Compressor MPEG2 video pixelating

[Don Greening]

The VBR setting in Compressor 2 doesn’t work properly. Apple apparently knows about it but there’s no fix as yet. A few people can use the VBR setting without issue but for most, this setting results in a sub-standard encode. Better to use the 1 pass CBR setting which still works.

If you search this forum and the DVD Studio Pro forum for Compressor 2 you’ll find a host of threads on this subject. If you have Compressor 1 the 2 pass VBR Best setting works fine.

– Don

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[Terri Gustafson]

Thanks. We don’t have Compressor 1, so we’re stuck with Compressor 2.

Per advice in the DVDSP forum, we tried One-pass set a 7.0 and it didn’t seem to make any difference. The video still looked like we were watching it through a screen door.

I’ve read through the forums and there seems to be a split between folks who prefer to “Use Compressor” right from FCP’s Export function and folks who say it’s best to do a QT file and then open Compressor separately. We’ve tried both with no luck. Any idea? Opinions?

[Don Greening]

If you export from FCP using the “export using Quicktime conversion” command your encode may result in a darker picture than if you make a QT self contained or reference movie and use Compressor as a stand alone app. Here’s a link that demonstates the difference between the 2 workpaths:

https://www.visiontracks.com/compressortests/

If you’re still having encode preblems with Compressor 2 using just the 1 pass CBR method then I suggest you try trashing the Compressor 2 preference file and seeing if that makes a difference in your MPEG2 quality. You can find the preference file on your hard drive here:

Macintosh HD>Users>”yourname”>Library>Preferences>com.apple.compressor.Compressor.plist.

Trash that file then restart Compressor 2. Reset your prefs (if any) and try another encode. All I can say is that Compressor 2 works fine for me using the 1 pass CBR setting only. CBR (constant bit rate) works well for footage with minimum motion, such as talking heads type stuff. If your footage has a lot of fast action it may not work so well. If you’re stuck you might want to buy a top notch Software encoder such as Bitvice. I use that program with exellent results.

Just another thought: When you export your movie from FCP be sure to include either Compression Markers or DVDSP Markers. If you’re not taking this step before export it could be contributing to your encoding woes, as compression markers tell your MPEG2 encoder to pay special attention to all your fades and transitions. This makes for an overall better encode.

Hope this helps.

– Don

[Terri Gustafson]

Thanks Don. I appeciate your help.

As a follow up, the producer I’m working with emailed me this morning with the following info:

“I realized last night that while we had tried a bunch of different settings,
we never tried any other footage. This morning I pulled some different spots
and converted them with the default 1 pass settings. I dropped them into the
same project in place of one of the clips and burned it. It looks fine.

So, the problem is somehow related to the media in Final Cut. The House
segments were done in 16:9; the spots I tested this morning were in 4:3.
That could be part of it. I think we’ll probably just need to watch
out for this on future projects until we can find the common denominator.”

Thoughts?

Final Cut Studio 5.1
Power Mac G5
Tiger OS
Blackmagic Decklink

[Don Greening]

[Terri Gustafson] “Thoughts?”

A few. I guess the problem has now been narrowed down to the actual media, or the way it was captured. I would try another capture of a couple minutes of problem footage and go through the process again. Capturing using the same codec as the footage would be a logical thing to check, making sure that it’s the anamorphic setting. Then export a test QT movie using the same anamorphic setting and bring into Compressor, again encoding with the widescreen MPEG2 setting.

Without looking over your shoulder to see what else is happening I can’t offer any other suggestions.

– Don