Multiple Compressor jobs from a single FCPx project

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Level 1

6 points

Multiple Compressor jobs from a single FCPx project

I'm new to Compressor and I'm sure there's an easy answer to this.

I have a single FCPx project with chapter markers inserted to identify the ranges that are to become individual MOVs. There are five ranges in all.

I'd like to be able to set up five jobs in Compressor to run concurrently, each from a single range.

I can produce an MOV one at a time with no diffculty and get exactly what I want, but when I try to set five going, the ranges become confused and what I specify, for example MOV 'A' from range 'A' becomes MOV 'A' from range 'C' when it completes. Basically, the MOVs no longer match the assigned ranges.

I'm obviously missing a step that 'glues' the range to the job. How should I approach this?

Posted on Dec 2, 2012 8:15 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 2, 2012 9:02 AM in response to Rusty Rat

You probably know this, but it's worth noting that chapter markers only specify the navigation entry point; therefore, five chapter markers will give us five ranges that all have the same ending.

If you set up a batch in Compressor, you can specify the start and end of ranges with in and out points set in the Preview window. So you would have five different jobs, the same source file but each with different ranges and the title of each output file could be specified by you according to your requirements.

Jobs in Compressor actually don't run concurrently; but you can submit a batch once and the jobs in that batch will run sequentially.

Good luck with your project.

Russ

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Answer 2

Rusty Rat Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 2, 2012 9:09 AM in response to Russ H

I should've mentioned that I've used in and out points in the preview window. And yes, I meant sequentially. 😉

Here's my sequence:

I drag my settings and destination to the project
set the in and out points
name the MOV file
click the + to start a new job
when all are done, hit submit

Should I be submitting each job individually?

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Answer 3

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 2, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Rusty Rat

Rusty Rat wrote:

Should I be submitting each job individually?

No, Your batch window should look something like this, except you'd have five jobs – not three – and no warning triangles (I'd already submitted mine – each of which I renamed).

You should be good to go.

Good luck.

Russ

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Answer 4

Rusty Rat Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 2, 2012 12:05 PM in response to Russ H

This is what mine looks like. Note the the warning triangles. The last MOV in the list s BSCA Grip.mov and that one is being output for all of the targets in the list. The reason for the warning triangles, I suppose.

Here's a more precise description of the process I'm following:

Open compressor from FCPx project. Clip on the batch to select the file in the Preview.
Highlight the range to be used with 'I' and 'O' to select in and out points The range highlights properly, indicating that the in and points selected have captured the correct range.
Drag the settings and destination to the target.
Rename file name and hit enter.
Select '+' for the next target.
Click on next target to highlight it.
Repeat steps 2 to 6 for all ranges.
Submit job.

This process does NOT work unfortunately. I just get seven versions of the last target range used, each with the seven different file names.

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Answer 5

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 2, 2012 2:35 PM in response to Rusty Rat

Try this:

File>New Job

Drag movie to source well.

Drag preset to batch window.

Set Destination

Option drag job pane 4 times (to duplicate)

Put a different prefix at the start of each title of output file as differentiator. (You can always revise title after.)

Open Preview for each job and mark your in and out points.

Submit

Hopefully you will get the results you're looking for.

Russ

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Answer 6

Rusty Rat Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 2, 2012 3:10 PM in response to Russ H

Thanks Russ, I'll give it a try as soon as I can get Compressor to stop crashing.

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Answer 7

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 2, 2012 3:21 PM in response to Rusty Rat

Hmm. If you haveCompressor Repair, run that tool with the trash preferences boxes checked. That usually does the trick.

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Answer 8

Rusty Rat Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 2, 2012 3:45 PM in response to Russ H

Thanks, I'll look into that.

I'm going to have to see about Qmaster functioning on my system as there isn't a lot of evidence that it is there and working.

In the meantime, exporting the range using Apple ProRes 422 as an MOV, then dragging that into Compressor seems to be more stable than starting Compressor from within FCPx.

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Answer 9

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 2, 2012 3:50 PM in response to Rusty Rat

Rusty Rat wrote:

In the meantime, exporting the range using Apple ProRes 422 as an MOV, then dragging that into Compressor seems to be more stable than starting Compressor from within FCPx.

Yup. I'd export the full movie – then set your ranges in C.

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