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fastest way to output
I’m working on a project in Final Cut X and I need to output a large number for files in a lower resolution format for the client to review. I’m trying to figure out a way to speed up the process if possible. Would working in proxy help. Any other tricks? I was converting to Mp4. I could do another mac friendly format if that would help.
Thanks,
Tony -
11 Replies
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Why not simply batch convert the files to a desired format using Compressor, Squeeze, Episode, Adobe Media Encoder, MPEG Streamclip, etc.? No reason to use FCP X to do this. You could generate proxies with FCP X, but these are half-sized ProRes Proxy files, not .mp4.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Hi Oliver,
I have to use FCP X because I’m exporting edited timelines. The client is reviewing the files on a mac so I could use any mac friendly format.
Thanks,
Tony -
[Tony Peck] “I have to use FCP X because I’m exporting edited timelines.”
I see. Well, you can export multiple timelines via the Share menu. You just have to do set up the export one at a time and they will run in the background. Or, send them to Compressor and let it run. Not as easy as FCP 7’s batch export, but works more or less the same way after it starts running.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I’ve been using the share feature and it works fine. Its just slow and I have a lot of long timelines. I hoping there is a trick out there to speed it up. All the timelines are in prores proxy. I was thinking if I exported to prores it might be less transcoding and would speed up the process.
Can any mac playback prores files?
Thanks,
Tony -
[Tony Peck] “Its just slow and I have a lot of long timelines”
It will be slower if you are exporting any long-GOP codecs, like H264. It will also be slower if you have unrendered effects.
[Tony Peck] “Can any mac playback prores files?”
Depends on variables of what’s installed and the OS and the QT version they are running. They might have to download the codec pack for QT to play the files if they don’t have any Pro Apps applications installed.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I looks like I have been using H.264. What would be a better option?
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H.264 will be universal for your clients. PR Proxy might be faster. You’ll just have to test it out.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Use compressor to set up a simple h264 export setting that you can use in X. I’ve been exporting 90 second timelines (pro res) as h264 1280×720 h264 and it’s about 4 x real time. Maybe faster. Literally 10 – 20 sec. I just setup as single pass, 75% quality, auto keyframes, AAC 48khz stereo. There’s not much point in doing multiple pass VBR for a client approval. The quality difference is negligible for most things. And don’t try to do the math and setup a data rate. That’s kinda pointless most of the time, as the data rate is directly related to the frame rate and the frame dimensions. Using the quality slider gives you the same result without respect to the frame size or frame rate.
If you use apples built in settings it will be slower and bigger files, as they’re thinking of every export as a high quality final output master.
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Thanks Bret!!!! That made a huge difference.
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lower bit rate, resolution, and profile (main opposed to high) will all speed it up. Do not change the name of your files if you are cutting with proxies okay, or your cut will be useless when you try to export xml.
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