userremoved
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Poor Quality out of Compressor

Hey, just wondering if anyone has run into this issue with Compressor. I have a .mov file (looks great on my monitor) that I pull into Compressor, set it up as an m2v output file, best settings set in the inspector. The resultant file is darker, more contrasty and glitchy in spots (like it's dropping frames), even in the Compressor viewer. The .mov file came out of FCP as an NTSC file at 720x480, 24 fps.

 

Anyone come across this issue and if so, how did you solve it?

 

Thanks in advance.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Canon 7D, Final Cut Pro, Zoom H4N

Posted on May 25, 2015 12:36 PM

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userremoved

Q: Poor Quality out of Compressor

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  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 27, 2012 7:20 AM in response to userremoved
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 27, 2012 7:20 AM in response to userremoved

    What was the format of the original footage and shot with what camera (or cameras)?

     

     

    Russ

  • by userremoved,

    userremoved userremoved May 25, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 25, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Russ H

    Thanks for getting back, Russ. Original footage shot with a 7D 1920x1080 at 24 fps.

     

    Funny thing is, I upgraded recently from a G5 to a Mac Pro and from FCE to FCP. On the G5 with the footage build through FCE and burned with Toast Basic, results looked like the file on the monitor. Now that I've traded up, burning the same file doesn't look the same, even on Toast 8 basic.

     

    As stated the file looks great on the monitor, not sure why results would be off through 2 different programs; FCP to Compressor to DVD Studio Pro AND Toast 8 Basic.

     

    I've got an external Lacie burner that I've used on both systems; G5 and Mac Pro.

     

    Wondering if there's a setting in Compressor that's set to a default causing the change and I'm just missing/unaware of it.

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 27, 2012 10:09 AM in response to userremoved
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 27, 2012 10:09 AM in response to userremoved

    Try this workflow and see whether it gives you better results.

     

    Export your 1080p file current settings (which should export a large Pro Res file). And either…

     

    1) Take the 1080P file into Compressor source well and in Preview mark a short representative section as a test encode. Drag the standard Disk Burning (DVD) presets MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital into the job pane. (You didn't state what version of Compressor you have… for earlier versions, it would be one of the Best settings.) You may want to change the encoding from 1 Pass to 2 Pass VBR.  Submitand evaluate the output files by building the Video_TS folder in DVDSP. If you're happy with it, skip the alternative method in 2) below and proceed to encode your full movie.

     

    Otherwise…

     

    2) Bring the 1080P into Compressor and choose the matching Pro Res setting.  In Preview, select a short, representative section for a test encode and create a job to scale from 1080 to 480SD. Do that in Geometry set your pixel aspect ratio to 16:9.

     

    Turn on Frame Controls and set Resize filter to Best. Submit.

     

    Create a second job to do the DVD encode from the SD output of the first job. (You could also chain these jobs.) Use the standard Disk Burning preset and select 2 Pass VBR.

     

    Submit and evaluate after importing into DVDSP.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Russ

  • by Malibu_Dan,

    Malibu_Dan Malibu_Dan Sep 26, 2012 9:10 AM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 26, 2012 9:10 AM in response to Russ H

    Thanks for the workflow suggestion, Russ. I had previously done 1) with my short film and didn't like the results on a couple scenes, but thought I was just hosed. I'll try to do it in two steps in Compressor using 2).