CompressHD

hello,
CompressHD is much quicker in transcoding. But which yields a better image quality to h.264 ? Software compression or using the Matrox CompressHD card ?
thanks.

CompressHD is a Matrox product. They make the settings in Compressor and Quicktime for the device, and the MAX technology in their MXO2 line.
Shane

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Matrox CompressHD and Apple Compressor

Has anyone used the Matrox h264 encoder card with compressor? How does it perform? How is the quality?

I've used the MXO2 Mini with Max...same thing. It encodes faster than real time, and the quality is really good.

Debayer Settings not Working??

I've had a thread going over on RedUser here: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?72431-Premiere-Media-Encoder-Render-Tests-Matr ox-CompressHD-Card-Results
Basically in the source settings for any .r3d file in Premiere, you can choose High, Medium, or Low for debayer. I've run tests using High vs Low, and the encode times are exactly the same. I'm assuming something is wrong?! If you use full vs any partial debayer in RedCineX, the full debayer always takes much longer to complete.
Also, another user posted that he sees no quality difference between selecting High vs Low debayer in Premiere.
Is this feature not working??

As it turns out, the Debayer Detail setting in CS5.5 is a subtle sharpening control which has little/nothing to do with debayer resolution:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3845231#3845143
The debayer quality is handled automatically.
This doesn't seem to be documented anywhere, just took me a few days to find (and still trying to find just how the automatic control works). Oh well, it's only been four months!

No Chapter markers in share - DVD or blu ray?????

Hi there,
Latest version of Lion and FCX.
I burned my 1st blu ray for a client last night (wuhoo!). It looks great. Outstanding actually. Used a Matrox CompressHD card to compress the H.264.
But I noticed no chapter markers present.
Thinking it was the matrox card, I did some investigation.
Turns out that chapter markers are 'apparently', NOT transferred during the share feature??!??! It doesn't matter what I use for compression - markers simply don't transfer from FCX to Compressor 4!?!?!
Maybe I did something wrong - I'm just learning FCX after using FCP for years.
I had to re-create the chapters in Compressor 4.
Is that the way to have chapter markers carry across?
If so, that is simply one of the most asinine decisions about this product. Forget all the hassles about not importing previous projects etc.. as that is a different issue, but discontinuing one of the most basic features from the previous product is just ridiculous.
Can anyone confirm the chapter marker workflow? Again, it could be me doing something wrong, but I have a funny (and SAD!) feeling I'm not...
Cheers,
Keebler

No, you're not doing something wrong, chapter markers are a glaring omission from FCP X but apparently, Apple sees no future in DVD or even Blu Ray, so we're stuck with using Compressor or some other application to add chapter markers.
Fortunately, this is very simple if you list the timecode (each on separate lines in a text file) where you want the chapter markers to be - Compressor will import them and the markers appear automatically.
I agree with you though - it's pretty lame.
Andy

Reducing file size for YouTube's 2 gig limits

Hello
Using Premiere Pro CS4. I also have the Matrox CompressHD which has its own settings.
I am dealing with YouTube's 2 gig limit and I would like to know which of the settings in the below screen capture I should adjust to help reduce file size.
It's for a Talking Head type video with little action.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Thanks
...Rowby

Hi All,
Still looking for any good links links that will better explain Gobs, P frames etc, that would be helpful.
Thanks
Rowby

Hardware Encoder for H.264? Encoder for Flash? Render Farm?

I use Compressor to create H.264 QuickTime files, and have setup Qmaster to use a 8 core cluster to expedite the process, but it is not reliable, and fails quite often. I have a total of 3 Mac Pros in my facility which can all share their resources to help this process be quicker. I was wondering if anyone knew of a hardware encoder that will encode H.264 files very quickly? I have a bid on a project that if granted, I will need to encode a VAST amount of H.264 QuickTime files. Is the best solution a dedicated Mac Pro render farm with a Qmaster setup?
Next, on to the Flash. I currently use Sorenson Squeeze 5 to encode 2 pass VBR flash files, and it takes forever even on my 2.8ghz Octo with 10gb of RAM. Does anyone know of a piece of software or hardware that can expedite this process? Maybe a Flash render farm? Maybe a gnome with a wand?
Thanks in advance.

Keep your eyes open for when the Matrox CompressHD goes on sale.
While it probably won't be available to use on the job you've just bid on (tentative sale date is May 2009 but who knows if that can be trusted), it otherwise seems like the answer your prayers - it speeds up h.264 and Flash encoding. It will, supposedly, list for $495.
Otherwise, as mentioned, the Turbo264HD is the way to go for now.

Hardware encoding for mpeg2 and h264

Hi Folks,
I'm looking to clear up the bottleneck of processing mpeg2s. I have a 2009 quadcore mac pro and it's not bad for speed, but I just finished a 36 hour video transfer to DVD for a client and the processing took 4.5 nights (I ran my files overnight while I worked on other projects during the day).
So, I'm looking for a hardware solution mpeg2 encoding. I see GrassValley has the firecoder, but it was PC only? I'd like something similar to the Maxtrox CompressHD which exports right from within FCP. I think the CompressHD is what I'll get for h264 encoding although I'll admit to date, it's mostly been personal encoding of my own home movies for AppleTV and my Pentax DSLR and headcam which shoot HD. I know clients will want that service as well.
Any suggestions for the mpeg2? I realize it maybe a dying breed (re: using DVDs), but most of my clients are older and prefer DVDs.
Cheers,
Keebler

Thanks Shane. I figured as much, but wanted to double check in case I missed a setting list for either device.
I shudder when I think of virtual clusters b/c, as mentioned, I can never get them to work right. Either that, or my set up isn't optimal (I'm over a giga-ethernet and have a 2009 MP and a 2006 MP (and a few other machines i 'could' use).
The odd thing is that Bitvice, from Innobits, accesses all cores without any tweaking, set up (or begging It just works. I was just hoping for a solution.
I will admit that I've yet to try a cluster since the latest compressor update, but I'll review the links I have again.
Fingers crossed
Thanks for taking the time to answer - I do appreciate it and I always value your input.
Cheers,
Keebler

Where to buy Media Encoder CS5?

In first, I'm italian... sorry for my english
I bought a card Matrox CompressHD
I downloaded the trial version of Premiere Pro CS5
I upgraded to 5.0.2 (recommended) and the upgrade to Media Encoder 5.0.1
in the video I encoded there are defects in view (the video has some shots and the audio goes out of sync)
in the support forum of CompressHD was told which may be a problem as the trial version, and buy Media Encoder
said that it is not necessary buy Premiere. But my dealer said he does not find in catalog the Adobe Media Encoder, and asked me a product code
think can I solve problems of encoding that I have with CompressHD, using the non-trial version?
and can you tell me where can I buy it?
Thanks

>trial version of Premiere Pro CS5
what is NOT in the trial http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/407/kb407938.html

Hardware recommendations for encoding Blu Ray

What Is the best 3rd party hardware solution to encode Blu Rays from FCP or Compressor?
Thanks.

Hi Rick
The CompressHD / Matrox MAX solution is currently purposed for encoding BluRay compliant H.264 files for personal or otherwise low volume Blu Ray authoring (ie either one by one or via duplication) ... high volume authoring / replication is indeed a whole other ball game and with it come some not insubstantial costs over and above what you may be used to with standard DVD replication:
$500/yr (or a $3000 one time payment) for the license (ie to be allowed in the BD replication club)
$500 per master (so if anything's wrong with your master then making another costs another $500)
+ a 4c royalty fee per disc
Bear in mind that these costs exist despite how you premaster the BD CMF (BluRay Disc Cutting Master Format) ie the replication compliant master volume.
If you are a Mac stalwart, Rivergate Software's very reasonably priced BluStreak Premaster software looks to be where its at for premastering the MD CMF volume.
Best
Andy

Is my system o.k. for encoding full HD in Premiere?

I need some insight here ...
Let me start by saying ... for more than 15 years I have been a producer ... and hardly ever got in front of an editing machine to edit myself ... but now for the last 3 years ... I have been doing more and more editing ... I don't know much about the hardware side of things ... only enough to know ... I don't know much ...
I have the following:
Windows vista 64bit
asus p5kc motherboard
Intel core 2 quad Q6600 2.4ghz cpu
gforce 8800gt gpu
8gb ram
300gb raptor C-Hard drive (that's where the CS4 software is ...)
1tb Seagate (sata) (that's where the content is)
(and two other hard drives)(sata) (with graphics, ect)
I'm running premiere cs4 and I'm trying to render and encode Sony ex3 (1920x1080) video, along with some full screen HD graphic beds ... with a two box overlay of video and jpegs ...
It's taking around 6 times longer than real-time to encode (1hr video is taking 6 hours to encode) ... is that normal for a system like mine?
I did just get a matrox compressHD card ... to help ... but the pc drivers don't come out for a few weeks ... I really just want to know if I'm missing something here (like a bottleneck in my system) ... or is that how long it takes to compress full HD.
Sorry if I left out any vital info ... I just don't know what else is vital to figure this out ...
Thank you in advance for any insight on this issue ...
Paul

Harm,
Thank you for you insight ... I see that you are on this board helping all the time ... so, thank you for helping others ...
As far as the encoding ... it seems like all of the formats you listed are slow ... I have tried H.264 and DVD
bit rates are on preset ...so, let me check on that info and I'll list it here later ...
I'm on single pass ... and max quality ... (any chance you could ballpark the render time difference between max quality and good quality?)
... but just knowing that the system seems to be performing o.k. ... tells me I'm not dealing with a bottleneck issue ...
(but ... I hope the "compresshd" card will help when the drives come out for pc ...)
Thank you for your time,
Paul

Is Jim Heid O.K.?

I love Apples iLife 05 Suite, besides this site we have found Jim Heid's iLife book and DVD VERY helpful in learning how to best use Apples iLife suite.
We also stay current checking out Jim Heid's website....but it hasn't been updated since August 27th... very unusual for him, espicallly with all the new Apple announcements since then.
Does anyone know what gives?? I hope he's O.K.

Harm,
Thank you for you insight ... I see that you are on this board helping all the time ... so, thank you for helping others ...
As far as the encoding ... it seems like all of the formats you listed are slow ... I have tried H.264 and DVD
bit rates are on preset ...so, let me check on that info and I'll list it here later ...
I'm on single pass ... and max quality ... (any chance you could ballpark the render time difference between max quality and good quality?)
... but just knowing that the system seems to be performing o.k. ... tells me I'm not dealing with a bottleneck issue ...
(but ... I hope the "compresshd" card will help when the drives come out for pc ...)
Thank you for your time,
Paul

Anyone importing h.264 from final cut into Toast 11?

Hi folks,
I'm thinking of finally introducing Blu Ray as a few clients have requested it.
I use a compressHD card from matrox to create iphone, ipad, appletv etc.. files.
Of course, it also does blu ray.
Does anyone know if i can export, from compressor, an H.264 blu ray file and import into Toast 11?
I can't find any solid information from Roxio on whether or not Toast 11 will import those files?
The compressHD card is fast and the quality seems to be fantastic so this would be amazing if I can do this task.
Cheers,
Keebler

Hi Tom,
Thanks for the response.
I'm assuming you mean take my edited self or un-self-contained file and drop it into toast for it to convert/burn? Or maybe I'm not understanding the process.
The CompressHD card is faster than real time (in most files I've run to date) so I thought that would be the fastest way to process a file before burning. ie. if I drop a .mov file into Toast 11, will it take a long time to convert (or does it?)
I was thinking (hoping) my workflow would be:
1. import into FC Studio
2. edit as required
3. export to compressor using CompressHD to create the H.264 file (I'm still investigating on whether or not exporting a .mov then dropping that directly into compressor is faster or more efficient than just exporting to compressor from within FCS)
4. take created H.264 file and add it to Toast 11, create a menu, burn.
Unless there's a more efficient way of burning Blu Ray (maybe WWDC will reveal DVDSP adding such a workflow)?
Hope that helps you helping me?
Cheers,
keebler

MacPro suggestions

hello All,
I am going to be upgrading my G5 to a new MacPro and would appreciate some suggestions as to configuration. I shoot HD footage mostly DVCPRO HD and do a lot of compression for the web as well as DVD. Right now, I view footage via firewire to my Sony broadcast monitor. I realize that workflow may not be future proof since I may not always be using DVCPRO HD.
Which core, 8 or 12? Which graphics card ATI Radeon 5770 or 5870. Also, I have a CalDigit drive set up as a raid 0 for my capture scratch. That works but is there an advantage to having internal raid drives and if so, do i need that expensive Raid controller apple sells for $700??? Lots of question, I know...but it is a big purchase and I would like to hear what configs others have and what the recommendations would be. Thanks in advance.

If you click on the "Nahlem" MacPro, an upgrade option to a 6-Core 3.33Ghz if available there. A big confusing I know. Thats what we decided on. That does limit you to 16gb of RAM, we have maxed that out and find it more than enough for FCS, of which FCP can only utilise a small amount.
Forgot to mention we went for OWC Mercury SSD drives, not for cost, although they are cheaper but for reliability:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internalstorage/Mercury_Extreme_SSD_Sandforce/Solid_StatePro
With the money saved from the processor (and SSD if you don't require) the Matrox hardware is the biggest time and money saver. Real time + processing for h.264 is great for us, it isn't a graphics card as such more of a dedicated piece of hardware for interfacing with equipment such as your bc-monitor or VTR. One of the added benefits is that it handles the encoding of video along with your CPU, not GPU (graphics card).
The faster GPU enable us to work in Motion faster and with less hassle than before, if you work in Motion, or with GPU support enabled in AE or PS then go with the bigger card. If not the 5770 will be more than enough.
We went Apple internal RAID because we got a good deal including support form Apple if anything goes wrong. Sadly not used the mini, I would recommend the PCIe CompressHD for pure h264 encoding. If you want pro connectivity the LE is the starting point, the mini offers HDMI for a prosumer output.

1440x1080 HD to 640x360 QT

I was working on a HD project which had 56 separate cuts and was captured and imported into FCP. The sequence was recognized and set up as 1440x1080@ 59:97. The client had requested the finished file be a QT H264 file at 640x360. My FCP timeline was exported to compressor 3.05 and compressed in the requested QT format. It took approx 18 Hrs. Does this time sound right as I was doing this on my Quad 2.8 with 6 Gigs of ram?
After this was done a colleague suggested I might save time by making a new sequence and transcoding it as a 640x360 (custom 16:9) using H264 as my codec and the saving it as a QT file. Is the a workflow that could save me time and give me the same result?
Thank You
Jeff

Hard to tell if 18 hours sounds reasonable without knowing the total duration of your source sequence, but it is most likely normal.
I would recommend having a look at Matrox CompressHD, if you do a lot of H.264 delivery and want faster/better results.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErU-cs1S0Kw

No sync with audio for input files AVI MPEG4 23.976 fps

No sync with audio for input files AVI MPEG4 23.976 fps.
If i open in Premiere Pro CC any file AVI MPEG4 23.976 fps (with internal audio MP3 or AC3) i got growing out of sync from start to end of file, even while play it at internal media player of Premiere Pro CC for source file.
Using external audio files AC3 or MP3 not help.
In properties of source file i see 23.97 fps instead of 23.976 fps, and time of internal file is wrong.
If i try Clip > Modify > Interpreter Footage > custom settings to 23.976 time i see right time, but when i click "OK", custom fps saved as 23.98 fps instead of 23.976 fps and time of source goes wrong again.
So i always get bad sync such files in Premiere Pro CC while play or export them.
But in all media players, other editors, and in PluralEyes sync OK with all such files.
If i open M2TS or MP4 (H264 23.976 fps) source file, all OK, it it shows as 23.976 fps, time is right, and sync OK.
So i want to add automatic detection 23.976 fps instead of 23.97 fps for source AVI files with 23.976 fps.
Is it possible?

Yes, i know what XviD and DivX does not edit well in Premiere Pro. And because of that i create this topic "No sync with audio for input files AVI MPEG4 23.976 fps" and was hoping to get help in solving the problem, rather than stating that the problem really is.
XviD and DivX it is MPEG4.
Xvid (formerly "XviD") is a video codec library following the MPEG-4 standard, specifically MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple Profile (ASP).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xvid
I have many old useful materials in XviD and DivX formats, and have no other formats versions for that material.
XviD and DivX are very compact formats to store video at acceptable quality and it is fully compatible with all players and editors for PC except Premiere Pro.
You suggest to convert them to another format (DV) to make compatible with Premiere Pro... It is not what i want.
Let me explaine:
1) Size of files
uploaded AVI XviD 1280x720 file with very good quality have size 1.9Gb (with audio AC3 2.0). If i convert it via VirtualDub from "AVI XviD" to AVI DVCPRO HD 1280x720 (without audio) it have size 35Gb, and quality is worst than at XviD-HD, and also converting take much time.
2) Compatibility with AC3 and MP3 audio inside AVI
AVI DV / AVI DVCPRO not compatible with AC3 and MP3 audio inside, only with PCM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DV
AVI XviD and DivX can use AC3, MP3, OGG audio without any problems.
Size of 1Hour 30Min "AC3 Stereo 48kHz 16bit 384Kbps" file is 257Mb
Size of 1Hour 30Min "PCM Stereo 48kHz 16bit" file is 1030Mb
3) I have and use hardware H264 encoder card "Matrox CompressHD" for export my material
http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/compresshd/specs/
This card works only from Adobe Premiere Pro, so i can not use it from VirtualDub or other editing software.
So i need a full compatibility Adobe Premiere Pro with all popular standard formats of input files.
Here we see:
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/extend.html#Supportedvideoformats
Supported video formats:
"Adobe Premiere Pro CC leads the industry with incredible, thorough native media support, meaning you can edit virtually all of the major video, image, and audio formats natively without waiting."
As most PC users knows, AVI XviD it is a very popular free video format, and would be very useful if Adobe will make normal compatibility with that format in Premiere Pro.

CompressHD

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