MacPro: CRAZY LONG Render Times in FCP

M

Michael Pick

Active member
Software: FCP STUDIO 3 (Newest version)
My setup: *NEW* MAC Pro 2.66 Quad core computer running Snow Leopard OSX

I'm a new Mac user and have previously edited with Windows based computers using Sony Vegas. With Sony Vegas and my previous dual core computer I could render 60 minutes of HD footage using the high quality settings. The render time for about 60 minutes of HD footage took about 2-4 hrs.

Now back in FCP I'm trying to render out 55 minutes in FCP via Apples Compressor using the default HIGH QUALITY DVD settings. When I click the render button I get an estimated wait time of 11-14 HOURS

THIS IS WAY TO LONG... If I am doing something terribly wrong in this process please let me know. I really wanted to love working in FCP but now I'm looking at going back to windows based editors... :violin:
 
Please send screenshots of your settings in Compressor. Shift-Apple-3. I'd guess you have the frame controls cranked up- leave those alone.

Noah
 
Also, are you canceling your render as soon as you see the estimated times? Sometimes a long render time pops up initially, but if you wait a couple of minutes, the time quickly goes down to a reasonable number, which is about the time the render acually takes.

Kevin
 
I will usually export the file using current settings, then drop it into compressor with fcp closed. If you have stuff in the timeline that needs rendering, it's usually much faster to render in the timeline before exporting, and it might have something to do with the long time.

Also, try restarting your computer before any renders.
 
This might help speed up your encode times:

http://www.devia.be/news/article/setting-up-a-virtual-cluster-to-speed-up-compressor/

If the VC doesn't show up in the drop-down menu, restart Compressor, restart the computer, etc. If it's still not showing up, you're probably going to have to remove and re-install Compressor (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1888) and turn sharing privileges on during installation (don't know why, but that seems to fix the issue for most).

***WARNING! Following this path may lead to a lot of pain, frustration, headaches, etc. so please proceed with caution***

EDIT: Corrected terminology from "render" to "encode". Thanks for the reminder David.
 
Last edited:
Compressor does not render. It encodes.

Are you using the Share command to encoder a sequence to SD DVD m2v and dolby2? If so, a better practice is to export self contained, and then use Compressor to encode.

If so, what are your sequence settings? What are your encode settings.

Which cam. How much RAM. And are using a QuickCluster to use all your processors?

We work better here with specifics. Please help us out.
 
NoahK said:
Please send screenshots of your settings in Compressor. Shift-Apple-3. I'd guess you have the frame controls cranked up- leave those alone.

Noah
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back with me so soon. I have all of the settings set to default.

I'll post the screen shot that you requested tomorrow morning.
 
kwoff said:
Also, are you canceling your render as soon as you see the estimated times? Sometimes a long render time pops up initially, but if you wait a couple of minutes, the time quickly goes down to a reasonable number, which is about the time the render acually takes.

Kevin
Click to expand...

No, I actually let it render for 3 hours before canceling the render. LOL
 
Tim Joy said:
I will usually export the file using current settings, then drop it into compressor with fcp closed. If you have stuff in the timeline that needs rendering, it's usually much faster to render in the timeline before exporting, and it might have something to do with the long time.

Also, try restarting your computer before any renders.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, I'll try that tomorrow.

I have some footage in the timeline but it's just basic footage with no transitions or effects added. (It was a family vacation that I was just basically transferring to dvd.) That is why I'm so baffled with the long render times...
 
Dingos8mybaby said:
This might help speed up your encode times:

http://www.devia.be/news/article/setting-up-a-virtual-cluster-to-speed-up-compressor/

If the VC doesn't show up in the drop-down menu, restart Compressor, restart the computer, etc. If it's still not showing up, you're probably going to have to remove and re-install Compressor (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1888) and turn sharing privileges on during installation (don't know why, but that seems to fix the issue for most).

***WARNING! Following this path may lead to a lot of pain, frustration, headaches, etc. so please proceed with caution***

EDIT: Corrected terminology from "render" to "encode". Thanks for the reminder David.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it. If I can't get this issue resolved any other way I'll definitely try your solution.
 
David S. said:
Compressor does not render. It encodes.

Are you using the Share command to encoder a sequence to SD DVD m2v and dolby2? If so, a better practice is to export self contained, and then use Compressor to encode.

If so, what are your sequence settings? What are your encode settings.

Which cam. How much RAM. And are using a QuickCluster to use all your processors?

We work better here with specifics. Please help us out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response. I don't have access to my MacPro right now but I'll give you all the info you requested tomorrow ASAP. I'm still a noobie in FCP... LOL
 
Tim Joy said:
I will usually export the file using current settings, then drop it into compressor with fcp closed. If you have stuff in the timeline that needs rendering, it's usually much faster to render in the timeline before exporting, and it might have something to do with the long time.

Also, try restarting your computer before any renders.
Click to expand...

OK, this is probably a really stupid question..... How do you render in FCP's time line? I thought that the only way to render my footage was through Compressor, which I now became aware of was not a "render" but a "transcoder". :violent5: thanks Mike
 
It depends what your realtime settings are. (Found in the RT menu, upper left of your timeline)
If RT is set to 'unlimited' , there will be an orange line above parts of your timeline that need to be rendered.
If it's set to 'safe', then you'll see a red line above any parts that need rendering, which you can select and hit apple+R to render. The line will turn blue.
The easiest way to render when in 'unlimited' is to switch to safe, then render as above, but there is a menu option to render ->Unlimited.

It sounds like if you've only done edits and used realtime transitions, then nothing will need to be rendered, and your issues lie elsewhere. It will help to know what codec and what the settings are.
 
OK guys, I'd like to thank you all for your help. After reading multiple tutorials online and heeding the advice that you game me, I finally figured out what I was doing wrong.

I was exporting directly into Compressor without rendering it to a contained .mov file. I learned that rendering in FCP and importing my mov file directly into Compressor is a much faster method! lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top