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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Best CODEC for FCP 6.0.5 on PowerPC G5

  • Best CODEC for FCP 6.0.5 on PowerPC G5

    Posted by John Crane on March 28, 2009 at 2:13 am

    Sorry for what might be a basic question but I’m really hoping to optimize this HD project-the lack of interactivity/real-time feedback is just killing me. It’s all 720p rendered animation (no footage), and I’m compositing in Softimage XSI’s node-based compositor for some shots (rendered out as .pic with pre-multiplied alpha, composited in XSI then exported off the PC as QT Animation-Millions + Alpha), for compositing in Final Cut. I’m also compositing some shots in Motion/Compressor using the Animation + Alpha preset.

    In FCP 6.0.5 I’ve been using the Animation CODEC but it’s just dead-dog slow, and have tried Apple ProRes 422, Apple Intermediate, and a few others. Can anyone suggest an ideal compressor to work in to speed up workflow? The 512mb Quadro FX4500 NVIDIA card in my PowerPC G5 is driving my 30″ cinema display, and I’m using a couple SATA 7200 RPM drives.

    Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!

    John B. Crane
    Managing Member
    CraneDigital, LLC
    Digital Animation, Imaging & Photography Studios
    jbcr@cranedigital.com
    +1 (970_213-1828
    +1 (970) 229-1462

    http://www.cranedigital.com

    This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are NOT the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

    John Crane replied 17 years, 5 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Russell Lasson

    March 28, 2009 at 3:50 am

    First off, a new computer would work wonders for you.

    But try DVCPROHD 720P.

    -Russ

    Russell Lasson
    Universal Post
    Ridgeline Digital Cinema Mastering
    Salt Lake City, UT

  • John Crane

    March 28, 2009 at 3:59 am

    Thanks Russell, and I know, I know… I’m working on it. DVCPROHD 720P50 or DVCPROHD 720P60?
    Those are the only 2 I have. Thanks very much for your reply.

    John B. Crane
    Managing Member
    CraneDigital, LLC
    Digital Animation, Imaging & Photography Studios
    jbcr@cranedigital.com
    +1 (970_213-1828
    +1 (970) 229-1462

    http://www.cranedigital.com

    This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are NOT the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

  • Shane Ross

    March 28, 2009 at 5:59 am

    Depends. Are you in PAL land or NTSC? 720p50 is PAL, 720p60 is NTSC. There is also 720p24, which runs at 24fps…23.98.

    Plus, what it the frame rate/size of your files? 1280×720 or 1920×1080? DVCPRO HD can be either 720 or 1080.

    Shane

    GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
    Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

  • John Crane

    March 28, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Hi Shane-

    Yes of course-sorry for lack of detail: 29.97, NTSC to play off DVD at tradeshow on 720 displays (not broadcast). Original rendered resolution is 1280 x 720 with square pixel, no interlacing. Various photographs and graphics are mixed in with the final presentation and there’s no live footage to deal with with on this. Lots of LiveType & Motion composites, too. As Russell suggested, the DVCPRO HD 720p60 CODEC has provided a marked improvement over the other things I’ve tried (I guessed at 60 over 50 not knowing one was PAL ;-)… I’m an animator-not a video capture guy- and newcomer to HD and to this forum. So my path may be a bit different than others.
    Thanks very much for the reply.

    John B. Crane
    Managing Member
    CraneDigital, LLC
    Digital Animation, Imaging & Photography Studios
    jbcr@cranedigital.com
    +1 (970_213-1828
    +1 (970) 229-1462

    http://www.cranedigital.com

    This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are NOT the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

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