Final Cut Pro Error: 'out of memory'/'general error' on export

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Level 1

4 points

Final Cut Pro Error: 'out of memory'/'general error' on export

I'm trying to export a simple timeline from FCP but keep getting Final Cut Pro Error: 'out of memory'/'general error'. Exporting 5 sec timeline (yes, just a short trailer) via Quicktime conversion H264 at 1080. Strangely, if I export exactly same timeline at 720 its fine. Original media ProRes422 1080.
Have exported at 1080 before ok. No nested files involved; re-connected all media; no JPEGs involved; plenty of memory (all of which i have heard can be issues).
Any advice please as i've read all of the FAQs and nothing helping so far?!

Spec: New MacPro 12-core; 12 MB ram; 2TB drive; FCP7

MacPro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 10, 2010 3:08 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Oct 10, 2010 3:34 PM in response to andyalibi

Don't export via QT Conversion. Export a Self Contained QT movie, then take it into COMPRESSOR and do the compression in there.

Shane

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Answer 2

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2010 3:13 AM in response to Shane Ross

Thanks Shane. You mean rather than 'sending it' straight to Compressor? And what difference would this make? Isn't compressor using the same codec to do the same job? I will try your suggestion but I'd be interested to know whats going on here.

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Answer 3

Oct 11, 2010 9:25 AM in response to andyalibi

I've heard several people mention this recently. It seems to have something to do with large or complex sequences. Shane's suggestion should work for you.

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Answer 4

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Oct 11, 2010 12:19 PM in response to andyalibi

SEND TO Compressor, in FCP 6 and earlier...ties up FCP. You can't do anything. In FCP 7, it works in the background, but I found it works slower than what I mention. PLUS, if the sequence is unrendered when you do the send...it will take a LOT longer.

Fully render the sequence. This way it is rendered for any future use. If you export for Compressor, it renders it ONLY for compressor. So time wasted.

Export a self contained QT file. Then you can continue to work in FCP, and have a file that you can encode at any time, any way you want to in the future...instead of opening that project again, and doing a SEND TO.

Will it look any DIFFERENT? BETTER? No...just a better workflow, IMHO.

Shane

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Answer 5

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 12, 2010 9:02 AM in response to Shane Ross

Thanks for workflow clarity Shane, but when you export as self-contained QT movie, what do the 'Current Settings' refer to? Is this the current settings of your (source media in) timeline (ie in my case Pro Res 422) or the last settings used by the export? Apparently 'If you deselect the Recompress All Frames option and choose Current Settings from the Setting pop-up menu, Final Cut Pro simply copies frames from existing media files into the new file with no recompression.' But when i did this I got a 994.1 MB QT movie, which, when i got 'more info' told me MPEG-2 Video (?!) Apparently a compressed file when its supposed to be uncompressed (?!) When i exported manually setting to Pro Res I got 6.77 GB. Clearly uncompressed Apple ProRes 422 (HQ). Do i have to manually set settings to Pro Res to match my source media and ensure i get an uncompressed file? Im searching boards to get some clarity on this too: all references so far advise using 'current settings' but dont actually say what they are.

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Answer 6

Oct 12, 2010 10:25 AM in response to andyalibi

Current Settings refers to the current setting of the Sequence you are exporting.

Did you have "Make Movie Self Contained" checked?

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Answer 7

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 13, 2010 4:01 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

Yes. To be precise my settings are:
Setting: Current Setting; Include: Audio and Video; Markers: None; Recompress All Frames- Unchecked; Make Movie Self Contained - Checked
These setting are for a 'copy of the existing media files with no re-compression'. Yet each time i output with these advised settings I get the same (small) file with this same format: 'MPEG-2 Video, Linear PCM, Timecode'. But MPEG2 is a compression codec (?) However, to repeat above, if I output by manually setting the same as my source files in the sequence I get a file thats 7X the size and labelled Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), Linear PCM, Timecode. Which is more like what i would expect. What am i missing? Its probably something really obvious and i'll kick myself when its clear. Any ideas out there please?

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Answer 8

Oct 13, 2010 6:00 AM in response to andyalibi

Are you positive your sequence settings are correct? An HDV or XDCAM sequence would, technically, create an mpeg2 export at current settings.

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Answer 9

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 13, 2010 7:01 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

Ouch! I think you might have nailed it! When i check the audio/video settings it displays HDV - 1080p25. No idea where this came from as the source files are ProRes(HQ) transcoded from Canon 7D footage. Thing is, can I change this back to ProRes and re-export now you nailed the problem. I'll try. Thanks a lot!

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Answer 10

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 13, 2010 9:25 AM in response to andyalibi

Yes, changed sequence settings to ProRes Preset, got a message about 'conforming HDV video' (i think) re-rendered, re-exported and RESULT. One presumably uncompressed file: 6.85 GB, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ). Hooray.
BUT played it back in QT and the movie is now pillar-boxed and the image all squished. Have I just confused the sequence with my changes? Or is it something to do with frame size/aspect ratio? But this is set to the presumably correct pre-set: HDTV 1080i (16:9) aspect ratio, which gives a frame size of 1920x1080. Same as my source files. But it sure dont look right! Now whats going on?

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Answer 11

Oct 13, 2010 9:28 AM in response to andyalibi

Create a new ProRes sequence. Copy all the media from the HDV sequence and paste it into the new ProRes sequence.

Does it look right?

You may have to remove/adjust the distort settings to get it right. The two formats have different pixel aspect ratios.

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Answer 12

andyalibi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 14, 2010 5:12 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

Thanks, got there at last. (Select clips> Right click> Remove attributes> Distort.) And export. Bingo: an uncompressed ProRes file, same aspect ratio as original footage. Thanks a lot for the pointers.

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