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FCP Rendering Time
Hello, I’m hoping someone will have the answer I’m looking for.
Right now I edit video with a Intel Quad Core 3.0Ghz Xeon processor and 10GB of Ram.
When I edit video in 1920×1080 it takes roughly one hour to render 30 seconds of video with some basic keyframe motions. Would upgrading the tower to an 8-Core help with my render time. I know FCP is 32-Bit so I’m not sure, for now I’ve changed the sequence preset to DVCPro but that puts it in 1220×1080 then I export it in 1920×1080, I would like to avoid that as it changes the aspect ratio of what I make in photoshop to 50.
Any information will be helpful!
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13 Replies
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>… it takes roughly one hour to render 30 seconds of video with some basic keyframe motions … I’ve changed the sequence preset to DVCPro
Hi Chris
In short, yes, a more powerful machine will render faster than a less powerful machine … but I get the feeling you are not telling all there is to tell here. What is the source footage format / where is it coming from. You’ve changed the sequence codec to DVCPRO HD from what? It may be that your current issues with render time could be alleviated somewhat by adopting a more efficient workflow, but more info about your existing workflow would be needed to see if thats the case.
Hope it helps
Andy -
Most all of the commercials I edit are pure graphics straight out of Photoshop, with VO’s in MP3 Format and music in AIFF. Otherwise if I do have video it is shot at 1920×1080 60i on a Canon XF300.
It was originally set to DVCPRO HD when I started I changed it to AppleProRes to get 1920×1080(square pixels) instead of 1220×1080 (non-square pixels) but then my render times went through the roof.
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>Most all of the commercials I edit are pure graphics straight out of Photoshop
What’s the frame size and format of these graphics you are exporting? Are they optimal for your 1920×1080 FCP timeline?
>with VO’s in MP3 Format and music in AIFF
Any special reason you’re using MP3 for VO’s (am guessing you’re just receiving them that way). Whatever, I’d recommend you transcode the VO clips to 48kHz AIFF before you drop them int your projects.
>Otherwise if I do have video it is shot at 1920×1080 60i on a Canon XF300.
So 1920×1080 60i (interlaced) using the XDCAM HD 422 codec then ?
And how do you deliver al this stuff? What format? HD or SD, progressive or interlaced etc?
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Learn after effects and or motion.
If you dont want to, work in ProRes or Uncompressed.
Happy rendering -
Buddy, wont you get better results working with ProRes over DV in terms of graphics ? I know DV is much lighter on the system & takes much lesser resources to process the same footage but when it comes to images or text ProRes is far superior in its output. Do correct me if I am wrong.
BTW, yes upgrading to a better tower would certainly help as FCP is all about processing power.
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I know the results aren’t better, and ProRes is a better quality, you are correct, its just that the render time is killing me when I spend an hour watching paint dry for a 30 second commercial to render XD
Anyway, is there a website or something that compares the render speeds of the different G5 towers, because that’s what I really want to know is if I invest my money into a 8 core or 12 core tower how much time is it actually going to save me
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>What’s the frame size and format of these graphics you are exporting? Are they optimal for your 1920×1080 FCP timeline?
I create the graphics at 1920×1080 unless they need to be bigger so that when I zoom in on them they don’t get grainy (only done that once so far). I am not sure what you mean if they are optimal.
>Any special reason you’re using MP3 for VO’s (am guessing you’re just receiving them that way). Whatever, I’d recommend you transcode the VO clips to 48kHz AIFF before you drop them int your projects.
Yes I receive them that way.
>So 1920×1080 60i (interlaced) using the XDCAM HD 422 codec then?
When I import the footage it puts it in AppleProRes 422.
>And how do you deliver al this stuff? What format? HD or SD, progressive or interlaced etc?
I deliver them HD (1920×1080) interlaced in .MOV format.
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If I’m reading right, you’ve a Power Mac 8 core machine. I have that same machine. Render times in FCP 7 will likely be cut by about 1/3 or 1/2 if you went to the 6 or 12 core… In the current software (FCP 7) the 12 core machine isn’t any faster than the 6 core because FCP 7 doesn’t address all those cores. But all the next gen software WILL address them. Probably be a screamer machine when the software that takes advantage of the cores is out there.
If you want to check out speeds, take a look at Rob Art Morton’s site: http:https://www.barefeats.com
FCP X will likely make all this render smutz go away FWIW. It renders in the background while you work. Pretty cool I think.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann
Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.
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My computer is only a Quad-Core so my speeds will probably jump even higher going to the 6 or 8 core. I’ll check out the site! Thanks!
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[Chris Morlang] “My computer is only a Quad-Core so my speeds will probably jump even higher going to the 6 or 8 core.”
Chris,
Can you tell us how much CPU (Activity Monitor) is engaged when FC is rendering?
rafael
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