FCP Crashes during Export using Quicktime Conversion

[John Fishback]

My only thought is to try to export the last 15 minutes as a self-contained QT using Current Settings. If that works, import that file and replace the clips in your timeline (make a duplicate of it first) with that file. Then try your encode again. If something is corrupted in a way that conflicts with h.264, maybe this would create a “clean” piece of media.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Jeremy Collins]

Thanks for the tip John, I’m about to try giving it a-go. In the meantime, I tried this (a suggestion from another user):

I took a 4 minute section that was causing FCP to crash upon render, exported that as a reference QT file, put that in Compressor and it worked great.

So I exported the entire film as a Reference QT file, put that in Compressor and started to render. However, after days of rendering, it’s been stuck at 81% for at least a day now.

Any ideas? I am seriously losing my mind.

[Jeremy Collins]

John,
Per your recommendation, I took the last 15 minutes of the film, copied them into a new sequence, rendered that sequence, and then exported that out as a self-contained QT file under current settings. It exported perfectly. I then took this new QT file, placed it in a brand new sequence and attempted to export it with the H.264 codec and the settings I am trying to accomplish. It crashed.

I don’t get it! It’s new media, why is it still crashing?! I am completely lost and out of ideas now. I am considering uninstalling and reinstalling FCP, but I’m afraid something with get messed up with the updates and so on. Any ideas are GREATLY appreciated!

[John Fishback]

I’m not sure if you’re trying to make your H.264 using QT conversion out of FCP, or in Compressor. You should use Compressor. If you haven’t tried that, export your timeline as a self-contained QT using Current Settings. Then bring that file into Compressor and make your H.264. Personally, I always use Frame Controls (turn that on in Compressor’s Inspector panel), particularly when re-sizing. Up the re-sizing quality to Better or Best. Good luck.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Jeremy Collins]

Hi John,
Thanks for the compressor tip!

I have NOT taken the corrupted footage, created a self-contained QT file, then tried exporting that as H.264 in Compressor.

I did export a reference QT and then tried to render that in Compressor as H.264 and it stalled at 81%

I also tried exporting a corrupted piece out as a self-contained QT file then tried rendering that out as H.265 within FCP.

Do you think I should attempt this workflow, or based on the other tries it probably won’t work?

Thanks again!

[John Fishback]

I have never used QT Conversion to make video files – only audio and stills. And I’ve seen many people warn against using QT Conversion for video. I’m not sure what issues it creates. Try Compressor. Just use the H.264 preset to see if the encode completes. If it does, then tweak the settings and encode your final. I just used Compressor to make a beefy H.264 file for upload to YouTube (from DVCPro HD) and it looked great.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Jeremy Collins]

Hi John,
Thanks again for the reply. I attempted that workflow, however, it didn’t work. During the render in Compressor, the file stopped and reported this “Status: Failed – 3x Crash Service Down”.
Thanks again for the suggestions and have a great day!
-Jeremy