Optimizing FCP and the studio

Hello,
I am a user of FCP and the rest of the Studio, but I only use the "consumer" version. I use it for professional purposes ( I work for PCTV) and I wanted to know if anyone who uses this stuff professionally has any advice on how to make the system more powerful and usable. I find it hard to believe that Peter Jackson's crew had to wait 14 hours to render and compress a few minutes worth of graphics or compositions. What do I need to buy to make the system faster and more capable? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt

http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/newpage_wrapper.cgi?forumid=1&page=http://www.creativecow.net/magazine/cowmagsubscribe.html
Go to the Cow and sign up for the newsletter. Jerry Hoffman just wrote a good article describing how to keep a rock solid system running rock solid.
-BTW Jerry if you see this- Great article man!

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Fcp and dvd studio incompatibility

hi i'm using fcp and exporting for dvd studio pro and the codecs it is exporting is different but i havent changed the settings. sometimes it is h264 and others mpeg 2 can anyone help as the latter is recognised by dvd studio but the former isn't. i know i could use compressor only not having much luck either!

Export your project using Quicktime Movie> Current settings (not Quicktime conversion)
Take that file into Compressor and apply the DVD preset that describes your project. This will yield m2v and ac3 files that can be brought into DVDSP.
x

Social Media and The Studio

I'm currently due for an upgrade, and I want to stick with a feature phone. I'm stuck on weather I should get the LG Cosmos Touch or the KIN TWOm. I'm leaning towards the KIN TWOm right now, but I need to know a few things. I recently read an article from another website, stating that Verizon had gotten rid of the KIN Studio. I also read since the studio is gone that my social networks wont work (Posting comments, photos, updating statuses) on the phone. Sense the Studio is gone, I'm fully aware I can't back-up any photos, videos, etc. I Need to know if any of this is true or any other information about it.

Hi and welcme
You may get a better response if you email one of the moderators of the forum.
(If I have helped you in any way to say "Thank You" please click on the star next to the message. Thank You)
If I have solved your Issue please click the "Mark as accepted solution" button.

FCP and the QUAD

I have the latest version of FCP and just downloaded the update. Does this update allow FCP to take advantage of all the Quad's processing power?
Thanks!
david

It depends on what you are doing.
I have been doing some testing on a quad this morning. If it simple stuff like Colour Grading, or some filters, then no worries. It will go flat out.
If you do something like drop a basic motion project (10 seconds) into the timeline, and render it, the whole thing will grind to a halt. Do this, and pull up the activity monitor, and you will see the system trying to pick which processor it is going to use. it will swap processors about every 4 seconds, while the other 3 processors sit idle. fun fun fun.

Getting mpeg2 component through fcp and dvd studio

hey guys~
i checked on the quicktime website saying that i could upgrade my mpeg2 component if i have fcp or dvd studio. how are you suppose to get the upgrade..
Thanks.

You are probably reffering to the QuickTime MPEG 2 Component. I think it's part of Compressor now, so there's no need to upgrade something.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301493

Creating BITC DVD with FCP and DVD Studio Pro

Ok so here's my question:
I've created a sequence with BITC, and now I want to export it to DVD studio pro so I can burn it to a dvd. I've been exporting as a quicktime movie, at DV PAL Anamorphic res. When I bring it into DVD Studio as an asset, it has to re-encode.
Can I drop one of these steps - ie. how do I export from FCP so that the resulting file does not need to be re-encoded in DVD studio.
I'm sure this is really very simple, but it's going to help me a lot - I have several (10-15) hours of footage to do this with. Thanks in advance...

export the file as a QT not self-contained use current settings
luanch Compressor, drag and drop the QT file on to the window then encode to get
M2V video and AC3 sound file
import those into DVDSP

FCP and the Panasonic HVX200

We are currently researching what is needed to upgrade to this new camera, Panasonic HVX200 with FireStore HD, and to see if our current FCP stations need upgrading. The two main stations are:
Dual 2.0/G5
6 GB RAM
2 TB RAID
23" Apple Display
ATI Video/128 MB
Sony NTSC Monitor
Kona Capture Card (not sure what version)
Flying Cow MIDIman
Sony BetaSP Deck
First, if we shoot DVCPRO 50, can these systems handle this type of footage? Also, can we shoot DVCPRO 50 and go down to DV as we normaly do? I'm guessing this footage will still be better than our old cam, even after downsampling.
Second, what would be a nice system to make this cam sing? I would start with a Quad G5 with lots of RAM. Looking for video card, monitor, HD suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
--Alex

YOu know what, I haven't tried the DV option yet. Tell you what, I'll shoot DVCPRO HD and DV and look at the difference. Other than the obvious quality differences, I'll see how it manages the lighting situations.
I don't want to try to dig into this camera and set it for DVCPRO 50, because they will be using it again for another shoot and I don't want to mess with the settings.
Are you shooting DVCPRO 50, then downconverting to DV for the quality? jst curious. I haven't done it, so I don't know the answer for sure.
Shane

FCP and the Elgato EyeTV 250 - Recording Live Gameplay

I have my Nintendo Wii connected to my Mac Pro, via the EyeTV 250. Due to the EyeTV's current limits, it is impossible to simultaneously record and play gameplay footage without a considerable amount of lag, using just the EyeTV software. The EyeTV FAQ suggests using a 3rd party program to get around this problem....
Another option is to use 3rd party software to capture what's happening on your display - you can isolate the EyeTV video window and record, while you're using EyeTV to play.
I am still fairly new to the world of digital video and editing (first year film student), and I am having trouble figuring this one out. How do I get this working? Any help would be appreciated!
Message was edited by: MuttonChopYaz
Message was edited by: MuttonChopYaz

I don't think there's any way to make FCP do this if that's what you're asking. You need some screen capture software.
SnapzPro is one, there are others.
http://www.eskimo.com/~pristine/screen.html
Message was edited by: J S Langham

Using AVI files in FCP and the 3ivx codec

Hello there,
My video camera only films in .AVI files which the Mac cannot 'see' although the audio is fine. From my research it seems like the only codec available to allow you to 'see' the video on .AVI is the 3ivx codec which I downloaded before and which worked fine but then the trial ran out and left nasty watermarks all over my files which were a pain to get rid of. Is buying the codec the only thing to do? Has anyone bought the codec, so I know it's a safe website?
What I had been doing to avoid the codec was using iSquint to convert to mp4 and then using that file in editing software, then converting that to a youtube friendly file and then on to youtube itself, meaning that all the compression left the youtube video very very blurry.
Is the codec my only option?
Thanks for your help on this, it's driving me mental.

What camera only shoots 3ivx, Jenni?
And have you tried Perian yet? It will allow Quicktime to read 3ivx along with many other otherwise unsupported codecs. Suck it and see ... some users have issues with Perian installed, others get along with it just fine.
Converting to mp4 for editing is not recommended, nor is editing in 3ivx or any AVI wrapped codec for that matter. Convert it instead to a proper intraframe editing codec (such as good old fashioned DV) ... you can use the free MPEG Streamclip for this

Our Century Link Modem/Router supplied at set up, has poor range. It is in the kitchen ( main level ) and won't reach our studio fully at 30-40ft away. Will setting up my time capsule i the studio improve this signal?

Our Century Link Modem/Router supplied at set up, has poor range. It is in the kitchen ( main level ) and won't reach our studio fully at 30-40ft away. Will setting up my time capsule in the studio improve this signal? If not, what can I do!???

Will setting up my time capsule in the studio improve this signal?
Yes, if the Time Capsule remains connected to your Century Link modem/router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection.
Any other option will involve the purchase of more hardware.
One option would be to keep the Time Capsule connected to the modem/router using a short Ethernet cable, and configure the Time Capsule to provide a wireless network. Add an AirPort Express about half way between the kitchen and the studio to wirelessly extend the signal from the Time Capsule to provide a much stronger signal in the studio.
Another option might be to use a wireless repeater that is compatible with the modem/router. Century Link might have a solution, or be able to recommend a compatible device for that purpose.

I did re-set my password and when I click on Install for Mavericks, I still get a box for "administrator password" and it still won't accept my new password. Is there a difference between my Apple ID and the administrator password they're asking for?

I downloaded Mavericks and it won't install. I did re-set my password and when I click on Install for Mavericks, I still get a box for "administrator password" and it still won't accept my new password. Is there a difference between my Apple ID and the administrator password they're asking for? I never had an administrator password-- I just hit enter and have never had a problem before with previous installations. I'm on an iMac, from 2007, running Mt. Lion (version 10.8.5). I've been looking for other's posts who may be having the same problem, but haven't found any. Can anyone help?

Ugh. The 'no password, no work' thing is a recent Apple development. I ran into it on my system and ended up having to do a clean install on a partition I fully erased.
I suppose, if you have the ability to, go online and look up how to burn a bootable DVD image. Download the 10.8.4 image then use the Disk Utility to make a boot image of it. You'll need a dual-layer DVD or a USB drive (or memory stick at least 8GB) If you've got an optical drive, burn the disk, if you've a USB device, use that.
Then get a pocket drive and copy your important files off the system or let Time Machine do a full backup.
When the backup is done, insert the disk and hold down the C key until the machine boots off of the DVD. At the point you get to the start window, go to the menu and choose the Disk Utility.
In the Disk Utility, reformat the drive. You go to the actual DRIVE (not the Macintosh HD, but the root above it that is the actual hard drive device)
I always do this and *partition* it into several volumes, the benefit being, you can store all of your music, documents and importans stuff on that secondary storage volume you make - it will have it's own index and then the first volume is where you put the OS and it will have it's own index as well. That way, if the OS throws a wobbler and you need to reinstall, you don't lose your data.
Depending on the size of your hard drive, it is good to give your OS partition at least 60GB and optimally 100GB, and the rest for storage.
Name your volumes, use the little box sliders to manually size them or put that number in the size window, select for the format, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and hit Apply and then the Disk Utility will quickly create your new partitions.
Once finished, quit the Utility and it will return you to the OS installer. Select the volume you want to install to and it should start up and install.
Once the installation is done, you'll get the new machine startup then you MUST put in a password for the computer. Once you're in, and to the desktop, don't bother with any Mountain Lion updates, go right to the App Store and get the Mavericks update and let it install the app to your Applicaitons folder, then do that install.
On a side note, there MAY be a way to make a disk image from the Mavericks application and avoid the entire Mountain Lion step.. I honestly do not know, but a bit of hitting the search engines may find out if there is. I think that if you looked for "make Mavericks boot disk or boot image' you may find something.
Good luck!

Help! Audio for 16mm project, material to FCP and back again to 16mm

I am getting ready to send an AIFF file of the audio I created on FCP, working with video that was created from a 16mm to video transfer at my lab. They tell me the transfer was a non-drop frame transfer. The lab made a digital file from the transfer, which I imported into a FCP project with 23.98 sequence settings.
I want to compare the frame length of my WP to that of my video file so that I can determine how the audio house who will be transferring the AIFF to mag needs to compensate, and I am confused about how to measure the video file's frame length. If the sequence settings are at 23.98 fps, and the project runs from 1:00:05;12 to 1:11:49;08, to determine the frame length should I be assuming there are 24 frames per second or 30?
I don't have access anymore to the FCP so I can't check but a basic question is: if the sequence setting are set to 23.98fps, does that mean the timeline only has 24fps? When I convert at 30fps, my video file is 22 frames longer than my WP...
Thanks for any advice and questions--that all may be explained poorly...

When your project and sequence settings are at 23.98, it is for two main reasons. 1. ou are working with video footage shot at 23.98 and 2. you are working with film (24 fps), which was ultimately telecined to video which runs at 23.98. This is mainly implimented because you plan on either going back to a higher resolution "online" which you will be synching up the timecode with a better quality copy of the tape at a coloring house, or you will be using the edl from the 23.98 sequence to give to a negative cutter, so they can cut the negative correctly according to the timecode and how it links with the keycode.
I assume you are making a final product that will be on celuloid- an actual film print, not a video copy. is this correct?
Please clarify the following: did you shoot on film, get a telecine to a beta or dvcam, do you have a timecode burn-in on the tape and when you captured the clips into final cut, did you utilize Cinema Tools?
If you did run your clips through cinema tools, did you do it correctly (starting the process on the "aa" frame).
Is your project set to 23.98 or just your sequence? when you place captured clips onto the timeline do they have to be rendered? Is this a sync project or was it shot MOS?
And lastly, as I previously asked, are you sending all of your negative, the edl from FCP and the aiff to a negative cutter?

FCP and Logic working together

Hi. I would like to know if there's some way of two people working at the same time, in the same project, one editing in FCP and the other doing audio in Logic. I mean, any way of the guy working in Logic being able to update his project with the changes made in FCP?
Someone told me this would be possible with EDL or XML, but i don't know anything about that stuff. I tried exporting a xml from FCP to Logic, but the automation is all wrong and every track is assigned to the same output...
Any help with this issues?
Thanks,
LR
P.S.- FCP 6.0.1 and Logic 8 running on a DP 1.8 G5 with 10.4.10

After some tests i found a way of doing what i want in STP with the "conform" function.
Any way of doing it with Logic?
I posted this in the FCP forum, but maybe i should post it on the Logic forum...
L.R.

FCP and current Quick Time update

I was wondering if t here are any problems with FCP and the current update in QuickTime.

see you other topic where I have replied.
littleshoulders

Whats the best external drive setup for FCP and accompanying software?

With all the external Hard Drives out there I am hoping that other users could suggest the best options when setting up FCP to work with an external drive. I am working with both SD and HD and am planning to use DVD Studio, Soundtrack Pro along with Motion and AE.
With all the info out there claiming to be the 'best' it gets a little confusing. I bought a 2T WD HD with Firewire 400, 800 and eSATA connections. With the amount of footage I have to capture this wont last long. And the intention is to archive this footage and making it easy to access in a year or two.
Which is best type of connection? Firewire 800 or eSata? Any Suggestions as to a really good external hard drive set up that I can add to as finances allow?

Not quite sure what this question has to do with Qmaster, but what the heck.
The simple response is get the fastest and biggest external you can. If you are getting a drive mechanism without swappable disks, purchase 2 mechanisms - 1 for use when editing and the second for backing up. Purchase a 3rd drive to back up your system drive.
If you go the swapable drive bay route, you'll pay more for the mechanism but you'll recoup the cost as you can purchase additional bare drives for a fraction of the cost of another whole mechanism.
The fastest connection speed is esata then FW800 then FW400. USB is not appropriate to editing video (but can be used for simple backups).
If you have the resources, something like a Caldigit HDOne is a high performer. If that's out of your range, look into their VR line or something from MacBurley. Granite Digitial also makes good basic devices.
Have fun.
x

Optimizing FCP and the studio

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