FCP7 and Retina MacBook Pros

[Ben Holmes]

[Andrew Kimery] “With regards to the bug, toggling external video on/off has always fixed it for me”

Thanks Andrew – that does work, with the external video set to Main display, although I had to do it twice, once for the canvas, and once for the viewer.

I’m amazed I’ve used a piece of software for so long without seeing this – as I said, I never needed to switch resolutions before….

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

I’m still yet to install the MXO2, but I can confirm that Avid Symphony works fine (it works in low resolution mode, and looks fine at higher scaled resolutions).

I’m slowly getting used to the idea of the rMBP. Unlike the 17″ MBP, which only had one sharp resolution of 1920×1200, with small text everywhere, the massive resolution of this machine allows me to choose between several very sharp resolutions – depending on what I’m using. This is the reason Apple have removed the display ‘resolutions’ on the display options – really, it’s just a matter of choosing what your size/space tradeoff is.

All the pictures of ‘bad’ apps (such as Twitter, which looks particularly soft at Retina setting) look better at higher ‘scaled’ resolutions. I really don’t find anything ‘unusable’ at these settings. The amazing thing is that you DON’T SEE THE SCALING. I think that’s the hardest thing to explain – when your only point of reference is LOWERING the resolution on a standard display.

I’ve spent some time in Retina setting, and whilst it initially looks like a small workspace, you quickly adapt to making the text smaller in retina apps, and enjoying the crisp text. Whilst I can’t wait for all apps to be retina-ready, in the mean time, it really needn’t give you concern at all.

Ben

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[John Collucci]

Ben,

I think the way that I found this issue was due to a screensaver that engaged its own resolutions settings. Definitely not from tinkering with te display settings while editing… Before the retina, I can’t fathom why one would.

[John Collucci]

Ben, forgive me if you have mentioned this already, but I’ve been reading about this new option enabled on the rMBP for applications. If you get info on an app file, there is now a checkbox to disable HiDPI mode, or rather “Open in low resolution”.

Have you tried this with FCP7? What is the default setting?

Apparently Apple, selectively, has already enabled/disabled the setting based on whether or not there are known issues with specific software in HiDPI (scaled-retina) modes. If “open in low resolution” isn’t enabled for FCP7 by default, it still doesn’t confirm a lack of issues, since FCP7 is no longer supported anyway….

I don’t fully understand what the option even does… Here’s the official FAQ from Apple, but as usual, they steer clear of getting too technical:
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT5266?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Any thoughts? Experiments to share?

Thanks for being our test subject!

~j!

[John Collucci]

I am curious about what caused your HDMI output judder. Have you previously used that display as a client monitor without issue?

I ask because, it could simply be a matter of frame-rate compatibility with your monitor. In my experiences using mini display port > HDMI adapter outputs, I have never had a juttering issue from my MacBook Pro. If this is an issue of the hardware, then this is disappointing problem for a MacBook “Pro” to have. Especially since that HDMI output must exist for the exact purpose that you were using it for.

[Ben Holmes]

[John Collucci] “Ben, forgive me if you have mentioned this already, but I’ve been reading about this new option enabled on the rMBP for applications. If you get info on an app file, there is now a checkbox to disable HiDPI mode, or rather “Open in low resolution”.

Have you tried this with FCP7? What is the default setting?”

Hi John

The box is greyed out for FCP7 – with ‘low resolution’ checked. This is the behaviour of apps that OSX does not deem retina- capable. I think it’s safe to assume it won’t ever be ‘retina ready’.

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

[John Collucci] “I am curious about what caused your HDMI output judder. Have you previously used that display as a client monitor without issue?”

No I haven’t. I tested the Macbook at home, with my 46″ Samsung series 7 LCDTV. I have a JVC 24″ HD-SDI monitor I use for broadcast monitoring.

I couldn’t call this a scientific test – but what I can say is that I left the TV set up how I use it with my Apple TV and Sat box – and the monitor settings in display prefs were set to 1920×1080 50Hz. The material was 1080i HD video.

I’m going to test the MXO2 tomorrow, and will compare the HDMI output from this with the laptop itself. I’ll give it a more thorough testing and report back – but again, I can only try this on my own HDTV.

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

Further testing using my rMBP with my Samsung TV has failed to produce smooth motion on the HDMI output – I get some juddering frames. The same output in FCPX seems smoother.

Please note – this is not a scientific test. Your mileage may vary. Also, this is feeding external monitoring via the ‘desktop preview’ route – not via a video I/O device. There are 3 options – normal, full screen and ‘raw’ via HDMI. All show juddering.

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

[John Collucci] “I am curious about what caused your HDMI output judder. Have you previously used that display as a client monitor without issue?”

OK – few more test done now. I’ve successfully connected my Thunderbolt Lacie drive and MXO2 to the laptop. Output from the MXO2 via HDMI to my TV is smooth – no frames dropped.

Output direct via HDMI has juddering – whatever the settings. And yes – I’ve matched the TV to 50Hz with 50i material etc.

I’m going to post findings above.

Ben

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[Matthew Reynolds]

I know some of the older MBPs had an audio in/out instead of 2. Does this one have the in/out, or just the out? I don’t use it a lot, but it sounds like could be a small issue for a few things

Matthew Reynolds
Creative Director : Filmmaker
Photographer: Coffee Lover