i.... export as quicktime movie (apple pro res 422)

dump that file in compressor and convert to a custom mp4 setting

Care to share what those custom settings are? are they similar to the settings in the quicktime export, or mpegstreamclip DJMarks export, etc.?

In FCP, don't look for it in the Export menu. It's in the "Send To" menu. As in, send to Compressor.

i guess it really is time to make another session video

Haha, thanks for everyone's help, I'll give it a go today. A-swift, There was going to be some downtime from when your video came out to save their pennies for Final cut studio.

Here are my custom Export Settings in MPEG4 in Compressor

Name: MPEG4 Test
Description: No description
File Extension: mp4
Estimated size: 901.1 MB/hour of source
Audio Encoder
Format: MPEG4
Sample Rate: 44.100kHz
Channels: 2
Bits Per Sample: 16
AAC encoder quality: high
Data rate: 320 Kbps
Video Encoder
Format: MPEG4
Width: 720
Height: 480
Pixel aspect ratio: NTSC CCIR 601/DV
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: 29.97
Frame Controls On:
Retiming: (Best) High quality Motion Compensated
Resize Filter: Linear Filter
Deinterlace Filter: Fast (Line Averaging)
Adaptive Details: Off
Antialias: 0
Detail Level: 0
Field Output: Progressive
ISMA Profile: 1
Constant bit rate: 2048 (Kbps)
Hinted for streaming server with
packet size: 1450 bytes
and packet duration: 100 milliseconds
Enhanced Podcast: Off


Any help on this?

I don't see a problem here. What's the issue?

Some pixelation with some crushed blacks. I know i got the audio correct, and it's a widescreen video.

Here are my tab settings
Encoder:
Video - Video Enabled Checked
- ISMA Profile = improved
- Frame Rate = 29.97
- Key Frame Interval = 15
- Bit Rate = Constant at 2,048

Streaming
- Streaming hints enabled = checked
- Quicktime Streaming Server Compatibility = unchecked
- Size = 1450 bytes
- Duration = 100 milliseconde

Frame Control Tab
- Frame Control = On
- Resizing Filter = Better (Linear Filter)
- Output Fields = Progressive
- Deinterlace = Fast (Line Averaging)
- Anti - alias = 0
- Details Levels = 0
Rate Conversion = Best (High Quality Motion)
Set Duration to; 100.000% of Source

Geometry Tab
- Frame Size 720X480
- Pixel Aspect = Default For Size


These are the only settings I have been trying to dial in.

I am far from expert on Compressor, and not sure exactly what "pixelation with some crushed blacks" means (what is a "crushed black"?).

But 2048kbps seems a bit low for high-quality results (I've been using 3000 for encoding), and I'm not sure why you'd want the "streaming hints" enabled for videos you're just playing from a hard drive.

Also my best understanding is that de-interlacing should only be used selectively (on material that is actually interlaced), otherwise you just end up sacrificing details for no good reason.

I cannot figure out how to get above 2048 kbps, its maxed out with compressor, also I cannot figure out how to turn de-interlaced off.

Change the encoding profile to go above 2048. 3000kbps will give you good quality. To use the deinterlacer, turn on frame controls.

Crushed blacks is a specific term that everyone commonly uses to describe just about anything wrong with the blacks.

Frequently though, people will describe blacks that should be black, but look a little grayish-black, as crushed blacks but that is incorrect.

Muddy and washed out blacks are a symptom of a crappy encode for sure though. They're just not crushed blacks.

Crushed blacks means the gamma curve is crushed on the low end, meaning, stuff that is nearly black, is turned into black. That's a crushed black.

I stand corrected, my blacks looked gray and pixelated. I will try to dial in the above setting and see. Its tough though at 1.5 of render time ;) I'll get back to everyone on my progress. Thanks.

i think most people overlook that fact that, while i compliment compressor as being the finest encoder around, i don't use it. it's just not practical for music videos. i usually don't have the patience to wait.

I still cannot figure out how to change the encoding profile to go above 2048
Any ideas?

Has anyone figured out how to change the profile to go above 2048? I just got FCP Studio and looking through the manual it seems 2048 is the max for a mp4 profile!

You can use the QuickTime mp4 format to go very high bitrates. 5mb and more

hmmm.... im looking at it right now. I'm still very new to Compressor so maybe looking at the wrong thing, but under settings on the left I click on the Plus sign to add a new profile. From this list I can see:

- AIFF
- DV Stream
- Dolby Digital Professional
-
-
- MPEG-1
- MPEG-2
- MPEG-4
- Quicktime Export Components
- QuickTime Movie

It seems the most obvious choice is MPEG-4 - but when I choose this, in the Inspector the Bit Rate options only go up to 2048.

Am i trying to change the wrong setting?

Don't use the quality slider under the H264 settings. Use the one on the right that says "restrict data rate to." It's misleading. You can type whatever you want in that box & wind up with a higher bitrate than the quality slider gives you on "best." How is that a restriction? Put 3000 in there & you're good to go.

2 more things that aren't such a big deal:

You can also be using Apple Lossless audio in place of the 320 AAC if you want.

You've also got the pixel aspect ratio set to NTSC CCIR 601/DV or rectangular pixels, which you probably don't need to mess with. A square pixel version would be 640 x 480 or 720 x 540.

Oh, and you get to the H264 settings by first selecting "Quicktime Movie" & then clicking into the video options.

thanks for that - i actually found that after i kept looking at it but good to know im on the right track!

right now im comparing my MP4s from FCP/Compressor against my old MP4s from Vegas/VisualHub and I dont see a difference! I feel like im doing something wrong....

At the airport waiting to get on a fliht to Vegas, truism is coming from my phone, so bare with me. Use the for apple devices setting. The settings are on my mac pro at home. But that should be a start.