks! all fixed up!
hey,
this is great but what i really need is a way to transfer transitions also. this script kinda doesn’t do that
U ROCK!
Thanks soooo much guys, amazing. Lacking some but it’s plain freeeee!!!!
It’s amazing, a friend told me about the script and it’s awesome!!!! thx a lot!!!
greaaat job, thanks a zillion!
here’s the solution to do the other way around: http://armoredsquirrel.com/blog/?page_id=69
(via AE Enhancers)
brilliant, thanx again
Why would I want to upload something to your server when I can do all this with FCPtoAE? http://www.creative-workflow-hacks.com/2007/04/15/final-cut-pro-to-after-effects-scripting-without-the-hassle/
Hey Skippy, not sure where you saw that, but FC2AE does not require you to upload anything. It is a script you will be able to use on your own. Simply download and run against your FinalCut XML! if there is some confusion feel free to let us know!
-pi
Actually the Tutorial does say to upload your FCP xml to their site which has a built in converter application. This is weird cause I’ve been using the product off and on for a year from their previous downloadable script which is still available for download, but I guess they were trying to make it easier for folks. So you’re both right. ;-)
Thank you so much for pointing that out. I was totally confused. That tutorial was extremely old, from an older version of the script that required uploading. When we did the site upgrade we linked up the wrong tutorial! :(
The tutorial has been updated to the proper one.
Just so everyone knows, this solution does not require uploading anything. Thanks again and we apologize for the mix up!
Do you have plans to develop a version for CS4? What alternative would you recommend?
This version does work with CS4, are you having problems?
Awesome guys!! I just gave it a try and works greate! Thank you a lot, this is going to make my workflow faster!
Thank you again!
Thanks! Great job! Perfect with CS4.
Does this script work with FC 6 and AE CS4? I tried it and the aspect ratio is still out. Thanks
error unable to execute Script at line 1 expected: ;
I’m on AE c3 intel mac
I dropped the script into the AE (CS3) script folder. It shows up in AE, however, like Ron above, I get the error:
unable to execute Script at line 1 expected: ;
Any idea how to resolve this?
I keep getting the error “unable to execute at line 1. Expected: what does this mean?
After some back & forth re: the above-noted issues on CS3, Ross seems to now have developed an alternate version of the script (specifically for CS3) that works.
This extra effort is much appreciated Ross! Cheers.
wow amazing, and getting jonah hill to do the tutorial is the icing on the cake.
great stuff guys.
Cool!
Did you know that the app Avid Filmscribe delivered with Mediacomposer is exporting variable xml formats. Would be great if there could be a way to utilize your tool also for the Avid Community since there is no Tool after AutoDuck to move from Avid to AE without hassles.
I guess the xml is different, but maybe i can force filmscribe to export an fcp-like xml? right? dont know how that looks like but just thinking…
thanks!
After you’ve imported the FCP sequence into AE, how about a tutorial on pulling the key, adding a background, adding curves and levels adjustment … then exporting back to FCP?
Is it a two-way street?
Will FCP recognize all the changes you made in AE?
J
Hey, I really want to use this, but have no idea on how to install it. Would you mind giving me the steps on how to install it all the from when I download it. It downloads as a .jsxbin file and it seems AE won’t except that. Thanks, Parker
Parker:
You will want to copy the PI_FCP2AE.jsxbin into your after effects scripts folder.
That should be somewhere like this
Windows: C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe After Effects CS4Support FilesScripts
MAC: /Applications/Adobe After Effects CS4/Scripts/
Once there you should have the ability to run the script from inside after effects By going to the File -> Scripts Menu, then select PI_FCP2AE.jsxbin.
Hope this helps
-ross
It worked! Thanks Ross!!!
Thanks.
i must try the script tomorrow on my mac pro.
Thanks for the script guys. Very much appreciated. New to using AE. Can you tell me if there is a way to round trip back to Final Cut Pro or do I have to render out and import back in as one clip?
Thanks for your help.
It took me a while to figure it out, but the script throws an error if you have a clip that has been reversed (speedwise) in FCP.
Hi, does this work with the new Final Cut 7?
I have been testing it out, so far I have had no problems in FC 7. Just use XML version 4 for now, I am testing everything for 5.
thanks!
-ross
I just downloaded your program for CS4… But I don’t know how to install it??? I dropped it into my scripts folder for the After Effects CS4 but i still can’t find it under file>scripts ??? What do i do?
nevermind it works… I just had to restart After Effects, thanks a ton it works great!
I just used the script to transfer footage for color correction. Works to an extent. Not all of the clips made it through and the ones that did were put in a wierd stacked order. That’s fine, but how do I get the footage back to fcp. When I open the sequence in fcp none of the changes were made. How do I get all the color corrected clips back to fcp without having to sync audio. Render out then replace each clip? Thats alot of clips!
I tried importing an FC-xml using the script the first time but AE refused and came up with this error-message:
´Unable to execute the script on line 155. Error: Unable to call “add comp” because of parameter 6. Value is undefined.´
I’m using FC 6.0.4 and AE CS3, Script-Version 1.0.5 …
Would be glad if someone could help me :)!
Super thank´s for that awesome script!
I get a strange error message when I choose to import sound:
“Unable to execute script at line 249.
After Effects error: indexing allowed on directory only.”
Not that I use the sound very oftern but I thought you should know.
I run FCP7 and AECS4.
Great script, been using it all summer with CS4. But now with the FC7 upgrades, even when I export XML version 4, I get an error every time I try to run the script in AE… I’m trying to find a pattern, and it seems to do with the first clip following a clip with a speed change. The first clip with the speed change works fine and imports the time-remapping fine, but there is an error on the next edit forward, and the whole script stops. I’ve tried multiple sequences and multiple clips and this seems to be a problem. The error says: “Unable to execute script at line 495. After Effects error: Unable to call “setValueAtTime” because of parameter 2. Value 17.77 out of range 0 to 17.68.”
Can you help?
This plugin worked great for me but now I get an error at line 249 message every time I run the script in CS4. It doesn’t matter whether I import audio or have effects applied. It just seems to be corrupt now, even after I uninstalled and reinstalled the preferences and script.
You guys are great! Thanks for the help!
I’ve watched the tutorial and tried to run the script. When I navigate to the script file it is grayed out in After Effects. Is AE not seeing it as the correct file type? Does the script need to be in a [articular folder or can it be run from the desktop?
@George – The script file needs to be placed in your after effects scripts folder.
That should be somewhere like this
Windows: C:Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS4\Support Files\ScriptsMAC: /Applications/Adobe After Effects CS4/Scripts/
Then it you will be able to select it from the scripts list under the file menu.
Hey, Congrats you guys are the best !
well i got a problem !!
everytime i run the script all my clips come switched…(not like in my timeline in FCP)..like the first one go to the last one and averything just go crazy ! I tried all ! Dont know what else to do! Please help-me thanxx !! best Regards from Brazil!
This script is really great. I have only one request: can it be possible to transfert the markers from FCP to AE CS3 and CS4.
Often, I have to watch a 2 or 3min clip in realtime in FCP to spot where I will ad some animation (in AE). So, I use markers to identify those spot. The only way to transfer those markers is to use a third party plugin. And it is on another machine. So I have to disturbe the person on the other machine. I would love to be independant… with your script!
If it is not possible, I thank you anyway for giving us this marvelous script… for free. :)
Admin
Is it possible to transfer the footage back to FCP from AE?
thanks
So, the question begs to be asked, once i’ve finished tooling around in after effects, how would one get the changes to show in Final Cut?
This is fantastic by the way! Thanks!
Is there a way of exporting it back to fcp??
I’m doing a dvd that has to have karaoke subtitles, and I’ve found out an app that converts text from fcp to subtitle format (STL) it’s called TITLE EXCHANGE PRO, but i need to animate the motion of the colors in sync with music in AE and then exported back to FCP.
I google it but I only find FCP to AE, is it possible to use the new XML format, that is used to export the AE projects to flash??
Thanks for the incredible work!!! you rock ;-))
You guy’s are some serious badmen, saving my day and not asking anything but a cheery messeage of how much I appreciate it – Kudos to you
Hi there, thanks for this awesome script, it’s excellent. I was just wondering, I notice in V1.07 Update that it says that markers are now imported, but I can’t seem to get it to work. Is there a trick to doing this? – Thanks, Tom
Anyone having issues with a gamma shift? After rendering from AE, and brought back to FCP video appears darker. Maybe the script isn’t sending color information to AE. Any ideas?
Thanks
The script does not send any “color information” but I am actually not sure what information you are looking to have it send. It simply uses the same files as final cut, if you have added video filters
to change the color or the look of your footage those will not be carried over.
hope this helps
-ross
Tom,
Markers should be working. If you are having trouble send us an email and we can work out getting ahold of a sample project of yours to test!
-ross