Mike Kwiatkowski

Q: Confusion about rendering sources and output

My overall concern is about getting the highest quality render from Compressor for my project. (I’m assuming using the original source files would result in the highest quality render).

 

That being said: While editing in the timeline, I see FCP X renders files in the background as I work. I assume these files are only used for viewing in the Viewer. Is this correct?

 

When I send the file to Compressor using the FCP X menu shortcut, and select a Compressor Preset Setting such as “Apple Devices”, will Compressor re-render (transcode?) the video using my original source files or use the files FPC X had been rendered as I was working? If not, how can I arrange this?

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on May 25, 2016 10:09 AM

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Q: Confusion about rendering sources and output

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  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H May 25, 2016 3:10 PM in response to Mike Kwiatkowski
    Level 7 (21,770 points)
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    May 25, 2016 3:10 PM in response to Mike Kwiatkowski

    Interesting question and I am not sure.

     

    In FCP 7 and 6, the original media clips were referenced in the Send to Compressor workflow; the timeline renders were ignored and any rendering required was done with the transcoding process. That was supposed to result in higher quality output (at the expense of longer processing times). Nonetheless, since I edited nearly everything in Pro Res, I was hard pressed to see any quality difference and seldom used that "Send to" workflow. (Pro Res stands up so well after multiple generations of transcoding that I would export that as a master file and then bring that into Compressor as a stand-alone source file.)

     

    As for FCP X to Compressor 4.2, maybe someone else will chime in with some insights. In the meantime why not try testing two workflows with say, an Apple Device setting – shared directly and applied via Compressor to see whether you detect a difference.

     

    Post back and let us know.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Russ