[Angelo Lorenzo]

Are you checking the setting for manual keyframes and frame reordering?

I usually have a better output if I force quicktime to place keyframes anywhere from 8-18 frames apart depending on the amount of action.

Also frame reordering (which Compressor should have) allows the decoder to use b-frames from all over the file, rather than just b-frames within a GOP. Gives a better result but is more suitable for download rather than streaming content.

Screenshots would be helpful though.

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

Chances are it’s a setting in FCP. I’m not familiar with it to say where it might be, but FCP may be set by default to import “stereo as mono” and break up the tracks.

You could also look play it in quicktime, make sure in the movie inspector that it lists one stereo track and not two separate mono tracks.

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

I would go for MOV with the JPEG2000 codec at 100% quality if you have nothing else.

Alternatively you can use Avid’s intermediate codec which is similar to ProRes in terms of size and quality. You just need to install the codec on each computer. Since he’s an Avid user, he’ll probably love you.

https://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=372311

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

You’ll need to tell us all the settings you’re using in Media Encoder/Export Window including all the boxes you check, etc.

The reason being is that Premiere exports h.264 with two different codecs; If it’s wrapped in MP4 it uses MainConcepts and if it’s wrapped in MOV it uses whatever the QuickTime engine uses (which I assume Compressor also uses).

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

There is no appreciable difference between interfaces on Mac and PC… I would say the difference is minimal if non existent (My production partner and I are mixed platform).

I’ve logged enough hours on both to say the experience is stable with our workflow (Mostly Canon 5D footage, some P2 projects, some RED projects).

My use of Windows comes down to hardware cost. Hardware is less expensive than Mac, I have a Nvidia CUDA enabled graphics card, I have a few firewire 400 and 800 ports and I have MacDrive to read Mac formatted hard drives.

I would also say moving projects from one platform to the other is pretty painless as well if you manage your footage and other assets decently.

Windows also has an advantage of having more choices for free third party encoders that offer more tweaking and higher quality output. For some work I render an intermediate file and run it through Xmedia Recode or FFMPEG for a deliverable.

Windows 7
AMD Phenom II X4 820 (comparable to an Intel i5 quad core)
8GB DDR2 RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT240 (config filed altered for use with Premiere; performance is much improved and stable)

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

Are you freezing the rotobrush on each clip?

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

Joe –

Thanks for the answer, I wasn’t aware that After Effects uses a similar consolidation function.

It does raise the issue though, since Premiere, AE, and Audition all dynamically link it would be a good feature suggestion to have some dedicated consolidation feature that moved all three programs at once (maybe built into Bridge) so there would be no re-linking needed if all three shifted around.

I tend not to have this issue as myself and my editing partner use a good DAM file/folder system, but it would be nice to make it more brainless.

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

You/your producer might want to check with your local union if this was a union gig. I’ve seen variations but it’s usually:

‘Camera’ for key operators and ‘Additional Camera’ for day players.

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

No difference in performance. The differences between versions has to do with some internal features mostly related to how the computer hooks up to a corporate network and is managed or manages other computers.

https://www.intowindows.com/difference-between-windows-7-home-premium-professional-ultimate-editions/

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience

[Angelo Lorenzo]

As a caveat, this question is so broad and we don’t have a screenshot of exactly what you’re doing so take this with a grain of salt.

It’s usually better to add noise into your keyed background than vice versa.

My background is in professional retouching for print. A big tip-off for recognizing fake elements is their inherent lack of grain or noise.

If you want to remove noise, there are a number of plugins that do so at different price points, I like Red Giant’s Denoise https://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/magic-bullet-denoiser/features/

Alternately I’ve had no problem throwing After Effects “Add Grain” effect onto footage for a more real look.

– Angelo Lorenzo
– https://FilmsFor.Us Sell your film and connect with your audience