-
Export Codec Questions
First What codec is best for size to quality ratio and keeping the color as close (if not exactly the same) as what I see in the Final Cut preview window? I do all my color correction by that window on my laptop screen and want my exported files to keep that same color correction. My videos are just going to be played back on computer monitors so I don’t need a video monitor for color correction.
Second I noticed that when exporting using a QuickTime conversion from Final Cut Pro 5.1.4 it only uses one of my processors (I am on a MacBook Pro C2D). Is this normal? Compressor seems to do the same thing. Could this be dependent on the export codec I am using? Does Final Cut use both processors when rendering?
–Thanks.
-
4 Replies
-
1- H.264
2- Don’t bother watching your CPU usage, there’s nothing it’ll tell you technically about the working condition of your computer (most people with no formal IT training and experience misinterpret what’s going on with CPUs), and nothing you can do to change it. For many operations, using only one CPU is faster than multiple CPUs. Both CPUs will get used with FCS2 more often.
– Apple Certified Trainer
– Tutorials at http://www.bbalser.com
– South Louisiana FCP Users Group
– NOVAC Digital Filmmakers Institute
– Event DV magazine -
H264 is a great codec for Quality to size compression but the colors always come out washed out compared to other codecs / the Final Cut window.
-
Not in my experience, I get great colors with it.
I’d highly recommend the Apple Pro Training Series book “Compressor Quick-Start Referecne”. There’s now one out for QTPro that’s really nice. I think you can find either on-line for 20-something bucks each.
But my experience with H.264 has been really good, and I don’t see any color problems. It could all depend on your settings.
– Apple Certified Trainer
– Tutorials at http://www.bbalser.com
– South Louisiana FCP Users Group
– NOVAC Digital Filmmakers Institute
– Event DV magazine -
Hmm, here are my results.
Sorenson 3 (standard in QTPro):
H.264 Output:
Final Cut preview:
Obviously the first (Sorenson codec) matches the Final Cut version much closer than the H.264 output. Any suggestions on getting the colors to match?
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up