Compressor and dissolves -- a definitive answer?

I’ve been reading through many online forums, and although I see this problem posted often, I have yet to read a well-informed answer. Most of the solutions are based on guesswork or contradictory answers. To begin with, I am using FCP 4.5, OS X 3.9, Compressor 2, and DVDSP 3.0.2, and like many people I’m surprised by how poorly mpeg-2 encoding from Compressor renders fades to black and dissolves. I’m basically going from an edit in FCP to compressor and then to DVDSP.
I could be more specific in how I am editing my project, but I’ve seen this problem apply to progressive, interlaced, NTSC, and PAL projects. It also seems to apply to projects that are exported directly from the timeline, and to those that go through an extra quicktime step. Also, this problem has nothing to do with upgrades (I have a clean install, and keep my updates, well, updated).
Some folks blame compressor, while others blame mpeg-2 in general. It seems to me that it cannot be mpeg-2, because thousands of DVDs are produced every year with near-perfect fades, so the problem must lie somewhere in the software.
Is there any definitive source as to how to produce reasonable fade in mpeg-2 (book, forum, online tutorial)? It seems strange no one has nailed this down in any forum.
Much thanks.
Dual 2 Ghz Power Mac G5   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

On 1 - 1.5s duration dip to color (black) transitions
in FCP I find the results with Compressor v1.2.1 to
be v. good - that is to say no blockiness and a
professional result to the level of supplying DVD to
clients who express satisfaction.
Apart from C v.2 and OSX I use the same ver. of Apps
as you - I suspect the C v2 is the culprit. Have you
tried going back to 1.2.1 to see if the problem
persists?
I'd like to go back to Compressor 1.2.1 because that worked fine. But I'm having difficulty installing it. When I used the DVD Studio 3 install DVD, and try to install just Compressor (DVD Studio 3 is still on the hard drive in a "Previous Version" folder), it seems to install but never shows up. And when I try to install both Compressor AND DVD Studio Pro 3, it says the installation was successful, but NO Compressor appears in the Applications folder.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Brad

Similar Messages

  • Exporting to DVD via compressor and DVDSP - fixing poor quality dissolves

    Hi,
    Im having real problems with the quality of the dissolves when exporting my 59min project out of FCP, into Compressor and then into DVDSP. I exported it out to Compressor 2, used DVD best quality, 90 min, 16:9 (project is for PAL) , had the bit rate 6.5 - 7.5 etc. In the finished product the dissolves are grainy and really noticeable during the transition of 1 sec.
    When we were doing test burns, using a reference movie (export/quicktime/untick make movie self contained etc) and burnt through Toast, all was fine. so I know it is not the work done in FCP its the settings or something in Compressor or something in DVDSP? Not sure.
    I built and burnt the project through DVDSP and also took the build (Video TS folder) and burnt it thorugh Toast as well and got the same result! Very frustrating and now I have to deliver a sub standard product to my client for a launch tomorrow. They are burning off 50 copies for it. Very upsetting. But before they do the replication of 1000 I want to sort this out.
    Is there another way to get my project out of FCP and into Compressor? For example is it possbile to export a Quicktime and full quality? I've never done this and was wondering if it is an option.
    Hope you can help.
    Thanks.

    You can modify the encoding settings in the DVDSP Preferences menu. There's a tab at the far right labeled "Encoding".
    Just to confim - when I import the QT file into DVDSP, do I then just drag it onto the timeline as you would with the M2V file? Then just drag in the AC3 audio file.
    Yes.
    Then do I do a 'Build' in DVDSP to get the Video TS folder? Do you normally burn then through the DVDSP or burn in Toast for example.
    I normally build to my secondary internal drive first and open that folder with DVD Player, just to make sure I connected everything properly. I prefer to check my project in DVD Player rather than use the built-in simulator, primarily because I can then fast forward my tracks to make sure my jump points and buttons work.
    When I'm ready to burn a disc, I burn directly from DVDSP.

  • I want to cut and paste iCal entries on iPad.  Have seen a number of questions raised but no definitive answer - is it possible or not?  (I use Bento but that doesn't sync with ICal now so can use that solution)

    I want to cut and paste iCal entries on iPad.  Have seen a number of questions raised but no definitive answer - is it possible or not? 
    (I use Bento but that doesn't sync with ICal now so can use that solution)
    Hope to hear helpful news soon....
    C

    No, the camera connection kit only supports the copying of photos and videos to the Photos app, it doesn't support copying content off the iPad. For your second camera instead of the SD reader part of the kit, does the iPad to camera cable not work with it for direct transfer to the iPad ?
    For Lightroom and Nikon software again no - you can only install apps that are available in the iTunes app store on your computer and the App Store app on the iPad, 'normal' PC and Mac (OS X) software are not compatible with the iPad (iOS). There are some apps that perform fairly basic editing functions that are available in the store, but nothing as sophisticated as, for example, Lightroom.

  • I have edited photos in i-photo and would like to have them printed.  How do i burn them to disc in a format that a windows PC system can read.  I am in India and this is definitely "microsoft" country!  thanks for taking the time to guide me.

    I have edited photos in i-photo and would like to have them printed at any photo development lab.  I am in India and this is definitely "microsoft" country !
    Please advise me how to burn these edited photos to a disc to take to the nearest printing store in a format that "windows" system can understand.
    Thanks in advance.  I look forward to learning about this. 

    Select the pics in the viPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export them to a folder on the desktop. Burn that to disk with the Finder's burn command. Result. A disk with a folder of images that any machine can understand.
    Regards
    TD

  • What are the advantages of compressor and it it even necessary

    what are the advantages of compressor and it it even necessary?

    Necessary for some and not for others – probably a large majority – who can by with the presets avalaible in FCX.
    The users who need Compressor are those who want to control the parameters of the encodes to get the best possible trade-off between file size and quality. Or those who want to do things like standards conversions, complex frame speed changes, better re-scaling capabilities, de-interlacing, re-interlacing, output formats beyond which are available in FCX, chapter markers for DVD and Blu-Ray authoring, batch conversions for multiple purposes through droplets, access to clusters for faster rendering.
    Russ

  • XI Technical and Business System Definition For MDM 2.0

    Hi,
    We're trying to define the XI technical and business system definitions for our MDM 2.0 installation to work with SRM 5.0 and PI 7.0.
    In the documentation we have we can't find reference to what type of a technical and business system to define. Should they be abap/java/standalone/3rd party?
    Does anyone have any install scripts of what they did?
    Regards,
    Jerry Martinek

    You can set it as third party and it will work fine.  Because MDM isn't built on the wed application server like the majority of the netweaver apps, it's basically treated like a third party system as far as integration is concerned.  Hence you send and receive XML documents to PI and convert them into IDocs to send to R/3
    Check the beginning of this document on creating the business and technical systems for MDM
    /people/harrison.holland5/blog/2006/12/20/xi-configuration-for-mdm-integration--sample-scenario

  • XI Technical and Business System Definitions For MDM 2.0

    Hi,
    We're trying to define the XI technical and business system definitions for our MDM 2.0 installation to work with SRM 5.0 and PI 7.0.
    In the documentation we have we can't find reference to what type of a technical and business system to define. Should they be abap/java/standalone/3rd party?
    Does anyone have any install scripts of what they did?
    Regards,
    Jerry Martinek

    Third party will work fine

  • Logic Pro 9 Compressor and Soundtrack Pro

    Hi,
    I have recently installed Mackeeper in my iMac. After everything I opened Logic Pro and it couldn't open. So I thought it could be an issue from Mackeeper, I requested a help from them and they asked me to send my report and I sent to them. Later on I was recommended to uninstall the logic pro, so when I reinstalled the logic pro the following components Compressor and Soundtrack Pro were deselected, it was in gray and I couldn't find out how to install it. The other issue is that the installation was successfully completed without installing the Logic Studio Audio Contents 1,2,3 and Demo Content was also not  installed
    Is there anything wrong I did?
    Help Please!
    Many thanks in advance

    Interesting; and who would have thought ! What does Logic and FCP have to do with each other being installed. I have FCP running (w./ all) and Logic Pro 9 and perhaps your Logic Studio 2 is not the same. I have no idea.
    I'm hoping that I can export the LPro files into FCP ez along with exporting them to WAV or formats that a PC can use; if anyone has heard of problems with that. ?

  • Trying to get my fcp project to burn to dvd at the highest quality? Ive used compressor and then tried to put it in dvdsp put its not working. I am having problems with the audio or when i burn it , i cant play the dvd? any help would be appreciated

    Ive used compressor and then tried to put it in dvdsp put its not working. I am having problems with the audio or when i burn it , i cant play the dvd? any help would be appreciated

    I suspect you are attempting to burn an HD DVD, which will not play on a DVD player...
    But if you provide more details such as the settings you are applying in Compressor, then we would be able to provide you more accurate information.
    How are you adding the files to Compressor?
    In FCP, what are your footage properties (command-9) and sequence settings (command-0)

  • Sending chinese HTML with javamail - is there no definitive answer ?

    I'm using the following code to send a HTML and text e-mail
    (text for people with HTML-challenged email clients). I sent
    2 emails to 2 email addresses which reside on the same server
    - eg. [email protected] and [email protected] - and read the
    emails with the same e-mail client (Eudora) on the same PC.
    The HTML and Chinese displays perfectly when it's sent to one
    of the email addresses ([email protected]) but the HTML and
    Chinese are always corrupt when I send them to the other.
    This is a repeatable error and it has me completely stumped.
         // Example Initial values (drawn from a database) :
         String smtpHost = "mail.mydomain.com";
         String sender = "[email protected]";
         String subject = "Give me strength.... ";
         InternetAddress sender = new InternetAddress("[email protected]");
         InternetAddress receiver = new InternetAddress("[email protected]");
         String txtMsg = "a long text message blah...";
         String htmlMsg = "<h1>Wooo</h1><img src='http://mydomain.com/blink.gif'>";
         String language = "zh-tw" // can also be "en-us" or "zh-cn"
         // CREATE MAIL MESSAGE & HEADERS
         Properties props = System.getProperties();
         props.put("mail.smtp.host", smtpHost);
         Session session = Session.getDefaultInstance(props, null);
         Message msg = new MimeMessage(session);
         msg.setFrom(sender);
         msg.addRecipient(Message.RecipientType.TO, receiver);
         msg.setSubject(subject);
         msg.setSentDate(new Date());
         msg.setHeader("Mime-Version" , "1.0" );
         msg.setHeader("Content-Transfer-Encoding", "quoted-printable");
         // MESSAGE BODY - TEXT & HTML
         MimeMultipart mimeAllContent = new MimeMultipart("alternative");
         MimeBodyPart mimeText = new MimeBodyPart();
         MimeBodyPart mimeHtml = new MimeBodyPart();
         mimeText.setText(textMsg);
         mimeText.setHeader("Mime-Version" , "1.0" );
         mimeText.setHeader("Content-Type" , "text/plain");
         mimeText.addHeader("Content-Type", "charset=UTF-8");
         if (!language.equals("")) {
              mimeText.setHeader("Content-Language", language);
         mimeText.setHeader("Content-Transfer-Encoding", "quoted-printable");
         mimeHtml.setContent(htmlMsg, "text/html");
         mimeHtml.setHeader("Mime-Version" , "1.0" );
         mimeHtml.setHeader("Content-Type" , "text/html");
         mimeHtml.addHeader("Content-Type", "charset=UTF-8");
         if (!language.equals("")) {
              mimeHtml.setHeader("Content-Language", language);
         mimeHtml.setHeader("Content-Transfer-Encoding", "quoted-printable");
         mimeAllContent.addBodyPart(mimeText);
         mimeAllContent.addBodyPart(mimeHtml);
         msg.setContent(mimeAllContent);
         msg.setHeader("Content-Type" , mimeAllContent.getContentType());
         // SEND THE MESSAGE
         msg.saveChanges();
         Transport.send(msg);
         return true;
    Let me repeat - Using the code below, a HTML & Text ("Alternative"
    MimeMultiPart) message is sent, and arrives at the recipient's
    mailbox. When it is sent to one user ([email protected]), it never
    renders properly. When it is sent to another ([email protected]), it's
    OK. The destination server, email client, PC are the same in both
    cases and the only variable is the recipient's email address.
    How can this be ?
    I think I've gone overboard by setting the Content-Transfer-Encoding
    for both the HTML and Text MimeParts as well as the actual Message.
    Could somebody please confirm which parts I should set the Content-
    -Language, Content-Transfer-Encoding and Content-Type b/c I'm
    going in circles at the moment.
    Thanks indeed, to anybody who has experience sending doublebyte
    with Javamail and can help me clear this up once and for all.
    I find it incredible that after 3 years, there is still no
    definitive answer to accomplishing this, and it remains an
    elusive black art.
    Regards,
    chas
    ps. The data being sent is in MySQL not that that matters at all.

    Try adding code to validate submitted email addresses before they go into your database.
    String emailAddress = (from where ever)
    if(emailAddress != null) emailAddress = emailAddress.trim();
    if(emailAddress == null) // skip this address
    // I also check for a list of illegal internet email address characters, as I think the email addresses allowed by Javamail are too lenient.

  • Hardware compressor and am not quite sure how to use it in logic express 9. Please help???

    I recently bought a dbx hardware compressor and am not quite sure how to use it in logic express 9. I hav a focusrite saffire 6 usb audio interface and am not sure how to use it in logic. Please help???

    Hi Ujjawal,
    Use the Tab-order property of IR object.
    In design mode, select the any command button, right click and select the property. you will find the window for "Tab-Order". It lists all the objects available in that dashboard. Here you can arrange the tab order..
    Hope it will help you.
    Thanks & Regards,
    Mohit Jain

  • I recently bought a dbx hardware compressor and am not quite sure how to use it in logic express 9. I hav a focusrite saffire 6 usb audio interface and am not dont how to use it in logic. Please help???

    I recently bought a dbx hardware compressor and am not quite sure how to use it in logic express 9. I hav a focusrite saffire 6 usb audio interface and am not dont how to use it in logic. Please help???

    MUYconfundido wrote:
    Pancenter,
    Thanks for the response, but I do not have a midi interface. I am using a midi to usb connector cable, thus bypassing the need for a Midi interface.
    The Mac reads the USB cable as a midi device, but not the keyboard that I am trying to use as a controller. I have tried it with my korg sp 300 and with my Nord Electro 2.
    Thoughts?
    Thanks,
    Tristan
    Tristan...
    This is what you have, correct?
    http://www.alesis.com/usbmidicable
    This from Alesis..
    "The AudioLink Series USB cable receives and outputs MIDI signal thanks to its internal interface. The USB-MIDI Cable connects plug-and-play to your Mac or PC for an all-in-one USB-MIDI solution."
    Notice, -internal interface-. What you have is a simple USB MIDI Interface. Most MIDI interfaces are USB.
    My point is (was), MIDI OUT of the Korg goes to the connector marked MIDI IN on the Alesis, those new to MIDI often get this wrong.
    pancenter-

  • I upgraded my 3gs to ios5 and the sound of the messages is not working well, it's slow and my bluetooth definitions are not stable how can i get back to the ios4

    I upgraded my 3gs to ios5 and the sound of the messages is not working well, it's slow and my bluetooth definitions are not stable how can i get back to the ios4

    App Store->Purchased
    iTunes->Purchased->Download All

  • Compressor and outputting progressive mpeg-2's

    Ok, bit of a dilemma here. Within compressor and outputting a file for a dvd project (mpeg-2), I've created 2 droplets. One, I have set the frame rate to "automatic" and the field output to "automatic" to use with my stock footage containing a frame rate of 23.98. After compressor has created the .m2v file I can import this into DVDSP with no problems. However, the second droplet I have created I have set the frame rate to "23.98" (same as source) and the field output to "progressive"...using this option allows me to control the GOP settings which is why I created the second droplet to begin with. The .m2v file that is output by this droplet will NOT import into DVDSP. It tells me the file format is not compatible. This is confusing me, because both .m2v files should be the same, no?
    Can someone explain to me why setting the output fields to "automatic" rather than defining the output settings would make a difference even though the defined output is the same as the source file? I'm confused.

    Hi
    All info by Lennart - but in another way:
    A. don't put a mini DVD into Your eMac. You need a trayloaded DVD to do this.
    B. Read what Karsten collected:
    DVD back to iMovie:
    .. and here the complete 'full 9 yards' ... :
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3822853&#3822853
    DVDs are in a socalled delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and
    made for any processing as editing... or, as honorable forum member
    QuicktimeKirk stated: I use the analogy of the old Polaroid
    "instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and
    show it off. ..
    for using the iLife apps, you have to convert'em first, in
    recommended order, choose one of the following tools/workarounds:
    • DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro: 90$)
    • Apple mpeg2 plugin (19$) + Streamclip (free)
    • VisualHub (23.32$)
    • Cinematize >60$
    • Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
    • Toast 6/7/8 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k
    • connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and transfer disk to tape/use as converter
    • Drop2DV (free) a free tool claiming to convert DVDs into dv-stream...
    • Use iSquint for your conversions : www.iSquint.org
    from: Bobby Keene
    none of these apps override copyprotection mechanisms as on commercial dvds...
    http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
    http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml
    be nice to copy rights ^-^
    ... and, next time, try the forum's search-feature...
    from Beverly M.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42724
    Yours Bengt W

  • Qmaster Compressor and Shared Storage

    I've got Qmaster working on my compressor encodes and everything is working fine. What I want to know is whether there is a way to cut out the extra copy of data for the encode. All of my machines in the cluster have the same shared storage mounted on the desktop, but still my jobs get copied first and then encoded.
    Is there anyway to configure qmaster, compressor and the cluster machines so they all use their local path for source files? And avoid the extra copy of the source files to the controller system?
    Thanks in advance.

    You want to make sure in Compressor, under Preferences, the Cluster Options field says Never Copy Source to Cluster. Assuming you have all of the correct permissions set and have the Shared Storage configured properly then it should work. "Should" being the key word.

Maybe you are looking for