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Best encoder for Mac/Final Cut?
Best encoder for Mac/Final Cut?
I have been using Bitvice for years, and recently had a crack with Compressor.
The reason I’m posting this question is that my friend uses both Windows and Mac and he has Bitvice, Compressor for Mac and Procoder (Canopus) for Windows. He says Procoder is far, far superior to Bitvice. I always thought Bitvice was pretty good myself. But my friend who uses both says Procoder is miles better.
Procoder is for PC only, so can anyone tell me from experience what the ultimate Encoders are for Mac and Final Cut pro these days?
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14 Replies
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On the Mac I’d suggest Main Concept Coder, fast and good. But the best out there is Cinema Craft on the PC, even in it’s basic incarnation
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Have you compaired this to BitVice or Compressor?
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Just checked web site, Windows only. I need Mac versions of encoders.
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We just had a big snafu with a client. Normally, we’ve never had any problems viewing the work we’ve done on DVD using LaCie’s Capty Fast Coder (hardware). It’s fast, and blows Compressor out of the water. However, a particular client was extremely dissatisfied with the quality when viewing on a computer (laptop). We had to end up going to a local company to actually use their $60k encoder to achieve what the client wanted. Now I viewed both DVD’s on TV’s and on desktops and laptops. On a TV, there was hardly any difference, except in the few dissolves we had you could tell the Capty was a little dirty. When viewed on a computer or laptop, the difference was tremendous. Though the overall image quality was comparable between the two, any text, blacks, or transitions were drastically different. I just wanted to make you aware that some clients may be dissatisfied with what might be the best an individual or small company can produce. Being a small company, we can’t afford to through $60k at something we don’t specialize in. Whatever you end up getting, I’d almost always lean towards getting hardware. B&H had some hardware encoder cards that are in the sub-$2k and might be worth checking out.
“If God could do the tricks we can do, He’d be a happy Man.” – Peter O’Toole – “The Stuntman”
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Final Cut Studio (Not Universal, yet) -
We’ve compared it to both (and ProCoder too) and liked it best.
Regards,
Uli
Author of “DVDs gestalten und produzieren”, a book on professional DVD-authoring in German.
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Are you talking about the Cinema Craft Encoder or Main Concept?
I mentioned that CCE is PC, but Main Concept has versions for both platforms.
Regards,
Uli
Author of “DVDs gestalten und produzieren”, a book on professional DVD-authoring in German.
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Nigel,
Compression is a dark cross between art and science, even the best in here don’t know it all.
But, since you were asking about software encoders, here’s my take:
Compressor is awesome if (and that’s a bif IF) you bother to take the time to learn it and tinker with it. Truly awesome.
Bitvice demos I have played with look very, very good, my only hesitation is that there’s not as much control over it as with other solutions including Compressor and the rest I will mention.
Sorenson Squeeze Suite is probably the easiest to use and a very complete solution, settings in filters are somewhat limited though, but a very, very good product.
My favorite far and away is Episode Pro, formerly Compression Master. It is screaming fast, has GREAT filters and presets, and will make just about any kind of file you can ask for. Highly recommend it.
I’m sure some of the hardware solutions listed here are very good, but the LaCie mentioned is for DV only, so that’s a limitation. I also wonder if a hardware solution gives as many options for output other than mpeg2 as Compressor, Squeeze or Episode, which are entirely different solutions.
I’d take some time to play with the diferent demos, and see what’s best for you.
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Uli, which is best out of Cinema Craft Encoder and Main Concept?
The Main Concept that I found after searching Google was definately Windows only. Do you have a link?
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Cinema Craft rulez, but here’s the best for the Mac:
https://www.mainconcept.com/site/?id=769
Regards,
Uli
Author of “DVDs gestalten und produzieren”, a book on professional DVD-authoring in German.
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Not sure if I’d want to go with the Main Concept. Those guys also make a Premiere plugin for Sony’s XDCAM HD format, only knowbody likes it or can get it working as it is buggy as hell.
Seems too cheap to be any good and I can’t believe that this product is better than Bitvice.
I don’t want speculation here guys, I need hard facts that have been tried and tested by people.
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