[Tim Vaughan]

Thanks Chris. I just saw (a little behind the times, I guess) the new Sony HDV deck, which I was not aware was out for the lower price. (last I heard, it was a $6k or so price) I assume the deck composited out into the decklink card will provide the best quality? Or is there something better–keep in mind trying to keep the price down. Thanks

Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

Hi Karim

I would check the button for continually rasterize on the Illustrator comp. Then, precomp that comp/file and set that to 3d. That should allow you to work with a 3d comp that is set to continually rasterize in the core. Make sense? Hope this helps

Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

To my knowledge, AE includes the render engine in the application, but not as a stand-alone. (I personally wish they did include a stand-alone render engine, as I could load it on a few of the older computers and not have to purchase multiple copies just to send projects out to render…but….what can you do?)

Hope this helps

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

I just had a similar situation where I was handed m2T files. Here is a link for a free program that has worked wonders for me.
https://www.squared5.com/

Hope this helps

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

I don’t have universal, but with 5.0.4, I usually will build portions in seperate sequences. Then on the master, I will copy over the rendered timelines from the other sequences with no problems, including the render files. That way I have the “master” backups of the section. The render files do copy over.

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

I became certified earlier this year, and while it hasn’t done anything monetary for me (I didn’t expect it would), reading the books and taking the exam did show me a few new tips, techniques and a different thinking process, as well as cement the basics into my thick skull. I would recommend it to anyone who has spent at least a year working in FCP on a regular basis to add to your arsenal of knowledge. Great for your personal improvement.

Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

It is most like due to bezier points. Click on the pen tool, k on down to the next keyframe, click that keyframed point in the window (not the timeline). You should see a little curved line disappear. Hope this helps

Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

It wouldn’t hurt. But, what are your Zax internal settings? Are you running the Zax renderer, or the Open GL renderer. Open GL can cause your computer to crash, especially when you do not have a supported open GL card. Also, the render settings in Zax could be set too high. The default is around 3, and if you run too high with a computer that does not have a supply of RAM, hard drives, etc,, it can be a factor. You may try to reset Zax to default, and see if that has any effect. Hope this helps.

Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

Here is the best way, from what I have found. I go a little in depth, but it has produced the best and most perfect results for what I’ve needed to do. (I do not know why very little of this procedure is actually covered in manuels and books)

Create a menu in motion, after effects, FCP, –whatever you prefer. Make you movie, and insert the text for your menu (play all, scene selection..etc) at a specific point in time. (Say you want the text/button to appear 10 seconds in to your video, insert them at 10 seconds.) Once the movie is where you want it, and the text appears when you want it, render out the movie.
In DVD Studio Pro, import the finished movie as an asset. Place the movie in the menu as a background object. Now, set your loop point a little after when the text appears. (We will change this later, but for ease of work, do this) Go to your shapes tab, and place the shape of your choice (button, arrow, whatever you prefer) in the place where your text is. (Example: Place the arrow shape directly before the Play All text or the underline shape directly beneath your text) Now add the property value to that button. (Click on the button, and choose the target for the appropriate track, menu, or action.
Now, set your loop point to 10 seconds (or whichever time you have chosen for your text to appear) When you click the simulate button, the menu should begin playing. At 10 seconds (or the time you have chosen), the button should appear.
If you want to move a step further, you may create a script as well. (Right click in the Outline tab, and choose Add–>Script. Double click that script, and it will open the script editor. Click on the script command–by default, it will read Nop. In the script command window, you should see “command” and a drop down box. Click the drop down box and choose Jump. The box will reveal a new set of commands, and you will choose Jump To–>Menu 1 (You may choose menu 1, or another menu, track, etc for your own prefs.). Now click on the button a little further down labeled “Start at Loop Point” .
Now, click on the Outline tab and choose your top level disk name (has the icon of the DVD disk beside it. By default, it is named UNTITLED_DISK until you name your project). Under title in the disc editor, you will be able to choose the script you just made. What this does is allow your user to bypass the 1st 10 seconds (Intro section of your DVD) and start at the loop point, where your text appears. I am doing this from memory, so if you have any questions, I may be able to actually open the project and help you out. Send me an e-mail to TVaughan@TrizonFilms.com and I’ll try my best to help ya!

Thanks
Tim

Tim

[Tim Vaughan]

It’s worked for me no problem.

Tim

Tim