FCP wishlist item : file output

[David Roth weiss]

[gribble] “But why can’t I simply output any format from WITHIN the program? In other words Compressor running at a sub-level in FCP.”

You absolutely can, but then you have to stop editing while Compressor is encoding. Exporting a QT reference or self contained file first is very fast, don’t know why that seems so burdensome, then uisng that in compressor allows you to keep editing in CP while Compressor chugs away in the BG.

I suspect that Compressor wil do the MPEG2 that you want, but you probably need to go deeper. Do you need a transport stream?

DRW

[David Roth weiss]

[David Roth Weiss] “allows you to keep editing in CP” that should have read, “allows you to keep in editing in FCP.”

[Mike Most — account bouncing, bad address]

What’s the point of taking a software approach to this – inevitably taking a lot of time to do so, no matter how fast the computer – when a hardware approach is relatively inexpensive in the first place? If you really need to do a lot of MPEG encoding, especially if you have some PC’s floating around, you might want to look at Digital Rapids’ cards. They’re very affordable and do the job in real time.

One size does NOT fit all. One program should not be expected to do everything you happen to need to do, especially if it’s not part of what that program was designed to do. Final Cut was designed to edit. If you need fast MPEG encoding, look at a product that’s designed to do just that.

[Walter Biscardi]

[gribble] “Thoughts?”

Don’t see a need for MPEG-2 encoding within the application. FCP is a video editor, not a file converter. That’s why you have a stand alone application called Compressor, it’s the file conversion tool.

Something is more than likely wrong with your settings in Compressor, you may need to deeper into the menus, or you will need to use another tool like BitVice. Better yet, your station should equip you workstation with a BetaIMX deck which is MPEG-2 encoded video. Or the best option is they should invest in a realtime hardware MPEG-2 encoder so you feed your FCP signal to it.

I think as far as FCP File Export is concerned, Quicktime is really all it needs to do.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
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[Bob Cole]

[Mike Most] “you might want to look at Digital Rapids’ cards. They’re very affordable and do the job in real time.”

I second that opinion. I have a Digital Research card and like it a lot. I’ve tried both ways, and if you have a lot of encoding to do, a real-time hardware solution is fantastic. You can even make several files at once, for DVD, broadband, and dialup.

— Bob C

[Martin Baker]

Gribble, are you really saying that you dived into using FCP on your station without knowing if it would fit into your workflow?

Anyway, this application may create the type of mpeg-2 files you’re needing for your playout system:
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html

Martin
Digital Heaven, London UK
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[Rob Hindley]

Currently I use Premier Pro 2 and it does a quick, clean job of each project from bringing in mpeg2 files to outputting same. The Adobe Media Encoder makes the task effortless.

FCP was purchased primarily to allow me to edit and I have no problem with using Compressor. It seems FCP is made for high end programme cutting and movies rather then mundane day-to-day promo and menu board production.

The tv station here does use a hardware encoding solution for converting its programmes and old movies.

Gribble
::: Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana :::