HD Issue

We are beginning to edit in uncompressed 1080i HD with FCP. Laying the footage on the timeline is no problem, but once I add a graphic to it (a simple photoshop 1920x1080 file), it takes me up to 45 minutes just to simply render a 15 second piece. Is this a RAM (we have 4 gigs), or is it something else?

Yep something wrong there...

It's not just memory or CPU speed that is a factor in reading & writing files especially in video, you also have to have fast Hard disk(s).

On my 8 channel SATA RAID a 15 second 1920x1080 PSD takes 10 seconds to render on my dual 2Ghz G5

Onto a FW800 the same render takes about 2 to 3 minutes.


Maybe your render drive is set to your system HDD or a HDD that is very full.

Make sure you are rendering to a fast RAID and that you have your source footage is on a fast RAID or you will incur longer render times.

Regards

Ben



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

Well, we are set up at 300 mbs and dealing with HD Cam. So, essentially it shouldn't be doing this.

Yeah sounds odd to me...

Is the photoshop a massively layered file?

Could you flatten some or all of the layers?

If you have say a 50 layer PSD it maybe that it's rendering them as separate layers upping your render times.



Ben



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

No, it's just a simple 3 layer (if that) photoshop file. So that surely isn't the issue. I'm clueless.

Hmm I'm stumped too...

Have you tried flattening the PSD anyway to see if that improves it?

Is it with just that particular file?

Download this file and test it and let me know if it works better...

[www.facefilms.com]

If it doesn't at least you can discount the PSD


What settings are you using for the timeline and video?

What HD video card are you using?

How much space is left on your RAID?



Ben



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

Flatten the layers. Make sure color space is RGB.

see if that helps.

-CHL

Chi-Ho Lee
Film & Television Editor
Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Instructor