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iChat Theater keeps balking
I am thrilled with the idea of iChat Theater, but I’m having performance troubles with it and I’m trying to figure out whether 1. I’m expecting too much of it, 2. I don’t understand how to use it properly or 3. My internet connection is not up for the task.
I’m trying to screen a long show for my client via iChat Theater. Everything starts fine, but after a few minutes (I haven’t timed it to see if the time is consistent) the connection fails. I’ve discovered that when this happens my phone loses it’s connection as well. Both internet and landline are through Comcast cable. I’m not on the phone when the failure happens, only after. I have no browsers or email clients running either.
I have never known my phone to drop its signal, nor do I often knowingly lose internet connection. Is it possible that by streaming for an extended period I’m creating some sort of logjam on my pipeline (terrible mixed metaphor, I know) or something? Would pausing every minute or so help? I’m not sure what sort of diagnostics I could run to figure out if there’s an issue with my internet provider. I did run a few online bandwidth tests and I’m getting between 3 and 4 mbps upload.
Martin
2 x 2.26 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
12 GB RAM
OS 10.5.8
ATI Radeon HD 4870
FCP 7.0.2
Quicktime 7.6.6
Avid Media Composer 4.0.2.20 -
3 Replies
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I can’t get it to work from Final Cut. What I end up having to do is export a video by reference, launch iChat and do a “Share File with iChat Theater” from the file menu. In FCP 7.0.2 when I try iChat theater, nothing happens.
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comhttps://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/AFX.html
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251670/EDITING REEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Editing_Reel.html
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And if you do do it that way, can you successfully stream something of length? I’m able to stream from FCP, it just never lasts.
Martin
2 x 2.26 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
12 GB RAM
OS 10.5.8
ATI Radeon HD 4870
FCP 7.0.2
Quicktime 7.6.6
Avid Media Composer 4.0.2.20 -
I use iChat Theater extensively, as I am a producer for a TV show where content is physically edited thousands of miles away (I am in West Coast of Australia – editors on East Coast, like being LA versus New York in the USA)!
For the most part it works quite well. It does glitch occasionally, and despite our ProRes 422 or XDCAM 422HD workflows, it works well for me, particularly with its Timecode display as well to make frame accurate editing calls.
HOWEVER – I do think good internet speeds both at the suite where the editor is and where you view the content is important.
I would suggest the better the UPLOAD speed each end has will help, as well as traditional download rates.
For me, ideally I would love to have a dedicated VPN for this sort of work as when we are finalising edits to commit to master, it would be nice to have just that little bit crisper and clearer quality. It’s still good enough but I have no doubt the better the WAN, the better the result.
PS. Final Cut Pro X better damn well have iChat Theater support!
Dean…
Dean Neal…
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