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Optimized Settings for Subtitles
Hi-
I’m working on a project with heavy subtitles (maybe half of the footage we are using has been translated). We layed everything onto the footage w/ Boris 3D. The issue I am now encountering is that any sequence that includes a lot of subtitles takes a long time to open. I get the prompt “preparing video for display” for a full minute or so as I open each sequence.
I tried upping the Still Cache, but don’t really get any difference in performance unless I bring it all the way up to 100 percent. (I had initially had my application/still cache set at 90% application, 30% still cache). Then sequences will load quickly, but none of the subtitles are rendered. (Before changing the still cache from 30%, the subtitles were all rendered as I put them on the sequence). Then, rendering the subtitles doesn’t seem to take long, but the render prompt will hang up once it’s displaying that effects have been rendered 100% for a minute or so. Plus, if I move or adjust a subtitle, I’ve got to re-render. Basically this doesn’t really aid my workflow.
Is there a combined setting of application cache/still cache/render settings that will allow me to open sequences quickly w/o having to render each subtitle on the sequence? Or should I simply double my RAM cards? I’ve got 2 gigs in there.
Any assistance is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Nate Smith
Operating FCP 4.5 on a
G5 Dual 2 Ghz
OS X 1.4.3
2 Gig RAM
160 Gig internal HD
2 Lacie external HD’s (250gb & 160gb 9 pin firewires)
1 Porche external HD (250gb 6 pin firewire) -
1 Reply
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Part of the problem might be using Boris 3D, a highly capable, and therefore complex, text machine. You’re probably overdoing the subtitles by creating text objects with formatting in Boris that you don’t really need. If you are firmly attached to using Boris, you’re stuck. Otherwise, you can try using any of the other text tools to create less render-intensive titles; text objects that will work within your machine’s RT capabilities. Forget outlines and shadows, effects not usually needed for subs.
Caching the still images is an interesting part of your problem and I’ve not encountered it myself. Your description implies FCP looks at the sequence and immediately starts building and caching the Boris titles. Adding RAM might help store them but it won’t help build them any faster.
Hope you get some other suggestions.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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