Todd Reid
Forum Replies Created
-
I’ve used zmatte with much success, but you can’t beat $60.
Good find.
Thanks. -
What happens when you smoothcam the whole thing?
I assume it does something you don’t like. I will also guess that it is similar to matching the scale to the second half.Here is a suggestion….
When you go to match your first half of clip, keyframe the scale so that it begins at regular fullscreen, then moves smoothly to its ending point (which would be your match to the second half).
Hopefully the clip is long enough so that it doesn’t look like a camera move. A linear move (not ease in/ease out) may look smoother. -
John you are a braver man than I.
I didn’t even know about this update till I read your post.
Anyone else upgrade?
Especially any FCS 2 (6.0.3 with lots of P2 use) -
where all cameras running at the same time (9 different angles)?
If so, then set up as a multiclip and make it much easier on you.
If you basically have 9 tapes of footage, then……never mind. -
The only thing I can think of is that you may be using the “trial version” of flip4mac. This I think sets a limit of 15 seconds (could be wrong on length).
But I am running the same OS and FCP version on a xeon 8core with no troubles. Matter of fact, it works GREAT! I only use it for approval and review, but do not have any problems.
If you have paid for it, and aren’t using the trial, I can only suggest the usual suspects, repair permissions, re-install OS & FCP & F4M (clean install). I know several people using f4m and what you are experiencing is not the norm.
stupid computers!
oh wait, I make my living off them….nice computer, nice computer! -
since your final destination is DVD, use compressor (either via export using compressor OR export a self contained QT then bring into compressor (debate still rages on which is better, but both will work just fine).
Pick the proper time length for your program (dvd settings/dvd best quality x minutes, 90, 120, 150 minutes). preset settings should be ok, but there are a few things you can tweak to get slightly better quality (do a search as I don’t know them off the top of my head).
Bring that export into DVDSP and you should be good to go.
-
“The SD files I’m getting do not seem to be encoded at a high bit rate, or sometimes they will be in 4:3, even when I thought I exported in 16:9.”
exactly how (what codec) are you exporting them?
Are you using compressor (or other program), or directly out of fcp?
When you see the offending 4×3, you mention it is in your external monitor, is that during export, or playback after finished?
Some codecs force a 4×3 situation and many compressed codecs will give the appearance of “do not seem to be encoded at a high bit rate”, which is inherent in their specifications.
what kind of system are you working on? (storage, processor, RAM, I/O or hardware cards)
Bottom line is that mini-dv is a highly compressed format, but you may be able to get a better quality, I know that you can maintain a 16×9 (via letterbox) on it, as I’ve done it many times.
-
If you don’t want to use the keyboard shortcuts, just right-click (control-click) and uncheck “clip enable”.
I didn’t know about this shortcut, so I will use it from now on, this will save me one keystroke per instance.Thanks Shane!
-
This is a concept that may take several posts and some research to fully understand. I’ve been working in the combo HD/SD world for over a year now, and I still don’t know all the answers.
But here are a few suggestions, first of all, I like capturing in HD even if I know I have to deliver in SD, cause that gives me a lot more flexibility on shot composition.
as far as 16×9 vs 4×3, try to capture “anamorphic” some cameras have this as a setting, as does fcp. What this will give you , when done properly, is a “smart letterbox”, that is a codec that knows if it is being played on a plasma or lcd and therefore shows up in true 19×9 (fills up your rectangle), and the same dvd (video) played on a regular tv will automatically add the letterbox (black bars) so that your video retains its 16×9 look.
I’ve done this many times to great success. You never know how a video you have created will be shown by a client, so this is a great way to maintain the widescreen-ness!
Regardless of anything else, compressed video (even some flavors of HD) give the immediate appearance of that compression (jaggies, blockiness etc.) There is NO way around this if you are forced into a highly compressed format like say DV.
That being said, make sure you have some storage that will accept some higher quality codecs, a RAID for example, utilize eSATA, some firewire 800 solutions exist.
This could allow you to work in some higher quality formats like uncompressed, or even DV50.Hope this helps a bit.
Would need a bit more information to help you specifically.