I can't use compressor on leopard

Hi Michael. I tried what you suggested. Anytime I click on the the START SHARING button under the System Preferences--Apple Qmaster settings I get the "qmasterd not running - Unable to start services because qmasterd is not running. Please consult your user's manual for more information" error message. This happened when option clicked on the button as well. I checked under the Activity monitor as well and I didn't see anything "not responding." Can you think of anymore possible solutions? I really do appreciate the help and I do agree this is quite maddening. I just had to turn down the post on a project because of this (I'm doing the production so all is not lost) but I would love to get this issue resolved. Thanks again.

Message was edited by: Rex Daisy

Have you tried to manually start Qmasterd? Thomas gave the instructions on how to do that further up this thread.

I was hoping the leopard update would solve these issues but no luck.

The reason I found that I can't build/format on DVD studio pro 2 with H.264 compression is because you have to use the Compressor version as it won't take a quicktime compression format with H.264. So really I am forced to upgrade at this point as compressor is still unusable. Or go back to the old operating system which would be cheaper. I am definitely going to postpone any system upgrades from Apple for as long as possible once I get everything working again...! Thanks for the help everyone and good luck to us all!

I did try to manually. No luck. "Cannot Submit batch (unable to connect to background process error)" still pops up. And when I tries to click the Start Sharing button on Qmaster under System Preferences I still get the "qmasterd not running" error message. So apparently I cannot manually start qmaster and it won't start on its own. And yes I've uninstalled and reinstalled Qmaster and Compressor 3 times and did a full reinstall of Final Cut Studio AND Leopard. At this point I would go back to Tiger if I had the disk. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

My last question ...

How exactly did you uninstall Compressor and Qmaster?

Well I followed the instructions from here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302845 . And I just dragged the compressor and the Qmaster from the Applications to my trash. Is this the proper way to uninstall a program on the Mac? Funny question, I guess but I just took it for granted that, that is the way it is done. Thanks in advance, Michael. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

yes michael, i know it is very difficult to help people when you're not actually seeing what is going on the screen ! 🙂

i just don't understand how it is possible that still no apple programmer rushed in on this topic to apologize and help everyone 24h/24 until everyone's problem is fixed, because, h.ell, all this is apple software, and one could dream of a day when they actually work together :o

Well, this discussion forum is a peer-to-peer forum, meaning that you won't find any Apple programmers jumping in. I would seriously recommend you contact Apple and try to get direct support from them, since the techniques posted here are obviously not working for you.

Last question then, Michael. If I did get a Tiger disk and went back to that OS, what would happen to my programs and my projects that are residing on my computer? Would it erase everything? Or would it be like when I reinstalled Leopard (everything was still there file wise and program wise except some of the programs needed updating). I would rather have compressor work then have spaces (wish I could have both though). Thanks again.

The recommendation prior to performing ANY upgrade or before installing ANY update, is to back up your current system drive as it is. Using a program such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper can accomplish that.

Standard procedure here before doing any sort of upgrade is to make a clone of the current system drive, verify that the clone is bootable and workable, then install updates/upgrades. That way, should anything happen to your drive during the upgrade cycle, you have a safe drive with which to start clean again, without much downtime.

Hi LJ. This isn't going to put your mind at ease but I got my compressor up and running. I tried everything to no avail (as I'm sure you have). So I made a appointment at the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store here in Des Moines, unplugged my tower (which seems to way a ton), and headed to the mall. I was hopeful because one of my friends said these guys are awesome and can diagnose and fix any problem while you're sitting there (and most of the time for free)!! So I lugged the behemoth in, sat it on the bar and explained my problem to the Genius. He disappeared into the back room. Now we're getting somewhere I thought. He reappeared clutching some papers in his hand. He handed them to me and said, "Try this. This should fix your problem." Guess what the printout was? Yep, The Compressor Trouble Shooting Basics web page... in hard copy!!! Can be found here, word for word, by the way: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302845 .

I explained to the genius that I had done this multiple times and it doesn't work. He told me maybe I missed something and gave me a pen to check off each step as I did it. So I rolled up my sleeves and started trudging through the steps for the 72nd time, all while sitting on the hard wooden stools at the Genius Bar. When all was said and done and 2 hours had past I called my local Mac Genius over. You ready? I asked. He said he was. I submitted a batch. Yep. Unable to connect to background process. Hmmmm, he said. Hmmmmmm, I said. He suggested that they backup everything, reformat my hard drive, and reinstall everything. He was certain there was a corrupted file somewhere. It would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $200, however. I didn't care. At this point I just wanted my system fixed. He made me fill out a sheet and said that it should be ready on Saturday. This was Thursday. I bid them adieu and went home. Let me say now that the geniuses were very nice and helpful, they were just as stumped as anyone else.

So Saturday comes and I get a call. A lot of people didn't show up to work so my computer would take a couple more days. This was understandable as we've had some flooding here in Des Moines. Well flash forward to today... Tuesday. The call came. My computer was done. I drove to the mall to pick it up. Before settling the bill I told them I would like to try the Compressor. So they re-hooked everything back up at the bar and I submitted a batch. No dice. Unable to connect to background process. So we talked options. The genius suggested we try to reformat again. I didn't see the point of it. I asked him how much I owed them. He said that since they were unable to solve my problem, no charge. So I said, give me the Final Cut Studio 2 upgrade. $500. Stupid leopard. Dumb compressor. Oh well. I took it home and installed it. Submitted a batch... and... SUCCESS!!! It worked. So I'm guessing that the combination of a certain computer, leopard, and Final Cut Studio 1 create the perfect storm to kill your Compressor. Advise your friends to stay away from Vista... I mean Leopard. And give up trying to fix your Compressor. Nothing works. Maybe they'll release a patch soon but until then you're S.O.L. Unless you want to drop the 500 bucks like me. Sorry I didn't have better news.

Message was edited by: Rex Daisy

Rex,

Glad to hear that you figured it out. I'm surprised I didn't catch this when you originally posted (I really need to get out more), but Apple has it documented that the only versions of FCP that are supported on Leopard (including Compressor but I forgot what version Compressor was up to when 5.1.4 was released) are 5.1.4 and above.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307092

Not too many users report back their findings, let alone with such great detail. You have my thanks.

Not a problem, Michael. And of course I looked at your link and my previous version of Final Cut was not compatible with Leopard. Oh well. That at least taught me a lesson (and an expensive one at that). Next time, before I install the latest, shiny version of some OS, I am going to look very closely at the compatibility of the OS with my most important programs. I was coveting Final Cut Studio 2 anyway, so I'm not really that upset. Just have to be frugal this month. And once again Michael, thanks for your help. It's nice to know someone out there is listening and trying to help when you're pulling your hair out.

Not a problem, Michael. And of course I looked at your link and my previous version of Final Cut was not compatible with Leopard. Oh well. That at least taught me a lesson (and an expensive one at that). Next time, before I install the latest, shiny version of some OS, I am going to look very closely at the compatibility of the OS with my most important programs. I was coveting Final Cut Studio 2 anyway, so I'm not really that upset. Just have to be frugal this month. And once again Michael, thanks for your help. It's nice to know someone out there is listening and trying to help when you're pulling your hair out.

Not a problem, Michael. And of course I looked at your link and my previous version of Final Cut was not compatible with Leopard. Oh well. That at least taught me a lesson (and an expensive one at that). Next time, before I install the latest, shiny version of some OS, I am going to look very closely at the compatibility of the OS with my most important programs. I was coveting Final Cut Studio 2 anyway, so I'm not really that upset. Just have to be frugal this month. And once again Michael, thanks for your help. It's nice to know someone out there is listening and trying to help when you're pulling your hair out.