FCX – chapter markers not on blu ray disc?

[Brian Houle]

Ok..so maybe i’m about to answer my own question, but I found this on Apple’s forums:

Totally shocked if this is true so if anyone could confirm before I try again it would be appreciated.

”
Chapters export just fine to Apple devices like the iPad in Compressor 4. You just have to make sure you make the markers Chapter markers and not Compression which is the default. I just did a test from a FCPX project: Share>Send to Compressor. I selected the Apple Device 5MB preset and added chapter markers manually. It’s an extra step but it really doesn’t take that long. The chapters showed up fine on my iPad, in Quicktime X, and in VLC.

To speed things up, I added the markers in FCPX using the shortcut M (hit M again to edit the marker). After adding the markers I opened the Timeline Index where you can see all your markers. From there I took the timecode for each one, put it in the Compressor timecode, and hit enter. Then hit M to add the marker, and then Command-E to edit the marker. Unless you have tons of chapter markers it’s not going to add much time to your workflow. “

[Brian Houle]

Just to report for those of you who weren’t aware, but my last post was correct – you need to add chapters in Compressor 4.

Completely idiotic imho. What a waste of time (even though it doesn’t take long – that’s not the point).

I find the disc authoring in compressor to be completely basic at best. It does work, but ick…
I don’t understand why they couldn’t adapt DVD studio pro for blu ray!?! 🙁

Now i”m looking at Adobe Encore or Toast which is unfortunate for the Encore as you can’t buy it seperately.

Am I pouting too much or rightfully upset at the change in workflow?

lol

Cheers,
Brian

[Gerry Fraiberg]

The markers in Final Cut Pro X are not Chapter markers. Chapter markers have to be added in Compressor 4.

From FCP X Help:
Markers are reference points you can place within clips to locate, identify, and annotate specific frames. In editing, markers are particularly useful for synchronizing two or more clips at a specific point. For example, you can use a marker to label the frame where a door slams and then snap a sound effect to that marker. You can use markers to flag a specific location in a clip with editing notes or other descriptive information. You can also use markers for task management. Markers are classified as informational (blue markers), to-do items (red markers), and completed to-do items (green markers).

From Compressor 4 Help:
Chapter markers: Chapter markers allow easy access to index points throughout a DVD, QuickTime movie, or podcast. QuickTime Player can interpret any text track containing time stamps as a chapter track. Chapter markers can also have artwork and a URL assigned to them that appear when playing a podcast.
These markers appear as purple in the Preview window timeline.

[Brian Houle]

Thanks Gerry. I appreciate the information.
Then I guess I shall proceed with that workflow although it will remain curious to me why they changed that from FCP7 🙁

My edits are generally basic in nature so adding chapter markers in the timeline worked perfectly.

Cheers,
Brian

[Gerry Fraiberg]

– it will remain curious to me why they changed that from FCP7 🙁

It’s anybody’s guess, however dropping DVD Studio Pro is a strong hint as to the direction Apple is taking with FCP X. You could always try to “Provide Feedback” to Apple from within FCP X.

[Andreas Kiel]

As said above, all the marker types we were used to are gone with X.
You can use the digitalRebellion tool https://www.digitalrebellion.com/promedia/ to get chapters into an exported movie within seconds.

– Andreas

Spherico
https://www.spherico.com/filmtools

[Brian Houle]

Thanks Andreas.

Does this work using the share – DVD or Blu Ray option? I ask because that process seems to be ‘locked’ in a sense. Ie. we don’t have access to the files before they are burned.

Gerry, thanks – I definitely have 🙂 lol

Cheers,
Brian

[Andreas Kiel]

No there is no chance at the moment to create(and use) chapter markers inside FCPX. 🙁

– Andreas

Spherico
https://www.spherico.com/filmtools

[Andreas Kiel]

Here some crazy thoughts how to bring back chapter markers.
Take a simple (one line) title, add it to the timeline where you want, shorten it, add your chapter name and apply a unique role – like ‘Chapter’. You can setup one and from there copy paste and change the chapter name, or use the find/replace title text and the end.

Now export as XML and export the movie. Don’t forget get do disable the ‘Chapter’ role on export. During editing you just can topgle visibility.

Then use my XTE to extract the titles. Once they are loaded, you can use the popup to see all the ‘Chapter’ titles and save them to a chapter list text file. The quick hack I did for the app saves both an STL and a chapter file.
In Compressor use the Import ‘Chapter List…’ to import your chapter files.

Though it sounds a bit complicated, in my oppionion it’s easier than with markers – both in FCPX and Compressor. In X you can have the old fashioned overlay and move ‘chapter titles’ easily.

-Andreas

Download (3.8 MB) for free:
https://www.spherico.com/filmtools/TitleExchange/XTE%20Install.dmg

Spherico
https://www.spherico.com/filmtools

[Kevin Rockwood]

I just created this app to convert markers from a FCPX xml file to a .txt file that you can import into compressor. It’s not ideal, but it should make the process easier until apple adds the functionality. Let me know if you have any issues with it.

https://github.com/rockwood/fcpx-Marker-Converter