ysense
Level 1 (4 points)
Video

Q: mp4 is extremely slow in compressor 3 - upgrade?

Hi,

I'm working a lot with mp4 files (or m4v) and I'm using Compressor to encode them to ProRes - and then to FCP 7. Currently using Compressor 3.5.3

The problem: it is extremely slow. Just dragging a mp4 file (lets say about 10 min) to Compressor causes it to think and think and think- and then dragging the Settings is the same. Is Compressor 4 more friendly to mp4 files and would be faster? Or is it my computer that makes it slow?

MacBook Pro, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

 

Thanks

 

 

BTW, what I'm trying to do is to convert mkv files to ProRes. I do it in two stages: first with Handbreak, then Compressor. This is a tiresome process, so if anyone has a better solution I'd be happy to hear.

OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Jul 19, 2016 2:30 AM

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Q: mp4 is extremely slow in compressor 3 - upgrade?

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  • by Russ H,Helpful

    Russ H Russ H Jul 19, 2016 6:07 AM in response to ysense
    Level 7 (21,760 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 19, 2016 6:07 AM in response to ysense

    If your Mac is "thinking", my guess is that it is neither your version of Compressor or your MBP that os causing it. Suspect the source file – perhaps something about the Handbrake conversion

     

    A plain vanilla MP4 to Pro Res transcode should be handled smoothly by Compressor 3.5 – and should complete somewhat faster than in real time.

     

    Try this. Take a one or two minute QuickTime movie and convert it to MP4. Now import that into Compressor and transcode to Pro Res.  Does it work OK?

     

    Also, check that your system drive has sufficient free space – say, a minimum of 10-15%.  And make sure that your destination drive has enough space as well.

     

    To your question about Compressor 4, the answer is yes. The current version (4.2) is quite a bit faster than 3.5 – especially for fairly recent MBPs and iMacs. It's also an improvement in other ways – including expanded encoding options, greater stability and ease of use. (But bear in mind that there is no Send to Compressor capability from FCP 7 to 4.2.)

     

    Good luck. Post back and let us know.

     

    Russ

  • by ysense,

    ysense ysense Jul 19, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 19, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Russ H

    Hi Russ,

    Thanks a lot for replying. I have a feeling you're right about HandBreak. Well, I'm not an expert here, but sometimes - when I change the settings in HandBreak (to better quality), and then use Compressor, I get some artifacts, like strange pixelation - see below. This is annoying because the pixelation appears only after you use Compressor - you don't see it if you watch the m4v file (coming out of HandBreak)  with QT... And then you need to do everything from the start. I guess I need to check with the HandBreak guys I've heard many good things about HandBreak - so maybe it's me...

    pixelation.jpg