[Jeff Greenberg]

I’m guessing off the top of my head – but if you’re 64 bit, you’ll need the same with Boris RED (unless you mean BCC or Boris FX, which is a pared down version of Red.)

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

Jonathan,

There are some missing gaps in your info.
What version of FCP/Compressor?

What setting are your trying? Are you trying the 90 minute ‘best’ setting in FCP?

This is the most important question:
How are you determining that the footage is ‘jaggedy and ugly’?

DVDs should be judged on a broadcast monitor, not on your computer – where half of the information isn’t being displayed.

A quick way to test this would be to send a minute of video through your pipeline and build a DVD-R to evaluate your footage.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

First follow all the steps in this document:
Compressor troubleshooting

You might also want to try Compressor Repair (which I believe is free) from Digital Rebellion.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

Mark,

You still need to respond to my original questions – I was going to try and recreate your problem(s) – but I can’t with the information you’ve given.

It sounds like: You want to build a QuickTime file with chapter markers so you can skip material.

I asked: What format are you exporting out of FCP?
I know it’s a QuickTime file; it sounds like your using “Export as QuickTime Movie” as opposed to “Export as QuickTime conversion” or “Send to compression.
Is this the workflow you’re using? Since we can’t see your computer, you need to be specific about what you’re doing.

Here’s what I did that worked.
I took a timeline, added five chapters, named each and marked each as a ‘chapter marker’.
Exported Quicktime Movie, chose chapter markers, unchecked “Self containted” as I didn’t want a huge file, merely a reference.
I opened this in QuickTime 7 and saw my chapters.
I could select the chapters from the popup menu and it would go to those chapters.

The buttons on screen are for Head/Rewind/Play/FF/Tail of QuickTime – not chapters; could this be what’s confusing you?

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

Adobe’s mercury playback engine makes a huge difference in performance, especially when you’re using an approved video card.

There’s a gigantic difference between the possible hardware acceleration and just the software side of the Mercury Playback engine.
Details here

If you can use a video card that utilizes the full capability of the engine AND stick to internal effects that utilize the engine, you can get RT performance.

That’s all. The filters you’ve chosen (are fantastic) but aren’t speedy renders.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

I’d do a short speed test – 30 seconds or so to:
Uncompressed
ProRes
Cineform.

I’ll bet that Uncompressed is the fastest. One MAJOR question: how much of what you’re doing can be optimized by the right video card and the Mercury Playback Engine? I’d totally redo my workflow to cut one of those three out (Neatvideo, Mercalli and MB looks.) If I could get just ONE of those (or more) or alternate tools that utilize the video card, life would be much faster.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

Highly recommend checking out if your copy of BCC has the Pan & Zoom plugin that they use. It’s way more versatile than the built in Pan & Zoom.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

My first instinct is that the MPEG4 codecs weren’t properly installed. Did you install CS5 on top of CS4? Or did you remove CS4 first?

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Jeff Greenberg]

I think you need to pull the video and audio out of the vobs – the common method is to use MPEGStreamclip. I’m not sure if/how it handles the second audio track.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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Contact me through my Website

[Jeff Greenberg]

Something is wrong on your system about it’s ability to recognize the MP4 codec.

First, let’s see if the file is working (at all). Download the VLC Player. It should see the file.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
You should follow me (filmgeek) on twitter. I promise to be nice.
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Contact me through my Website