[Brian Houle]

Thanks Bob.

Do you know if I’m able to output from my Mac Pro back to this device? I know it does live encoding, but I need to output files to it after editing.

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Hi Kevin,

I finally have a batch of Blu Rays to burn and was able to download your app.

I just wanted to say thanks for your efforts. It may seem minor, but years ago when I started my business using PCs, I ran into a ton of issues. A buddy told me to go Mac so I did.

One of the previously untold benefits (to me) is the strong Mac community. What you did is a fine example of that – unselfishly creating something for others to use. It may not seem like much, but when I’m creating 28 DVDs/BRs for a client’s home video library, using a quick way for chapter creation is paramount.

So thank you!

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

hmmm…all i know is that captured files from FCP7 (on either machine) can’t be opened in FCX.

Apple had the same issue until they rewiped/re-installed. Maybe it is an issue with the metadata.

I need to find my notes with the screen caps. Sounds like regardless of what exactly the issue, they haven’t included something in FCX from FCP which is preventing these files from opening.

[Brian Houle]

Hi Jesse,

I was out this morning so late in replying. I need to find my notes and the latest email I had from Apple’s FC support team.

They had simulated the problem on their end from files i posted for them to download and try. Then they tried their own .mov files.

Their recommendation, off the top of my head, was to re-wipe, install the OS then Final Cut Pro (I have the FCS 3 and FCX). They did this on their end from an older machine running Leopard and the files from FCP7 were successfully imported into FCX. Now I know what you’re thinking – that was Leopard! and you’re right – but this still happens for my machine with Snow Leopard and my new machine with Lion.

I haven’t done what they’ve suggested as I simply don’t have the time to do what they suggested. I’ve decided to work around it by still importing into FCP on the 2 older machines and then use FCX on the new machine.

Not the best, but doable for now.

However, I’m convinced this has everything to do with Quicktime and nothing to do with file type ie. dv vs mov.

There was a profile type missing from QT 10.0 and 10.1 (ie. NTSC 720×480 etc..) from QT 7 (I need to find my notes b/c I might be slightly off), but that’s what i remember. At first, support was convinced it was my older machine causing an issue, but I bought a refurb 2010 mac pro in December (so ‘brand new’) and the same behaviour was happening. Files captured in FCP7 (on any machine) can’t be read in FCX (in both Lion and SL). Those files can be opened in QT 7, but NOT QT 10.0 nor 10.1. Same tapes captured in FCX (taking the capture files right out of finder) can be opened in QT 10.1 and 10.1 but NOT QT 7.

Soooo….there was something amiss in the way QT was written. Now I’m not a software engineer, but all tests to point to an NTSC 720×480 profile not included in the later QT versions. Again, I need to find my notes as I had concise profiles screen captured from when I tried opening files in different versions.

Why else wouldn’t the files open in any version of QT. Since FCP and FCX use QT, that would appear to be the underlining issue. To be clear, these were all .mov files. I haven’t tried DV, but I’m convinced the same thing would happen.

So, it’s probably safe to re-convert within QT or MPEG Streamclip. I tried a few that way and it didn’t appear to affect quality and more importantly, they worked in FCX 🙂 You could always start converting a few every night and check them the next day then delete the originals.

I should follow up with them again as I think their solution of wiping/re-installing, it’s the way to go.

I also sent feedback to their QT team.

Hope that helps in some way.

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks so much! Sorry for the delay – just been busy with work.
Absolutely appreciate your efforts as I’m sure others will too.

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Thanks Andreas.

Does this work using the share – DVD or Blu Ray option? I ask because that process seems to be ‘locked’ in a sense. Ie. we don’t have access to the files before they are burned.

Gerry, thanks – I definitely have 🙂 lol

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Thanks Gerry. I appreciate the information.
Then I guess I shall proceed with that workflow although it will remain curious to me why they changed that from FCP7 🙁

My edits are generally basic in nature so adding chapter markers in the timeline worked perfectly.

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Just to report for those of you who weren’t aware, but my last post was correct – you need to add chapters in Compressor 4.

Completely idiotic imho. What a waste of time (even though it doesn’t take long – that’s not the point).

I find the disc authoring in compressor to be completely basic at best. It does work, but ick…
I don’t understand why they couldn’t adapt DVD studio pro for blu ray!?! 🙁

Now i”m looking at Adobe Encore or Toast which is unfortunate for the Encore as you can’t buy it seperately.

Am I pouting too much or rightfully upset at the change in workflow?

lol

Cheers,
Brian

[Brian Houle]

Ok..so maybe i’m about to answer my own question, but I found this on Apple’s forums:

Totally shocked if this is true so if anyone could confirm before I try again it would be appreciated.

”
Chapters export just fine to Apple devices like the iPad in Compressor 4. You just have to make sure you make the markers Chapter markers and not Compression which is the default. I just did a test from a FCPX project: Share>Send to Compressor. I selected the Apple Device 5MB preset and added chapter markers manually. It’s an extra step but it really doesn’t take that long. The chapters showed up fine on my iPad, in Quicktime X, and in VLC.

To speed things up, I added the markers in FCPX using the shortcut M (hit M again to edit the marker). After adding the markers I opened the Timeline Index where you can see all your markers. From there I took the timecode for each one, put it in the Compressor timecode, and hit enter. Then hit M to add the marker, and then Command-E to edit the marker. Unless you have tons of chapter markers it’s not going to add much time to your workflow. “

[Brian Houle]

Thanks Terry. I’ll give that a shot.
Do you have to render first before exporting or will it render as it exports?
I’ve always been curious about rendering and whether or not it’s necessary.