Time Problem with Mac Compressor 3.0.4 for FCP

[Daniel Low]

You didn’t say how you were going from FCP to compressor?

If time is tight you could take the exported sequence (as a Quicktime movie) directly into DVD SP and encode it there.

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Please post back saying what solved your problem. It could help others, and saying ‘thanks’ is free!

[Redford Givens]

Re: Time Problem with Mac Compressor 3.0.4 for FCP
by Daniel Low on Nov 25, 2008 at 12:03:16 am

You didn’t say how you were going from FCP to compressor?

I send it to Compressor using the “Export to compressor” option under the File menu in FCP.

I’ve been doing a 2 Pass with Average Bit Rate 5.0 mbps and Maximum Bit Rate 6.0. Two pass VBR Best. MPEG – 2.

If time is tight you could take the exported sequence (as a Quicktime movie) directly into DVD SP and encode it there.

Is there any loss of quality? How do I do this? How long does it take? Does Quicktime preserve the Chapter markers in DVD Studio Pro?

At this point Compressor is a deep mystery. The problem is that two nearly identical timelines have a 4+ to 1 difference in compression time. One file compresses in about 2:20 the other takes 8+ hours.

Every scene in both timelines has virtually identical Motion effects consisting of lines and simple imported Photoshop images (no layers) laid over the video. None of the Particle Emitters, tracking or any of that is involved.

Both are 90 minutes (within a couple of minutes of being the same). One takes 2:20 hours and the other takes 8+ hours and sometimes bogs down and gives estimated finish times of 40-60+ hours (after an hour or two of steadily RISING estimated finish times, I shut it off and try again).

I cannot figure what the significant difference between the timelines is. Being a 30 wpm typist, I cannot help wondering if I accidentally hit some self-destruct option. Being a poor typist has lead to the discovery of many “UNDOCUMENTED” features, but this time I just want to get the job finished.

Any help in saving my sanity will be appreciated.

My deadline is nearing and we only need one or two more edits to get this finished and this damned Compressor is not helping. (I have to burn discs so my checker can verify the editing.)

When the Compressor frame rate to drops to 1 frame at an interval, the game is over!

Kill all robots

Redford Givens

[Daniel Low]

I actually gave up using compressor after getting fed up with its strange behavior. That said, the best method is NOT to use Export to compressor but to export to a Quicktime movie instead (using the same settings as the sequence, so there is no loss in quality).

While you’re at it you might want to grab this:
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/compressor_repair.htm

And have a look at Ken Stones site:
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html#dvd

Lastly, invest in this for the best in Compressor tutorials:
https://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modListing.asp?pid=188

__________________________________________________________________
Please post back saying what solved your problem. It could help others, and saying ‘thanks’ is free!

[Redford Givens]

[Daniel Low] “Re: Time Problem with Mac Compressor 3.0.4 for FCP
by Daniel Low on Nov 26, 2008 at 11:51:02 am

I actually gave up using compressor after getting fed up with its strange behavior. That said, the best method is NOT to use Export to compressor but to export to a Quicktime movie instead (using the same settings as the sequence, so there is no loss in quality).

While you’re at it you might want to grab this:
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/compressor_repair.htm

And have a look at Ken Stones site:
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html#dvd

Lastly, invest in this for the best in Compressor tutorials:
https://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modListing.asp?pid=188
“

Thanks for the info sources. I’ll see what they can do for me.

Compressor is the worst Apple program I’ve encountered. It simply doesn’t work right.

When it takes eight or ten hours to compress a 90 minute timeline, the program is essentially worthless, since I need to use FCP for other things than watching a counter go into slow motion and freeze after a while. (right now the slo-mo compressing is going at LESS than a frame a second)

I went to an Apple One on One and the help didn’t solve the problems. The instructor at Apple (who is very good) could only shake his head and agree that Compressor is a seriously flawed program.

If I wasn’t under so much time pressure, I’d dump Compressor in the trash right now.

As it is I need to get this balky clunker to work a couple more times to meet the deadline.

I cannot take any more of this BS. If the programmers who put this together worked for me— they’d all be looking for new jobs!

Can you recommend a RELIABLE compression program compatible with DVD SP? Something that does a job the same way every time like a good robot should. Something that gets the work done quickly and accurately.

Kill all robots

Redford Givens

[Redford Givens]

[Daniel Low] “Re: Time Problem with Mac Compressor 3.0.4 for FCP
by Daniel Low on Nov 26, 2008 at 11:51:02 am

….. the best method is NOT to use Export to compressor but to export to a Quicktime movie instead (using the same settings as the sequence, so there is no loss in quality). “

How do I do it?

How do I find the settings etc to export it without quality loss?

Does the Quicktime movie retain the chapter markers so I can do the menu?

Kill all robots

Redford Givens

[Daniel Low]

Can you recommend a RELIABLE compression program compatible with DVD SP? Something that does a job the same way every time like a good robot should. Something that gets the work done quickly and accurately.

Yes, Episode from Telestream.

https://www.flip4mac.com/episode.htm

__________________________________________________________________
Please post back saying what solved your problem. It could help others, and saying ‘thanks’ is free!

[Daniel Low]

How do I do it?

Time to get the manual out – this is very basic stuff! An hours with the manual is the best investment you could make right now.

If you can’t be bothered with that, everything you need is on Ken Stones site!

__________________________________________________________________
Please post back saying what solved your problem. It could help others, and saying ‘thanks’ is free!

[Redford Givens]

Thanks for the advice.

I’ll probably buy Episode, but fear I won’t be able to learn it fast enough for this project.

Does an Episode file retain chapter markers for DVD SP?

I’ve learned to write fairly good menus and don’t want another learning curve. I’ve got the templates ready.

I’m trying to learn the Quicktime export method, since this seems to be a fast way.

Kill all robots

Redford Givens

[Daniel Low]

If you can use compressor, you should find Episode a walk in the park.

I’m not sure about Episode & chapter markers but even if you can’t carry them over from FCP they are just as easy to add in DVD SP.

__________________________________________________________________
Please post back saying what solved your problem. It could help others, and saying ‘thanks’ is free!

[Redford Givens]

by Daniel Low on Nov 26, 2008 at 11:51:02 am

I actually gave up using compressor after getting fed up with its strange behavior. That said, the best method is NOT to use Export to compressor but to export to a Quicktime movie instead (using the same settings as the sequence, so there is no loss in quality).

The Quicktime method worked! The entire compression routine, including making a menu in DVD SP took less than 90 minutes!

I exported from FCP to Quicktime using video only — include chapter markers options and then used an AIFF audio file exported from FCP. Everything worked perfectly in DVD SP.

It only took a few minutes to create the QT file and 30-40 minutes for the Compressor run.

Apparently Compressor speaks QT very fluently because everything went like clockwork— no slow downs and a fast pace to completion.

The QT file size in DVD SP is 3.9GB compared to 4.4GB for the FCP direct export.

I feared a loss of quality, but I cannot tell the difference after its burned to disc. It looks great (as good as it ever did).

I’m finished Exporting to Compressor straight from FCP. This last brain damaging encounter with Compressor cured me of that habit.

THANKS to Daniel Low and a few others who finally persuaded me to go with QT. I recommend this strategy to any who are having Compression problems.

While you’re at it you might want to grab this:
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/compressor_repair.htm

And have a look at Ken Stones site:
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html#dvd

I subscribed to Linda.com.

Lastly, invest in this for the best in Compressor tutorials:
188″ target=”_blank”>https://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modListing.asp?pid=188

Kill all robots

Redford Givens