[Jonathan Proby]

I have a done a bit in motion, and with large projects (either a lot of effects, big HD, long project) I have often found a video disappearing when making a change. The really annoying thing is that when I export it the video is still gone.

My Solution:
Break up the project into smaller chunks. Or if you are doing multiple layers of effects, turn off all but the first layer and export. Then bring the newly effected file back into Motion, and add more effects.

If you are only doing time remapping you probably can’t turn off other effects, but you can cut it into smaller chunks (on one project I was working with 10-15 second clips.

I hope this helps

-Proby

[Jonathan Proby]

The “best” format (good quality, not massive file size) is probably going to be the original format. If you can export QT “using current settings” (it should be a check box in the export dialogue) that will export the files without re-compressing them, using the current codec. then you can bring it into FCP and shouldn’t loose too much. If you can’t export “using current settings” you should use MPEG-2. It isn’t the the best format, but if you are going to DVD only you will be going to MPEG-2 anyway in the end (if there are other things you are doing with the final video (ie uploading to youtube, cell phone distribution, major theatrical release). I hope this still helps, I know its an old thread.

-Proby

[Jonathan Proby]

I have noticed similar problems, and it was due to playback settings being too high for the computer. Right below the sequence tab in the timeline there is a drop down menu where you can adjust playback settings. Try lowering them and see if the playback isn’t smoother