Best FCP Workflow Compression Settings

[Tom Laughlin]

I’d still try to export it out as an 8-bit uncompressed 1920×1080 HD file. Compressor will crap all over this file if you run it through Compressor. Also, regardless of both ways, you’re still going to have to sit and wait for it to export out anyways, and you will need a file for archive anyway right? Lots of people archive uncompressed, they can later go back and create other files from this, or do what some others do, you keep the FCP project and all the 20-50 TBs of Raw content on your computer, and just re-export it out for every time you need a different file format, like for web. You do all the uncompressed file encoding now, it will save you time and quality on the back-end. Drop the file into DVDSP, burn it and see for yourself, Compressor avoided, quality maintained.

Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCP7/Sony EX-3/Mac Quad-Core Intel

[Daniel Low]

[Tom Laughlin] “DVDSP doesn’t use file size of the source, it uses the “time” of the source file, to determine what to do with the file, and you can see in the upper right hand corner of DVDSP, there is a meter, showing you if the file will sustain itself and fill the DVD’s maximum space. “

No, not quite right. It uses ‘time’ based on the preferences set relating to datarate in the Encoding preferences plane and the size of the DVD you are using.

[Tom Laughlin] “So, if you import a file into DVDSP, and it’s a 2 hour file, it doesn’t matter if it is an 16GB file or a 16MB file, it will automatically calucate the encode, and how much compression will be needed. Another thing, if the file (your QT .mov) is about 3 or 4 GB, the compression hit will not be as harsh as a hit from a file that is around 8GB. “But”, remember, the source file, if it is uncompressed to begin with, it will not take 2 hits. People say that when you use Compressor and then use DVDSP, it takes 2 hits, the first is big, and the 2nd, not so much, it’s more of a DVDSP format-check, not an actual encode, but in a sense. There’s no control over a file once it hits DVDSP, so that’s why you send it out of FCP uncompressed, and let it take just one compression hit, or more like a pass, not a hit. “

You’ve got 99% of the above totally wrong. RTFM!!!

If you compress the file with compressor or Episode or any other MPEG2 ‘coder to .M2V + audio, then all DVDSP does it to make VOBs from those files.

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Sent from my iPad Nano.

[Tom Laughlin]

[Daniel Low] No, not quite right. It uses ‘time’ based on the preferences set relating to datarate in the Encoding preferences plane and the size of the DVD you are using.

Um, ok… If you want to go that much deeper into technicality, that’s what I meant. Yes, we all know it’s time based on the data rate. But I don’t think the guy os going to want to mess with this any further, it is a freaking 2 hour clip, let DVDSP automatically default it.

[Daniel Low] You’ve got 99% of the above totally wrong. RTFM!!!

Daniel, I’m not here to say you’re right and I’m wrong. I’m here to help out with the posted question, everyone has a right to response in their way or suggest what to try. It’s worked for me, other things work for you, and nothing we suggest may work for him, but at least give him some bones to chew. Let’s all stay focused on getting him a solution, and not critiquing everything everyone posts that you don’t agree with.

[Daniel Low] If you compress the file with compressor or Episode or any other MPEG2 ‘coder to .M2V + audio, then all DVDSP does it to make VOBs from those files.

Yes, that is what I meant. I’ll be more specific from a technical standpoint next time I post. I apologize I wasn’t clear enough for you Daniel, I’m more focused on trying to help him with his problem. Sorry Jeremy, yes, Daniel is right about that, VOB files are created, it’s not a compression, but yet another process automated in DVDSP.

Good luck Jeremy, I’d ask Daniel more about this if you have further issues. I think he may have more solutions for you at this point. All the best.

Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCP7/Sony EX-3/Mac Quad-Core Intel

[David Hill]

I am wondering if you have figured this problem out. I am having the exact same issue. I was recently told to render out from FCP to Quicktime and then bring the large Quicktime file into Compressor and see if that helps, but according to you it doesn’t.

Like you the video looks fine in timeline, but after I have to adjust the settings to allow it to fit on a standard DVD in Compressor it looks awful. If you get an answer on this issue please let me know. Otherwise I think the only solution is to break the file into 2 disc like someone suggested above.