-
compressor long encode times
Compressor encoding times are enormous. Am I doing something wrong? I want to have the best possible quality sd dvd, but i’m wondering if the time it takes is typical for my level of equipment etc.
G5 dual 2.3, 3.5GB Ram, fcp6.0.3, OSX.4.11, Compressor 3.0.3
In order to not tie up fcp, I export a sc QT. In Compressor I use apple’s default settings for mpeg-2, 2-pass, ac3 audio, and length of project.
I’ve had a 45 min. project take more than 2 days, etc.
Now I have a 19 min. project I’m near finishing and i’m hoping compressor won’t take more than 12 hours or it might compromise my deadline. What should I expect for encode times. I go to dvdsp after compressor to make the sd dvd.
-
17 Replies
-
Hi Chris,
Even sending to Compressor from the FC time-line, those times are no normal, unless you are setting the “Frame Control” ON and the BEST quality parameters.
Open the Activity Monitor and have a look to the CPU use. This can give you an idea if there is something wrong.
Cheers,
rafael -
I’ll try that. I think I’ve used “best” instead of better. do you lose much quality with better vs. best?
-
You could do a single pass as well.
And, I know you don’t want to hear this, but an 8Core will cut those times dramatically as you can set up a virtual cluster.
Even a MacBook Pro will encode much faster than your G5.
Processor speed (and quantity) speeds up the process.
Jeremy
-
My dual 800 Mhz G4 used to take 12 hours to compress a 2 plus hour DV NTSC self contained movie but you’re compressing a 45 min. movie with a much faster machine. Something is amiss. Like Raf suggested, check your processor output during an encode. I can’t see the difference in better or best being that much more of a factor. I used to use the best setting on the G4 all the time. My 2.7 G5 takes around 5 hours give or take to do a VBR 2 pass best encode using BitVice on a 2 hour DV movie. BitVice is slower than Compressor but does a little better job.
– Don
-
And depending the footage you are using and the format in what ou are compressing you don’t even need to set Control Frame ON.
For example if you are doing a a SD MPG-2 from any SD 8b QT movie Frame Control ON does nothing but slow the process.
Set the Frame Control On when:
– Using 10b footage (otherwise any process is done just in 8b).
– When you are resizing.
– When you are modifying the field order.
– When you are modifying the time-base.
Cheers,
rafael -
[Don Greening] “. BitVice is slower than Compressor but does a little better job.
“
Hi Don,
Just a bit better than Compressor?
I want to know because I will need to finish soon few jobs printed to DVD and I was thinking about to get BitVice or even CinemaCraft.
Which version of BitVice are you working with?
Cheers,
rafael -
[Rafael Amador] “Which version of BitVice are you working with?”
v.1.8
You caught me. Yes, it’s bit better in the way that it will do a better job on really long form stuff, whereas Compressor used to fall apart on projects longer than two hours when encoding for DVD-5. I’ve put a 3:10 hour movie on a DVD-5 encoded with BitVice that looks considerably better than a 2 hour movie from the same project encoded with Compressor. This is where BitVice really shines. I’m talking 2 pass VBR best here. Short form projects and especially CBR encodings look…….acceptable with Compressor.
– Don
-
I’ve never used the Activity Monitor before. I guess I should have just compressor open, but then what are the specifics i should look for in the activity monitor?
-
With only compressor open, the activity monitor says CPU usage ranges from 65-77%. I did a test on a 2 min. QT and now the encode time didn’t seem too bad. Using 2pass and best, 2 mins. took 20 mins., so that’s about 10 mins. for every one min.
My 19 min. project should take 3 hours, 16 mins. I can live with that.
I don’t know what must have been wrong on my previous projects that took days.
-
Chris,
I think that you are getting low performance with Compressor for a double processor computer where in (theory) the Activity Monitor could shows until a 200%. If you would be sending from FC would be alright, but for a Self contained movie is poor.
However I wouldn’t blame Compressor before making sure that my system is well optimized. You should run DiskWarrior, TechTools or so.Don,
When I asked you about BitVice vs comressor, I was thinking about picture quality not performance. Normally the clips i encode there are no much longer than a half hour or so. Happy to heard that the picture looks much better. I think will be mi choice. CinemaCraft is a bunch of money.
Cheers,
rafael
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up