New User – Atypical Question

[Paul Blinn]

Yes, exactly right. I’m trying to preserve what quality I have left. I’m a little surprised at how good the MPEGs actually look in the MPEG Streamclip window. But they don’t look that good imported into the FCP or the AVID. I’m about to try the uncompressed gag. I only tested MPEG streamclip for testing the conversions from PAL to NTSC.

I am very appreciative for this expert user group. Now I’m learning the program, in some detail, based on something practical I need to do rather than just plodding through the manuals and tuturials. But I’ll do that too. (I’ve found that stuff to be more beneficial AFTER I’ve beat my head against the wall a little).

So can you tell me a little something more about the “compression markers”? Does that mean the maximum suggested bitrate for encoding? Where do I get under the hood with that? Also a basic question: can I add chapter index in FCP, or do I need to export each clip to DVDSP?

Many thanks.

[Zak Mussig]

Markers in FCP can do a number of things. A normal marker just helps you find something. Go to a marker (Shift + up / down arrow to navigate) and hit m or ` and you can change your marker to a chapter marker, compression marker, or scoring marker.

Chapter markers will export with your MPEG 2 if you use export “Using Compressor…”.

Compression markers force that frame to be an i-frame under the same circumstances.

Scoring markers come along if you export for Soundtrack Pro.

You set your encoding settings in Compressor, and DVDSP will use any chapter markers you have in there. You can always add them in DVDSP if you would like. You would need to use one of the chapter menu templates or manually make buttons on a menu you make from scratch and connect them to each chapter.

TANGENT: When I forget to add chapter markers in FCP before I encode, I go back and add them then export a reference movie. I take that in DVDSP, throw it in a track, and then delete it from the track after it lays down its chapter markers. Drag your compressed video into the track and you’re good to go. It’s even easier to just not forget to add them in the first place.

Zak