This may sound crazy, but I could swear I get more artifacting when my computer is over-taxed. Is this even possible? We film weddings and always use the same settings. (FCP7 to Quicktime to Compressor to Encore). 6.8 average bitrate, one pass CBR.
It shouldn't be possible for overtaxing to cause this. The algorithm doesn't generally factor in current conditions, it just takes longer if needed. But your subject says overheating. Overheating components can cause corruptions in files, and there's always a chance it could result in some bad encodes. If you have a real issue this goes beyond video quality. Overheated components can fry your system in no time, and a failed hard drive can be a disaster. If you really suspect this is a problem you should get some temperature gauge software to check and look for any potential airflow issues. But I don't think serious overheating is what you meant by this.
Thank you Cassius. My Mac Pro is in a climate-controlled closet, so I guess it's not going to get too hot. I just often have as many things running as possible. I've found that shorter clips tend not to artifact, but maybe that's in my head as well. So barring heat, it sounds like the only parameters that cause artifacts are bitrate and VBR/CBR settings.
