[Ryan Holmes]

No…distrusted processing has been an Apple feature since at least OS 10.5. Some may argue for even earlier…

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

[Steve Connor] ” It’s convinced me to get one instead of the new Mac Pro.”

Why not get both?! 🙂 They each have their place and depending on what type of work you do they each can fill certain niches very well. Both are very nice computers…just depends on what you need the machine to do.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

You can’t do that frame sizes with mp4. The spec won’t allow for that:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Levels

Level 5.2 caps out just slightly above Cinema 4K resolution (4096×2304). If you want to do those dimensions that you’ve listed you’ll need to move to a different format/codec. I think you can do it if you use Quicktime as your format (i.e. container) and chose something like Photo-JPEG, JPEG 2000, ProRes or CineForm as the codec.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Compressor will do the job for you. Adobe Media Encoder, Telestream Episode, Sorenson Squeeze are other options (all paid options). Best practice is find out where you’re delivering first, then shoot the format needed right from the start.

But since you’re in 23.98, I would work in the frame rate – edit, graphics, color, etc. Export out a master file when you’re done and then convert that to the appropriate format(s) – 60i, 60P, etc.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Edit in the format you/time base you shot in. Once you’re done editing you’ll need to check with the station(s) that will be broadcasting your stuff and get their requirements. Since broadcast runs at 29.97 you’ll have to do a frame conversion so as to make your footage conform correctly. But check with the station for format/codec that they want.

Your other option is to convert all your footage before you start to edit to 29.97 frame rate. I think that’s a bigger pain, so I recommend doing it once you’re done with the edit. In the future, you should know you’re delivery medium – film, broadcast, Bluray, DVD – and shoot accordingly.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Vimeo’s guidelines for 1080 content has gone up and Adobe hadn’t updated the presets. Vimeo now recommends between 10-20 Mbps instead of just 5. That’s why Vimeo is telling you you’re low:
https://vimeo.com/help/compression

You can create your own custom presets in AME. It’s easy and a way to ensure that you have total control over the transcode settings.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

The problem sounds like it’s with the footage you shot to your Focus. Without knowing more about that product I don’t think I can help you. You shouldn’t need a plugin provided you shot a Quicktime format on the Focus and you have the appropriate codecs on your machine. You’re not bringing in a CF card as I assume those files are standalone files. If you have additional problems I would suggest contacting Focus Enhancement support about your product and workflow.

If the files open and play in QuickTime then you could transcode to a known FCP codec, like ProRes. Compressor may be able to see them and batch transcode for you (you can also use MPEG Streamclip).

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Ok, so you shot the camera connected to a Focus FS. If so, all you need to do is drag and drop your files from the device onto your storage system. Import should also be drag and drop.

Now if those files won’t imoort into FCP we need to look at what type of files you shot – MPEG4, MXF, QuickTime, etc. and we need to know what codec is used inside of that wrapper. You may need to transcode your footage so FCP can handle it. Or you may need a plugin for FCP to recognize the footage…all depends on what you shot.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Sorry, I meant Log & Captute. You’ll need to match up the correct HDV setting from Easy Setup and capture the tape to your storage area.

Log & Transfer is only for tape less media (CF, SxS, etc).

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Ryan Holmes]

Poor performance in Adobe typically comes from a combination of areas – Low RAM amount, underpowered GPU, storage type/speed.

While the official Adobe requirements list 4GB (and 8GB) as recommended), I really think it should say 16GB minimum. Systems that I run with 32GB or more of RAM don’t have any problems. Your GPU falls in the same area. Most iMac computer GPU’s are just modified mobile graphics cards…so they aren’t terribly powerful. Unfortunately, on an iMac you’re basically stuck with that.

Also, the type of storage you have can dramatically impact playback performance. One disk VS a raid setup and how that is connected – USB, FireWire, Ethernet, etc. Plus you need to factor in what flavor of codec are you using and is your system able to cope with that – ProRes, DNxHD, DNG, h.264, etc.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost