FCE, iDVD, and Quad G5 PowerMac

Is Final Cut Express able to take advantage of the full capabilities of the new Quad G5 PowerMac? That is, can it use all 4 processors when rendering effects, transitions, etc.?
Also, will iDVD be multiprocessor aware when encoding?
Thanks.

Great. That will make my work in FCE much faster, and a Quad G5 would be a great benefit if FCE can use all 4 cores.
iDVD uses the same compressor as DVD Studio Pro, right? In that case, I would guess it is also multiprocessor aware, at least while encoding (which is what really matters).
Thanks!

Similar Messages

IDVD and Quad G5 PowerMac

Is iDVD able to take advantage of the full capabilities of the new Quad G5 PowerMac? That is, can it use all 4 processors when encoding? Or perhaps "only" 2 processors in the Dual configurations?
Thanks.

Okay, I've got my Quad now and I recently created a DVD using iDVD. During the encoding video portion of the process, all 4 processors were running at about 50%. So all 4 processors were used, but only at 50%. Could this be a limitation (no more than 50% of each CPU on a Quad core) or maybe iDVD didn't need more than 50% of each core?
I wonder if a dual core G5 would use 2 processors at (almost) 100% each, or if a dual core would use about 50% per CPU. In the latter case, the Quad would really be twice as fast as a dual core in this application.

PowerMac G5 Image across single, dual, and quad Processor Macs

Good Day,
Our organization is preparing to roll out Tiger. To streamline
this process we have decided to create images for each Mac family in
use. I know I need to find the newest possible model to create the
image but what is the rule for single, dual, and quad processor macs?
Can we use an image created on a quad processor PowerMac on the
dual/single processor PowerMacs?
Thanks

Macs of different models and vintages may take different restore disks. The disk image method of doing this kind of work may or may not work. Use the original disks when faced with different releases or different models. See this article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25784
So a dual-single processor transfer will not necessarily work.
In addition, there are license agreement considerations.
I would not do it unless you know you are in the clear on both accounts.

FCE cores and threads

I currently have a Dual G5 1.8 ghz. I want to upgrade to a Mac Pro but worry that I could be buying more power than I need. How many cores can FCE use? dual, quad, 8? I probably will purchase used on ebay and want to make sure I see an improved speed in rendering and encoding using iDVD. I don't really understand cores and threads so I'm hoping for some help deciding speed and number processors and cores.

Thanks for the responses. I have my daughters weddings, 2 daughters in one year,
I use Sony Digital8 cameras, 6 of them around the church and then edit the 6 video tracks for best views. I am also editing about 60 hours of family VHS when the children were little. I am retired and this is a hobby. The VHS has been downloaded through FCE on to external hard drives. The Dual G5 has 3gb ram and two 1tb hard drives. The movies are on external drives that are not connected except when I want to work on them.I use FCE HD and then burn the movies on DVD for the children, all 5 of them! I am toying with going to FCS so I can use Compressor. Perhaps I should invest in FCS and additional memory or perhaps a solid state drive and keep the G5.

Slightly OT...involves exporting QT to iDVD and duplicating DVD

Hi all,
This is slightly OT, but I have been unable to get any info elsewhere, and this is probably something FCE users do a lot.
I am having an issue duplicating DVDs.I successfully created a DVD in iDVD from a QT export from FCE. Using disk utility, I am able to create a .dmg image, but have been unable to duplicate using the .dmg image. ( Have followed the disk utility help exactly). There is some talk about a problem with the (optiarc) drives in the MacPro, but nothing specific.
Has anyone run into the same issue or any suggestions?

Did you Save as Disk Image in iDVD, or did you burn a real DVD and then use Disk Utility to create a .dmg? It sounds like you did the latter. You don't want to create a .dmg file.
Go back to iDVD and do Save as Disk Image. Once you have the image file you can use Disk Utility to burn additional DVDs. You will get a .img file.
Or, if you're determined to go the DVD -> Disk Uility method, when you create the image file, be sure to select Image Format > DVD/CD Master and Encryption > None. You'll get a .cdr file that you can burn to additional DVDs. But I prefer going the iDVD Save as Disk Image route in the first place.

FCE 2 and Tiger and iLife 05 or Leopard and iLife 08? on G5 Power Mac 2.5

I want to do basic and advanced editing with my FCE 2
I have Quicktime pro and Apple TV and Airport Extreme Base Station that I am about to hook up and integrate with my computer and Television.
Should I leave well enough alone with my Tiger and iLife 05 or should I install a full version of Leopard and iLife 08
I'm thinking I need the Leopard and 08 for the Apple TV and Airport Extreme Base Station.
Should I go ahead and put the Leopard and 08 and Quicktime Pro and UPGRADE to FCE 4, I can do this?
But will my old 2004 G5 2.5 Dual handle all this.
I could as easily stay with Tiger and FCE 2 and 05 except for the Apple TV and the Extreme Base Station.
Sorry I'm so long. I'm totally confused?

I'm one of the ones that got hurt really bad when Apple went from the G5 to Intel
I paid $3500 in Dec 2004 for what I thought was going to be the center of a Recording and Video Studio for music Video's and Documentaries.
I lost three years due to health matters and my Applecare expired Dec 2007
I'm trying to recover and start filming and recording.
I know that I will have to go with a new Intel PowerMac 8 core to run Final Cut Studio 2 beginning one year from now. I can't afford it now.
I'm trying to buy stuff that will work with the new Intel and my old G5 for now.
I bought the AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and an Apple TV in September to integrate with my new Panasonic Plasma 42" High Definition TV and a ONKYO 7.1 Home Theater System. $900 for the TV and $300 for the ONKYO
I bought a Canon HV20 High Definition and Standard Definition Camcorder to film with.
I want to shoot and film and edit sound and video on my current Mac until I get the newer computer and software that I am going to need to accomplish my goal of near professional quality in all facets. So this is the first step. I will be able to run all this stuff but compatibility issues are killing me because of the G5 Intel Changeover.
The learning curve I am trying to lessen by getting as near as I can to what next year will be fully modern and state of the art Apple Equipment and Software instead of piecemeal like I'm doing. I'm trying to lesson my losses the best I can and get this thing going without losing any more valuable time. I am 63 years old and couldn't set a watch seven years ago. It has taken me this long to get somewhat of a handle on what I knew was unimagined capability for a common man with all this new technology.
I bought the Leopard thinking I needed it. I can not use it and resell it pretty easily. I have no tech support, I'm trying to get this thing to work.

FCE-iDVD check pls?

I have searched the forums, read with interest http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10663447&#10663447
I have two long FCE files (and 2 FCP) that with a little tinkering can be made to just under an hour, maybe one of them 70mins.
When I burnt some disks for a person to view them, occasionally on some transitions there was what was described to me as a 'juddering' effect... the disk is clean, the dvd player new(ish)so ia that linked directly to quality control? The excellent post from a while ago seems to suggest there wouldn't be a noticeable drop in quality... am I doing something wrong?
I have roxio toast 10 but I like idvd better... should I use roxio's conversion and then send to iDVD??
Thanks all for time and patience. Help is appreciated.

If you follow the instructions in that thread you should get the best quality possible.
If the juddering is only occurring occasionally on transitions there is probably little you can do about it.
However, exactly what transitions does it occur on? Is it on dissolves or the types such as a wipe that have a sharp edged image moving across the screen?
Sharp edges are more likely to judder because of the nature of the TV picture.
What is the original format of the video?

Performance Difference Between Dual 2.7 and Quad, and Logic Pro

I used to have a G5 DP 2.7 before it went bad and Apple offered me a Quad in exchange. I'd like to understand some details of the specs between these two computers and how they might translate with respect to running Logic Pro (which I'll get to in a minute)...
Listed below are the specs which I believe illustrate the significant differences between these two machines (this info is based on info gleaned from Macworld, since the specific specs of the DP 2.7 no longer appear on Apple's website):
Dual 2.7
(2x) 2.7 GHz, cache = 512K per processor, frontside bus speed = 1.35 GHz per processor
Quad
(4x) 2.5 GHz, cache = 2MB on-chip L2 per chip, frontside bus speed = 1.25 GHz per processor
So here's the link with Logic: it's become apparent of late that Logic Pro is not able to fully utilize the processing power of all 4 cores in the Quad. Reports are that performance tops out at 50% per processor, resulting in approx. 200% possible processing usage from the 4 cores in the Quad.
However, such a limitation in processor usage wasn't present in the DP 2.7.
So based on the information I've learned so far, it seems that the Quad and the DP 2.7 are almost equivalent in terms of processing power when running Logic Pro. Now, this is what I'm surmising, but, is this actually the case? At the end of the day, I'd like to know if the Quad indeed a more powerful computer than the DP 2.7 when running Logic Pro, or, did my exchange of DP 2.7 for the Quad constitute a "downgrade" of any proportion?

The only logical answer to Why Intels do and PPC don't is:
Apple want everybody to transition to their Intel boxes. The only way to do this is offer better performance in software tweaks for one system over the another, which begs the question what else will Apple do to software for PPC owners?
Having bought a Mac Pro, primerily for testing out certain software apz under Rosetta, I did a real time test between my 8GB RAM G5 Quad and my stock Mac Pro upgraded to 2GB RAM, batch processing 204 Canon 1DsMKII RAW files into 16-Bitt TIFFs. I put a thread on the Mac Pro forum here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=627916&tstart=15
I so wanted my Quad to squash the Intel invaded Mac, but results speak for themselves. The Mac Pro flattened the G5 Quad by over 23 minutes (it worked out as 1.7 times faster than the G5Quad).
If that's how it performs with 2GB RAM it's gonna really fly when I max it out. So, for musicians, I would imagine with the Quad core support for Intel Macs in Logic 7.2.2 makes a fairly straight forward decision. . .buy a Mac Pro and sell your PowerMac. More time composing less time waiting for renders (never used music software so if it doesn't render your composition place whatever it does do into the 'renders' slot )
P.S I hated, really hated having to say the Mac Pro toasted my G5 Quad, I so wanted the Intel to fall flat on it's aluminium as$, but it didn't. It's a quick machine. A very quick machine which toasted my Quad in real time tests using a universal Pro app from a 3rd Party (who would have no incentive to dumb down the PPC version as they sell their product to Windows, PPC OS X and Intel OS X)

IMovie/iDVD and 8-core vs. 4-core

I'm close to purchasing a new Mac Pro and I'm having a tough time deciding if the 8-core is worth the extra money. I've read MacWorld's review and it's benchmark tests. I've also seen some other reviews (Geekbench or something like that.) What I'm unable to tell is how encoding would be effected in iMovie or iDVD. My main work is related to converting analog video to digital and then creating a movie in iMovie and burning through iDVD. So much of my time is spent waiting around for the assets to encode and so time is definitely money. I'm just not sure it's worth the extra $1500 given some of the tests.
Given that I'm not working with 3D or working with multiple tasks or apps (where it seems that the 8-core shines) is there any benefit here in getting the 8-core over the quad-core? Will the extra cores kick in at all just encoding video? If I'm reading things right I'm not sure it would. Which raises another question. What if I finished an iMovie project, shared it with iDVD, and then began another iMovie project at the same time? Would this take advantage of the 8 cores? Also, will Leopard make much of a difference?

In regards to an 8-core refurb for $3300, that is still a quad-core system.
I've been watching the refurbs pretty closely for a couple of months (waiting to get a new Mac Pro), and have never seen an 8-core on there yet (unless I missed it).
They do have two Mac Pro's that are 3 GHz on there, and they are two different prices. But, neither of them is an 8-core system.
The only obvious difference is that the more expensive one has two Superdrives instead of just one. But, they are both definitely quads.
I am pretty confident that an 8-core system would sell for much more as a refurb than a quad core.
Anyway, I only provide this for information purposes. I hope this helps.
Here's the current listings for the 3 GHz systems:
Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 3.0GHz Intel Xeon
Two 3.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
2GB (4 x 512MB) memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200 rpm hard drive
16x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon X1900 XT with 512MB memory
Learn More
• Save 15% off the original price
Original price: $3,849.00
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Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 3.0GHz Intel Xeon
Two 3.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
2GB (4 x 512MB) memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive
Two 16x SuperDrives (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon X1900 XT graphics with 512MB memory
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FCE/iDVD HELP

iDVD Problems
Two days ago I was burning DVD disks without a problem on my 21.5" Intel iMac with OS v10.6.2. All of a sudden on each try in the Multiplexing part of the BURN cycle, with about 13 minutes remaining, I get the messages: “You inserted a blank DVD. Choose an action from the pop-up menu or click Ignore”, and, “Multiplexer Error - There was an error during formatting.”
To begin with when starting the burning sequence the program asks for a disk to be installed and a BLANK DVD is a natural.
Concerning the Multiplexing error, I went to the iDVD website and researched my problem with no positive results.
Thinking through this problem I did the following steps:
1 Recorded the program on my PowerBook 15” with OS 10.4.6 into Final Cut Express v2.0.3 and edited as necessary.
I used one “Chapter Marker” to combine two sequences.
2 Exported the project to “Quicktime v7.1.3” and checked to make sure the project worked, including the Chapter Marker, and it worked as it should.
3 I then moved that Quicktime Movie to my main computer, a 21.5” iMac using OS X v10.6.2 and again checked to make sure it still worked, including the Chapter Marker, and again it worked as it should.
4 Opened iDVD and set up for burning the same way I did two days ago.
At this time (13 minutes from completion) I got the above mentioned window messages.
Thinking that the problem was again connected to the “Chapter Marker” I went back to the FCE version and removed the “Chapter Marker” but my result was the same.
I then tried burning the project using another Theme to see if this would cure the problem but that didn’t work either.
I then tried to do the burning on the original PowerBook both with and without the “Chapter Marker,” with the same result.
Ran TechTool Deluxe and ALL areas PASSED.
Eliminated FCE Preference files and even uninstalled FCE and a fresh install.
Now, putting aside my 21.5” iMac and concentrating on my PowerBook where the process starts, I now get, when I try to put the movie into iDVD (Marquee Theme), the movie replaces the words in the Marquee and what I get in the main portion of the Marquee are two buttons, “Play Movie” and Scene Selection”
I moved the movie to my 17” Flat Screen iMac which runs OS v10.4.11. When I tried to burn the DVD on that, I got the same result as before.
I believe my whole problem is something on my PowerBook but I’m at a loss what to do next.
Sorry this is quit long but I wanted to be as complete as possible.
Any HELP would be greatly appreciated.

2/2/10
This morning I rerecorded my project on my 17” Flat Screen iMac, OS X 10.4.11 then editing in FCE v2.0.3. When done, I imported it into QT Player 7.1.3. When I imported it into iDVD v5.0.1 it worked as it should i.e., The name on the Marquee stayed with my “Now Showing” name and the movie went into the proper place.
I then transferred this QT project to my PowerBook (PowerBook G4 15", Mac OS X (10.4.6)) and then inserted it into iDVD v5.0.1 BUT this gave me the same result I had before i.e. the movie replaces the words in the Marquee and what I get in the main portion of the Marquee are two buttons, “Play Movie” and Scene Selection”
I upgraded the PowerBook from OS X 10.4.6 to OS X 10.4.11, reinstalled FCE v2.0.3 and QT 7.1.3. I then rerecorded my project on the PowerBook, edited in FCE and converted to QT 7.1.3. and then inserted it into iDVD v5.0.1 BUT this gave me the same result I had before i.e. the movie replaces the words in the Marquee and what I get in the main portion of the Marquee are two buttons, “Play Movie” and Scene Selection”
It works fine on my 17" flat screen but not on the PowerBook. Checking the settings on both computers they are set up the same.
Now I’m at a loss and think tomorrow I will start over by reinstalling the original OS X software, zeroing out the computer and build it up again unless someone can give me a better idea.

IMovie - iDVD and a NTSC versus PAL question

I have some questions about creating iMovie for use in iDVD and about the various formats. Here goes:
I have a large number of travel photos taken in various cities that I need to use to create a project in iMovie. In addition, I have a couple of smallish video segments that go with each of these cities. I want to be able to get to any section from the DVD menus. The sections being defined as the either the videos or the photos for each individual city. Also, I need to be able to create both NTSC and PAL formatted DVD's from this exercise.
Now, as I understand it, there's several ways I can approach this:
First, I can use iMovie to create discreet projects for each segment. The individual city videos being one type. The photo shows of the individual cities being another type. Then export each of these via the media browser and import them individually into iDVD. But that then begs the question of NTSC versus PAL. Since I have to choose a project format in iMovie (NTSC or PAL), does that imply that I've got to have separate projects for each one of the cities NTSC or PAL versions? Or can I just use the NTSC project and cut the DVD in either NTSC or PAL format based on the settings in iDVD? If I use this route, what's the best export format to use for optimal appearance on the finished DVD?
Second, I can create one long project in iMovie. Put chapter markers in it and export it to the media browser. Then, import it into iDVD and use the chapter markers referenced from the various menu picks. If I go this route, once again, how do I account for the NTSC versus PAL differences? And again, what's the best export settings for optimal viewing?
I guess much of this question relates to the issue of having to specify a format in both iMovie and iDVD. If I choose NTSC in iMovie, but use PAL in iDVD, other than the obvious format mismatch, what actually happens by doing this? Or, turn it around. Use PAL in iMovie and NTSC in iDVD. Again, what's the ramifications of doing this?
Just trying to figure out the best way of going about this and what the tradeoffs are for each approach. Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Oh... and sorry to have been so long winded.
Many thanks in advance,
Tom

Hi
Oh Dear. Is this an assigned task from an editing turor. Then He/She is mean.
a. If You want a DVD - Then You should not use iMovie'08 or 09 or 11 as they can not export interlaced video to iDVD as it needs but discard every second line resulting in a less quality DVD. Use (for SlideShows and Movies)
• iMovie up to HD6 (SlideShows or Movie) - or -
• FinalCut any version (SlideShows or Movie) - or -
• FotoMagico (if You make only a SlideShow - can not do movies)
If persisting with iMovie'08-11 - Then DO NOT use "Share to iDVD" from within any version of iMovie (not 3 - HD6 either) as they do a bad job. But in iM'08-11 "Share to Media Browser" and as Large. In iM HD6 or FCE/P Save as QuickTime .mov and import this into iDVD.
b. NTSC and PAL - If DVD is to be sent to EU (PAL) - then most DVD-players also playback NTSC so conversion is not needed (mostly).
There are NO way to make a combo version PAL & NTSC - They do not exist.
If You make a PAL iMovie /FC project - then DO NOT let iDVD convert to NTSC (or other way either)
• it can do so - BUT Result is severely BAD
I use JES_Deinterlacer to make the conversion and it's so much better. (free on internet)
But absolutly best result is by doing two versions in the movie-editor - one PAL and one NTSC version.
c. Use High quality DVD brand - I only use Verbatim DVD-R
and set down burn speed to x4 - Less burn errors and plays on many more Players.
Just to start with.
Take one Q at a time and we can fix this.
Yours Bengt W

IDVD and interlacing

I use an iMac running under Leopard. I use Final Cut Express for video editing. I have created an iDVD which plays perfectly on the computer but not on my modern flat screen TV (16:9 ratio). Particularly when there is mass movement on the screen there is considerable flicker and distortion. Is this due to interlacing problems? If so at what point do I de-interlace? Do I set iDVD to de-interlace before burning the DVD?
All help gratefully received!
RRB
Winchester England

Step one (if you don't already have it):
http://support.apple.com/downloads/iLifeSupport_9_03
Step two:
Did you follow these steps?
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1611
Step three: Follow typical advice from Bengt Wärleby
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10035994&#10035994
Don't know if this apply to You but I.
• use an old miniDV 4x3 tape Camera
• import via FireWire to FCE
• Export as Quicktime .mov
NOT Selfcontained
NO QuickTime Conversion
• This I import into iDVD and get an as good result as I anticipiated
• I never run iDVD with less than 25Gb free space on internal boot hard disk
(4x3 video - for 16x9 HD I would set off minimum 100Gb free space)
Step four
Read all:
http://dvcreators.net/discuss/showthread.php?t=8835
http://forums.appleinsider.com/archive/index.php/t-35635.html
http://blog.davidglover.org/2009/03/creating-hd-video-with-imovie-09.html
http://www.2-popforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59271
When asking questions, post the version of your software. You'll receive better answers when we have all info front and center.
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

I'm trying to burn an iMovie in iDVD and at the end of the whole burn process it says "Multiplexer Error" "there was an error during formatting". How do I fix it so that it'll burn?

I'm trying to burn an iMovie in iDVD and at the end of the whole burn process it says "Multiplexer Error" "there was an error during formatting". How do I fix it so that it'll burn?

Hi
Multiplexing error is a very complex problem due to many things (long long list following) - one common but not obvious reason is that material on the iDVD menu goes outside the TV-Safe area (or just touching it).
So first - turn on TV-Safe area and move any object well inside of this.
Wide screen stretched - usually (as I think) it is due to making a 4x3 movie in a 16x9 wide-screen project OR the other way around. This forces one to on flat-screen TV (or other) set the presenting view right - My has 4x3, wide-screen, zoom and auto-wide-screen and I have to switch this by my remote for some DVD I've made "wrong" way.
Now my long long list on Multiplex Error
LONG LONG LONG LIST
Multiplexing Error
PART One.
Use of strange video/audio material e.g. .avi, .wmv, .mp3 etc.
I only use.
Video - StreamingDV (miniDV tape via FireWire) and
Audio - .aiff (as on audio-CDs) (else converted to this .aiff 48KHz)
Photo - .jpg (.bmp known problematic)
Chapters !
A. Using strange letters in video project name e.g. +,/; etc. keep to a-z and 0-9 strange letters in project name e.g. +
as described by Donnyboy69. Does the title of your project have any symbols or decimal points in it. If so, that is why you are getting the error. I had a project that had a + sign which caused the same problem. I renamed it without the symbol and low and behold, it worked.
B. Location of Chapters
• Can’t be at start or end of movie (Skip first/start one - iDVD sets this by it self. At the End - no need)
• Not in a transition (or within 2-3 seconds from it)
Important when from iMovie HD6 or previous - Now also observed when using FCE 4
PART Two.
from Robert Modero.
"Multiplexing Error. Problem during initialization of tracks"
Simply remember to add subtitles to your Quicktime files and menu buttons.
Once I did that, I was back in business.
from Boise Jim
Do a safe reboot (by holding down the shift key until you see the spinning gear on gray background, then release, then restart when your start-up screen appears).
I always makes a DiskImage first and test this so that it runs OK
I use only - Verbatim DVDs
I use only - DVD-R
I burn at an as slow speed possibly e.g. x1
This gives good DVDs
PART Three.
Multiplex Error
Chuck, Chicago 2/7/2009.
Back again. Here is what I have found to work. I also have and use a LaCie DVD-R/RW DL external drive and a LaCie external hard drive as well. Since yesterday I have tried a few ways to burn a themed iDVD project having four 56 minute movies on it, amounting to 226 minutes onto a DVD DL disc, capacity 240 minutes. Apple tech support really didn't know what to do but gave me a very good tip. I had two options left. Apple tech support's tip was to try disc image. One of the replies on a thread with this subject said not to, but my experience today is good. Put your project onto "Burn to disc image," under "iDVD, file." Yesterday encoding took me 23 1/2 hours. Overnight for iDVD disc image, encoding took 21 1/2 hours (again) while I slept. This morning I tried to copy/burn disc image to a DVD with Roxio Toast 7, and it stopped near the end of the burn with some kind of "error" message. So then I tried Utilities> Disc Utility> Burn icon, and followed it through. Be sure to click the DVD DL drive in the window "Burn disc in.". I had one other problem though. At the end of a 46 minute copy, it started to verify, and at the end of verify it rejected the burn. So I tried again, and when "verify" appeared, I clicked on "Skip." The disc finished burning and is doing fine and well. A long and tortuous process, but at last something works. I made several additional copies using Disc Utility. Best wishes. Chuck, Chicago.
2. Disconnect any other external devices not absolutely needed.
e.g. external USB/USB2 hard disks, other FW hard disks etc.
3 Chapter marks in transitions - minimum 2 sec from
FROM Bev.
(Not a 'guy' but I will answer!)
First, I do not think that mixing wide-screen and standard makes a difference in iDVD.
Second, you should use a better brand of DVD disk. Also, many of us have experienced fewer problems on playback with DVD-R disks. Recommended brands here are Verbatim, Maxell and Taiyo Yuden. Memorex and TDK are not consistent and may not give you a correct burn. They apparently have fewer layers in the composition of the disk. I have always used Verbatim DVD-R disks and have not had any burn problems.
Also, choose a slower burn speed, 4x or less.
Third, to determine if the iDVD project will burn properly, create a disk image file (from within iDVD, go File->Save as Disk Image) and test it. Mount the disk image and then open DVD Player (in Applications) and view your project. If it plays correctly, you can then burn the actual DVD disk from the disk image file using Disk Utility.
From. Boise, Idaho
I did everything I've seen suggested, but a friend (who used to be an Apple Genius) suggested that I do a safe reboot (by holding down the shift key until you see the spinning gear on gray background, then release, then restart when your start-up screen appears).
It worked, and I got a clean burn from iDVD.
Hopefully this can help other people.
by dheb0422
Well, I finally got it, and it was odd enough to post here incase anyone looks this topic up again. Many things were tried, including burning the unedited film, the edited film without titles and chapter markers, abbreviating the chapter markers in case length was the issue (remember the old iMovie used to truncate them when moving to iDVD?). In the process, I noticed that one, and only one, chapter marker was on the same line as the title marker. All the others were on the line above. The only way I seemed able to change that was to clip a few seconds of film. After that last clip, the offending marker took a place on the line above, as were all the others. That run published, compiled completely and burned. That's one for the books.
One user more writes
To add my experience with Multiplex Errors using iDVD (7.0.4), I recently created two iDVD projects
Video from both passed from FCE 4.01 with chapters
One project worked fine in creating disk image file
The other gave Multiplex Errors
I tried suggestions to remove special characters and no chapter marks at beginning, but nothing worked
Note that I've used iDVD for dozens of projects and this is first time I've run into Multiplex Errors
Anyway, for problem project, I tried an experiment where I removed all chapters in FCE and passed to new iDVD project
This time multiplex errors gone
So had something to do with chapters
So now I tried numerous experiments to remove individual chapters and try again creating disk image with new iDVD project
After numerous tries, I was able to narrow problem down to 1 "Bad" chapter mark
That is, when I left the "bad" chapter in my FCE project and passed to iDVD, iDVD gave multiplex error
When I removed "bad" chapter mark (and others in), no multiplex error
As a final experiment, I moved "bad" chapter mark about 5-10 sec's beyond original point and passed to iDVD, the multiplex errors now magically went away and I was able to finally create my disk image.
I have no idea why this worked, but thought I'd mention here in case someone else runs into similar problem.
Rich839
In addition to Bengt's fine advice, burning errors can occur if you have located any of your menu buttons wholly or partly outside of the safe TV viewing area. Go to your main project menu, then click on View/Show TV Safe Area, to check. Drag into the safe viewing area any buttons that are outside the safe viewing area.
Russ One - suggest this
Multiplex Error-There was an error during muxing preparation
One thing that worked for me was to export the video w/o chapter markers as a self contained movie (thereby not loosing the edits & etc). Then make a new FCE project and import that movie into a new sequence and add the chapter markers. I've used "-", "&" and "," with no problem in the chapter names. Removing the markers or exporting without them did solve the problem but renaming them with just numbers 1,2,3....5, did not solve the problem and since this problem seems to happen with with iMovie as well, it would suggest the problem is in the video or audio and in combination with the chapter markers iDVD just can't handle it. The only other possibility is that both iMovie and FCE share the same or similar chapter marker code that some how is corrupting the markers.
Summary - What to try
1. Chapters
• Only A to Z and 0 to 9 in chapter title
• No Chapter mark at very beginning of movie
• No Chapter mark in or within 2 seconds from any transition in movie
2. TV-safe area for buttons (no one outside this)
3. Safe re-boot
4. No other external devices connected - that are not needed
SDMacuser adds to this
• On #4 ... No ext. devices. Some think this applies mainly to ext. FW. Not the case. Also applies to ext. USB2 as well (not to mention flash drives too).
Do not leave 3rd party devices / camera / camcorder plugged in unless it is being used with iDvd's One Step process. Certain web cams can trigger this also (especially ones with added features like LED light/s that draw additional power from the FW or USB bus).
5. Minimum of 25Gb free space on Start-up hard disk
6. Make a DiskImage first - reduces where problem originates
7. Trash iDVD pref. file
8. Make a new iDVD project
9. Movies in project with same aspect ratio e.g. 4x3 or 16x9
10. No other programs/applications running during iDVD process. e.g. Internet, screen & energy savers
Yours Bengt W

FCE4.0.1 won't open when the App Icon is clicked. I've checked all Ext HD (verified prefs)- have trashed the FCE App and reinstalled from FCE discs, have downloaded the Plug In. I clicked on the FCE icon, the windows that says :registered to...and then l

FCE 4.0.1 won't open when I click the icon in the Dock or in the Applications icon of FCE. It had been working well but I had trouble when I trashed the reference Scratch disk to a project and I was asked to get it back. I checked all my drives through verify in Disk Utility and a couple needed repair - eventually were given the OK. I then Shut Down and rebooted, I then trashed the FCE App and reinstalled from the Install discs and , finally, I tried opening a FCE project. None of these caused the FCE App to open with Browser, Viewer, Canvas,. Time Line. All that happens is the the first FCE window, the one that says FCE registered to...and the other that says loading AE Effects, Video Effects does show but then nothing except my Desktop with it's various folders and files I also downloaded the Plug In Tom Wolsky suggested to a recent query.
All I can think of is to backup everything to HDs and take this iMac in for a service.It is only six months old - I reckon it will be poor driving by it's proud but unskilled driver!
James Bowman
New Zealand

Don't panic . . . . . yet!
You may not have trashed FCE properly.
Deleting the application icon is useless as there are a number of files hidden elsewhere which may be corrupt.
Download this free app to uninstall FCE completely and then reinstall it.
FCS Remover - Uninstall Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Soundtrack Pro, Color, DVD Studio Pro, LiveType, Cinema Tools
I know it is called FCS Remover but it also works for FCE.

IDVD and DVD Studio Pro hang and crash since 10.5.6 update

Seems like there are a lot of problems since this 10.5.6 update... I came here b/c of a prob with iDVD and DVD Studio Pro not working anymore. Was just trying to "Share/Export" an iMovie project to iDVD (and then tried again with DVD Studio Pro) and the program just hung and crashed and also wouldn't let me Restart or Shutdown very easily either. What gives?

nmctech,
Have you tried to reset the SMU/PRAM?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1436?viewlocale=en_US
Chris
Message was edited by: 2point5

FCE, iDVD, and Quad G5 PowerMac

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