time code generator, fcp, file size?

[Susan Benfatto]

Hi guys. Here’s the next question step.

I rendered in fcp, exported as unchecked self-contained movie.
Opened compressor. Imported file. Clicked Mpeg4 (Composer request). Opened filters. Clicked Time Code generator. Positioned upper left. left start box unclicked (My tc starts at 1 hour, which is what I need). saved timecode filter. Tried to preview to see if it was really there.

Can’t find/see it.

Moved preview screen to left.

Can’t find/see it.

Haven’t submitted.

help.

[John Pale]

Oh yeah…

At the top of the Preview window on the right side there are two buttons… the left button shows what the source file looks like, the one on the right shows what it will look like encoded.

Make sure you press the one on the right…and adjust the split screen slider to reveal the timecode window.

[John Pale]

[Susan Benfatto] “Opened compressor. Imported file. Clicked Mpeg4 (Composer request). Opened filters. Clicked Time Code generator. Positioned upper left. left start box unclicked (My tc starts at 1 hour, which is what I need). saved timecode filter. Tried to preview to see if it was really there. “

The default text color is black. Might be difficult to see depending on the footage. You can change the color by clicking the black rectangle at the bottom next to where it says “Text Color”

[Susan Benfatto]

went a-hunting on the forums (found forum answers easier with Google?) anyway, found the text,color buttons.

Centered the timecode so I could see it. Made it larger, so I could really see it.

Clicked white text, black background.

nothing changed.

clicked save, asked me to replace, I said yes.

returned to black text.

Huh?

[Susan Benfatto]

Well hush my mouth! I have time code in white, now in the upper left! Thanks!

But here’s the thing – when I preview it, it does not seem to run smoothly, it jumps frames. Is that the nature of preview? My frame rate is 29.97 (where it should be). In inspector it says Bits per sample: 16, could that be it?

Do I just trust compressor knows how to read time code and press the big SUBMIT button?
It also says estimated file size 846.39 MB… do I believe that number… or will it grow into a 500000G file when it comes out on my desktop?

Will the composer ever get the film or should I use VO tool in fcp to hum a merry tune?……

[John Pale]

You clicked the white boxes at the bottom of the color picker, right?

Guess what…those are actually empty bins..they are for you to store custom colors by dragging from the rectangle at the top of the color picker.

Use the luminance slider, color wheel, color sliders, crayon box, or spectrum to create the color you want (including white).

[Susan Benfatto]

also wanted to mention that when I stop preview, it stops at same timecode as is timeline at bottom of preview…. I want to believe it…. but I have been lead astray before…..

[John Pale]

The preview window does not play smoothly. Its compressing on the fly, so its processor intensive.

[Susan Benfatto] “It also says estimated file size 846.39 MB… do I believe that number… or will it grow into a 500000G file when it comes out on my desktop? “

Why don’t you do a test of a short segment to put your mind at ease?

You know some of us manage to do this all the time without having a nervous breakdown 🙂

All kidding aside… the software works when you do everything correctly. I don’t know why you were having huge files originally….even doing this directly in FCP (with its timecode filter) will not cause that. Your problems are most certainly pilot error. You need to sit down with the manuals for FCP and Compressor, play with the programs and really learn what to do.

[Susan Benfatto]

I apologize. I thought these were help forums. I didn’t realize they were only for professionals. Thanks again for your advice.