Official Fcp Exporting Thread

Jay Rodriguez

Jay Rodriguez

Coffee Member
Ok there's so many different ways to export for different purposes in FCP so, what's your export workflow?

I basically use the same export workflow for everything but I'm sure there are much better ways.

Compression type: Sorenson 3
Data Rate: I usually make around 1000 for web and 10,000 for DVD
Compressor: Medium for web and Best for DVD

I also change the sound settings to:
Compressor: IMA 4:1
Rate: 32.000 for web and 44.100 for DVD
Use: Mono for web and Stereo for DVD
 
You're making Sorenson files for DVD Authoring? You're losing a ton of image quality. Just use MPEG-2 and then take that into DVDSP.

Use ACC sound, you can make your settings really low and keep the sound quality with ACC.

I use H.264 for web, I hate the Sorenson codec, it never gives me good quality when making files small enough size-wise for the web. You can do down to fairly low settings with H.264 and keep good image quality.

Since it's what this thread is all about, there's a new book out every FCS user should buy. Especially since it's only about $20.

Apple Pro Training Series; Compressor Quick-Reference Guide

Very good book. Covers conversions from NTSC to PAL, HD to SD, 24p DVD issues, exporting for the web, it's really a valuable little book to have. Seriously, every Apple editor should have this book!

Here's a link to it at Books-A-Million:

http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/bo...sbn=0321474082
 
Thanks Ben, I'm trying the H.264 export right now

Well it cut down the file size from 86mb to 61mb but I need to get the file size down smaller then that.

Any suggestions?
 
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Guy,
That's a nice step by step, I'm going to give it a try right now.

Thanks for the tip!

EDIT:
Ok Guy I tried that method and wow, what a HUGE improvement in image quality! THANK YOU!

Two questions though:

1. My 9 minute movie total size is 9.86GB in size. How can I shrink the size down to fit on a DVD? Aren't DVD's only able to handle about 4 or 5GB?

2. Is there a way to get this excellent image quality ready for web? I've been trying to figure out how to export in a small file size but good image quality for a while now and the best that I've come up with was using the info from my first post.

Thanks,
Jay
 
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MPEG-2 is in Compressor. It's what you should be encoding to for DVD authoring. Unlike the example linked to, you should NEVER let iDVD or DVDSP do your encoding. It's the most inefficient work flow.
 
Ok so I'm in Compressor (never used it before) and poking around. I found under settings there's MPEG-2 60/90/120 fast/high encode/quality encode type of options.

Which one do you suggest?

Is there anything else that I should be doing here?

EDIT

Ok Ben, I chose MPEG-2 60min High quality encode which resulted with a great image but no audio at all. I been playing with it to try to get the audio out but can't seem to get it.

Any ideas?

also, are there any other options I should be selecting beside just the "60min High quality encode"?
 
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Yeah, DVD authoring breaks the file donw into seperate video and audio. You have to add the Dolby 2.0 for your audio. It'll give you two files. DVDSP comes with some really nice tutorials. Do the first one. It'll be very well worth it. Spend some time doing the tutorials that come with the software, they really are pretty nice.
 
Thanks Ben,
I figure it all out after a few hrs of playing with it.

I plan on watching the tutorials this week, maybe even today.
 
Did I already mention the book, "Compressor Quick-Reference Guide"? It's only around 20 some odd bucks, and very worth it.
 
BenB said:
MPEG-2 is in Compressor. It's what you should be encoding to for DVD authoring. Unlike the example linked to, you should NEVER let iDVD or DVDSP do your encoding. It's the most inefficient work flow.
Click to expand...

Letting IDVD and DVDSP encode, does it affect the actual quality? Or is it just a time consuption thing? I'm asking for us dumb people who don't know how to use compressor, and like to be able to just drag and drop to make a quick DVD.
 
Compressor gives you more, and vital, control over the encoding of your assets. It'll give you the best quality, precisly because of that.

There's a brand new book, only about $20 or like that on Amazone.com or BAMM.com. Very worth while, will quickly and simply tell you what you need to do, and why.

"Apple Pro Training Series, Compressor Quick-Reference Guide."
 
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