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FCP Exporting Question
I’m currently editing some Sony EX1 footage on my MacBook Pro (2.4g Processor, 4g Memory, FCP v6.0.6).
I need to export the finished product and have been given the following guide.
Size – 800×450
Format – MP4
Encoding – H.264
Data Rate – ~1500 kbit/s
Audio – AAC Stereo 44.1At the minute, I’m finishing my pieces, and exporting via quicktime conversion.
I change the format to MP4, I change the encode to H.264, I change the size, I check it’s optimised for streaming (as that’s what they’re wanting to do with it), I change my data rate to 1500, I check my audio is correct… I do all that, and the videos are looking good when they go up on the web.
The only question I have is how long should the export take? Currently it’s taking over 9 minutes for every minute of footage.
I’m exporting as I type a video where I’ve got footage on 3 tracks. The video is 3 minutes long and it’s still exporting despite setting it off almost an hour ago.
Am I just being an inpatient git?
Does the fact that my current project is split over three video tracks mean it’ll take longer to export? Is there a quicker way?
Thanks for your time.
Impatient Michael.
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7 Replies
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Hi Michael,
I found out that “multi-pass” in H264, is not “two Passes” but at least three.
When you export “sending to Compressor” or with QT Conversion everything is rendered again even if the whole FC sequence is already rendered.
If the process is “Two passes” (ie MPEG-2), everything is rendered twice.
But I found that “multi-pass” when exporting H264 means (at least) THREE PASSES.
That means that your sequence is rendered three times.
So the best is to export your sequence as a self contained movie (NO EX-1 codec) and then convert it with QT or Compressor. Compressor will make a much better work anyway.
Cheers,
rafael -
Thank you Rafael,
Can I export via compressor and still achieve my requirements? How’d I go about it?
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Hi Michael,
QT is very limited, while in Compressor you have much more control over any process.
Compressor will also allow you different algorithm (for re-sizing, de-interlacing and time-base control) that will determine the quality of the conversion. You need to set “Frame Control: ON”. Then in “Re -size Filter”, set BEST. The rest with the default settings.
rafael -
[Michael Russell] “Thank you Rafael,
Can I export via compressor and still achieve my requirements? How’d I go about it?
“I think Rafael is saying to use the quicktime export (not export via compressor). Once you have your (what I call a) FCP QT, you take that into Compressor, and make all the setting changes you desire (you may have to duplicate one of the presets, in order to make the changes, then save that setting so you can use it again if needed.
exporting from FCP via compressor not only take a LONG time, it also causes you to tie up FCP. You wont be able to do anything else until its done.
If you export a QT (lossless) first, then compressor can be doing the conversion (faster and possibly better), while you are doing more work in FCP (assuming your computer is powerful enough).Todd Reid
Senior Editor
Digitized Media, Inc. -
Thank you very much. Will give this a try… I seem to remember I can’t seem to get the mp4 with the h.264 encode on compressor though. Is this me being stupid?
Thanks again by the way. I bloody love Creative COW!
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[Michael Russell] “. I seem to remember I can’t seem to get the mp4 with the h.264 encode on compressor though”
Why?
rafael -
The EX-1 uses a compressed format; that you are converting into another compressed format.
Patience, or a multi-core render array are your only options for speed.
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