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Why does Flip4Mac encode take so DAMN LONG?
I have to upload to my server ‘preview version cuts’ of a HD series I am working on as a wmv file. Usually I play direct from the timeline (BMD downconvert) into a PC notebook using an Easycap USB device. The timeline plays realtime where 24 mins takes 24 mins! AND this is a nested sequence with a timecode filter added.
But I had the misfortune of not having access to the PC notebook today and had to do an export using quicktime and set it to WMV; 1 hour and 10 mins???? but the timeline plays in real time! AND it is using an OCTOCORE MAC!?! What is Flip4Mac doing with the data? If the timeline can play in realtime surely it can data crunch in close to realtime. I have got sore thumbs from twiddling them so I hope Barack will appoint a senate committe to investigate this phenomenom when he comes into power.Baz
What would I do without the ‘UNDO’ button!!!!
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12 Replies
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It does take a while. It takes a while in comrpssor too as it operates in its own little world instead of plugging in to COmpressors superior image processing, geometry capabilities and virtual cluster speed.
Jeremy
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Maybe its because you’re cursing at it… Have you tried whispering to it? Softly?
Seriously, that sounds about right. Not knowing your sequence settings, machine specs, etc., 3:1 time to do an encode from a HD timeline isn’t bad.
A. – With the TC burn, you may be able to play in real-time, but FCP must render the RT effect before it can encode. So, that’s eating some time.
B. – FCP isn’t optimized to use all 8 cores. Open up the Activity monitor next time and watch. Or maybe not, that will probably just make you more angry.
There may be ways to speed up the encode – perhaps specifying a single-pass rather than multi-pass? I’m not too savvy with Flip4…
The hardware solution that you have with the laptop seems very wise. And it saves you 40 minutes a pop.
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[Baz Leffler] “But I had the misfortune of not having access to the PC notebook today and had to do an export using quicktime and set it to WMV; 1 hour and 10 mins????”
Sounds about right.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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Yeah not long time at all thinking that probably you have choose “Double Pass”, isn’t it?
But if Barak can do something to speed up the process the COW will be really happy.
Rafael -
That’s change I can believe in!!
Mac Pro 2.66 – 8GB memory – Mac OS 10.5.2 – Quicktime 7.4.5 –
Mac Book Pro 2.33 Duo –
FC Studio 2 (Final Cut 6.0.3) – Kona Lhe
Adobe Production Suite CS3 –
Sony Multiformat 14″ – Panasonic 42″ Plasma –
Ikegami HLDV7 – PVW EX-1 -
How about you set up a quick cluster with four instances and then export a QT Reference movie out of FCP and then drop that into Compressor and submit to the quick cluster? That takes advantage of all your existing effects renders and the multiple processors, doesn’t it?
Final Cut Pro 6.0.4, Mac OS-X 10.5.5, Quicktime 7.5.5, Adobe Prod Prem CS4, G5 Quad 2.5, Kona-LHe V6, 8.5GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 7800-GT 256MB, G-RAID 2x1TB FW800, 6TB RAID-5 (Enhance E8-ML, Highpoint 2322), Panasonic HVX-200P P2. Also MBP 17″ Core 2 Duo 2.5, 4GB, GeForce 8600M GT 512MB.
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[Tom Brooks] “That takes advantage of all your existing effects renders and the multiple processors, doesn’t it?”
Not with flip4mac as it doesn’t allow job segmenting. That’s what I was alluding to earlier.
Jeremy
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Thanks for the clarification. Now that you mention it, I have the vague impression that I don’t get that almost all-out CPU monitor readout with F4Mac compression.
Is Baz re-rendering effects that are already rendered by using the Quicktime Conversion method or does that method use the existing renders and just compress to the chosen codec?
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[Tom Brooks] “or does that method use the existing renders and just compress to the chosen codec?”
As far as I understand it, this is the way. It simply converts existing renders/media to wmv (or whatever codec you choose). Compressor might speed it up a little bit, but it’s still a slow process and doesn’t harness compressor’s real power.
Another thing I should add is the you can add a tc filter in Compressor. So don’t nest your seequence, export as a ref movie and add the tc generator in compressor if you need sequence tc and not clip tc.
Jeremy
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Guys,
I don’t have metrics but when I open up Activity Monitor and submit a Compressor job using my local cluster of four Intel Processors all four CPUs light up like crazy. Looks to me like Flip4Mac is simply being used by Compressor and doesn’t affect the ability of Qmaster to distribute the load.bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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