[Rj Miles]

We recently bought the Flip4Mac Studio HD, needing to produce .wmv files in (4 ) sizes.

720×480, 960×640, 1280×720, 1920×1080. We then burned these files to a data-DVD so the client could chose which size worked best.

We have found we get the best results right out of FCP, QT or Cleaner 6. When using Cleaner 6.5.1 or Compressor 2, the files are just a little soft. We have not figured out why. In most cases it’s very easy just to output the FCP timeline directly to .wmv. However, it’s also easy to output a master file in the FCP session format, and then use QT to make a .wmv version, and so far the quality of this method has been the same.

[Rj Miles]

Try making the iTunes preference changes you mentioned and then under the iTunes App ADVANCED pull down menu, choose Convert Selecetion to “user setting”.

If this does not work, you might have to burn a CD and then re-import the music files.

[Rj Miles]

If your crashing comes back, I suggest asking Apple for (2) new processors and a logic board.

I had a similar issue with my G5 dual 2.0ghz PowerMac. All I had to do was move the PowerMac around a little bit, and something changed just enough for it to run a couple of minutes, hours or days, but eventually it began crashing again.

Since the new processors and logic board, the G5 has been a perfect machine, knock on wood.

I concur on USING something like CCC or SuperDuper. I have had CCC for awhile, but picked up SuperDuper so I could more easily back up production HDs to removable SATA external HDs.

We all feel your pain of having to begin a new, but let it be a serious lesson. 🙂

I would hold onto your SATA card until you are ready to move up to a multi-channel solution like the Sonnet X4P, which reduces the number of data cables while increasing the total number of external HDs to (24).

[Rj Miles]

I have (3) setups I use on a regular basis.

My home studio setup is (2) Viewsonic GS815 CRT monitors. This has the most over all real estate because they run a little larger display size than a 23″ LCD. Although they do require annual sharpness/convergence maintenance.

When I travel, I mainly work on two other systems. One with (2) 23″ Apple monitors and one with a single 23″ Apple monitor. Switching to the single 23″ monitor takes a little time, but I get used to it pretty quick. I really don’t mind the single 23″ with FCP. It’s complex After Effects projects which are tougher in a single monitor world. 🙂

If you don’t mind the space and weight associated with CRTS, they are probably the best deal if you can find something used as nice or nicer than the GS815.

[Rj Miles]

I had very similar issues on my G5 2.oghz DP powermac.

I was getting the gray/black restart screen of death, freezes where a hard boot was required, failures to start up at all.

After much time changing ram, video cards, various external HD connections, I had no success.

Finally I bought the Apple tech Training course and it came with a special hardware test. This test showed CPU processor related issues with thermal calibration.

Apple sent a guy to my shop and swapped out the reported bad processor. The problem persisted. The apple tech made a second visit and replaced BOTH processor and the logic board. I have been trouble free ever since.

If you rig is still under warranty, I suggest calling tech support and requesting a service visit. If you have a local Apple store with a good service desk, this is also a good way to go if they are not overloaded with repairs.

If there is anything processor related, I sussget you humbly request they come back prepared to replace both processors and the logic board so you won’t need to schedule a 2nd tech visit.

Good luck.

[Rj Miles]

I can 2nd flip4mac. We just bought the Studio HD package. We used with great results creating 960×640 clips which play beautifully.

We used compressor to do the batch conversions after setting up a custom setting.

May I say, if you install the free flip4mac goodies, cleaner was able to build up to a 640×480 size WMV, but the controls were lacking as far as really tweaking the data rate to higher vales.

The lesser cost versions of the package might be enough, but we felt the full access HD versions would prove a better long term investment.

[Rj Miles]

If you need to easily access stuff on a DVD, check out a program called DVDxDV Pro. It’s a nice piece of software that lets you chose the codec as you rip from the DVD, it lets you precisely set in/out points if you don’t want to grab an entire VOB. And it lets you do some resizing and deinterlacing. I have a couple of other programs for ripping, but this offered the most control and enabled me to skip recompressing “ripped” mpeg2 files.

[Rj Miles]

We have decided to go with a Sonnet Fusion 500P system and the X4P PCI-X card.

We will strip (4) drives RAID 0 and keep the 5th drive as a hot swap for back up/archival of projects. We are starting with maxtor 500GB maxline drives and will eventually move to larger drives for the hot swap 5th drive.

When we make the move to full HD, we will add a 2nd 500P tower and stripe (8) drives, (4) in each bay over 2 eSATA multilane channels, leaving (2) drives for back up/archival duties.

Not sure what software we will use for the RAID 0, but we are thinking of something other than the OSX for the added control & status info.

Good luck.

[Rj Miles]

I tried both RGB and the normal YUV 8bit. I made sure I tossed the rendered reference files so they were rebuilt. Both produced the same artifacts.

I never tried to change the WHITE setting which remains in the default WHITE setup.

When I get a minute, I plan to try a new project with some DV and HDV footage, rather than strictly with AE rendered source files of the current project.

[Rj Miles]

Here is a link to a folder with the good/bad clips.

https://www.blanca.com/test/