[Lawrence Robbin]

Thanks for everyone’s help…

The conclusion of my compressor problems (FCP to mpeg 2 in Compressor crashes)is the following:

– It’s likely, the FCP show I was working on had corrupt files in it.
– The compressor was no longer functioning on this or any FCP show whatsoever.

So I did a couple of things:

– I printed to the show I was working on to tape, and then captured into another FCP show.
– I re-installed Compressor (with apple’s helpline help)
– I then compressed the show from FCP through Compressor into an mpeg 2 file

I have now made a finished DVD of the program.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

I’ll check the history window as you suggest. Numerous difficulties. Earlier today, I did an attempted export to mpeg 2 from FCP. After 3 hours of encoding, the coding suddenly quit. No evidence of the mpeg file anywhere. I could see it being built when I looked for it on Finder while the encoding was going on. But then the process stopped and the 1.? GB mpeg 2 file disappeared. Right now I’m re-rendering the video files on the FCP timelines safter I made some adjustments to the render settings. Working on a MacBookPro, there are hours of waiting to see if my various attempts have succeeded.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

Thanks, Daniel.
I’m reading an article on Ken Stone’s website. Up to this point Ive been doing fine with FCP, but clearly I need to do my homework.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

I’m running a test on another project – ie, attempting to export a 40 min project to mpeg 2. When its done, I’ll try your suggestions.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

Thanks, Llewelyn, for the advice.

The major hassle is this: I have had no luck exporting my finished 41 minute project(99.8% DVCAM – shot on a sony DSR 500; and .2%HDV shot on a Sony PMW)to mpeg 2 or even a QT movie. I have not had this problem DVCAM-only projects. BTW I did attempt to correct the technical dissonance between DVCAM and HDV by doing the following: for the HDV, I created a new sequence. I put the HDV clip I was using on the new sequence. I exported it as DVCAM clip. I imported the HDV converted to DVCAM clip and placed it on the timeline/project sequence.

I may need to go back into the settings and make sure I have consistently selected field order.

It was suggested elsewhere on this forum that I look at Ken Stone’s website and doing my homework… which I will do.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

I believed I checked the field dominance in the right area… but if you can confirm where I find that. There are so many settings… system settings, user preference, easy set up, render settings (under sequence)- each with so many choices. I don’t come at this from an engineering/technical perspective, so many of these set up issues are a mystery. I was primarily using DVCAM. Now I’m migrating to HD and HDV. This project I’m working on is mostly DVCAM with two HDV shots (that I exported and rendered as DVCAM).

Here’s the latest result:

FCP closed down during the end of the export to QT render process.
I found the .mov file that FCP made. Like other times, a message came up when I attempted to import the .mov file into compressor: “Error trying to open source media.”

So I’m trying to figure out is there something about the size – 41 minutes – and/or the fact that the project with all media is on a separate HD that is the problem. I have transcoded smaller projects (20 minutes) to mpeg 2 from this hard drive.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

I followed your advice:

FCP closed down during the end of the export to QT render process.
I found the .mov file that made. Like other times a message came up when I attempted to import the .mov file into compressor: “Error trying to open source media.”

So I’m trying to figure out is there something about the size – 41 minutes – and/or the fact that the project with all media is on a separate HD that is the problem. I have transcoded smaller projects (20 minutes) to mpeg 2 from this hard drive.

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

Thanks!
To summarize the advice so far:
– Select HQ 1080/30P as the preferred Video Format
– Be sure to light the green screen evenly – no more than 50 units
– (I don’t have AE therefore…) try chroma keying with FCP and if there is a problem use a keying product called DV Matte

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

David… To follow up on what you wrote:”I have the output set to 4×3 centre cut”. Where is that in the menu? I would think it would in the Menu section called VIDEO SET. But I don’t see “4×3 centre cut”. I have just found on the bottom of page 118 of the manual there’s a table called Limitations of Outputs. Later today, I’ll see if that’s helpful…. btw why do you go to 8mm telecine?
thx for the help

LR

[Lawrence Robbin]

Thanks, Stephen, I will try your suggestion. Sounds like you didn’t have any luck getting composite/bnc/SD from the PMW also.

LR