Compressor 4.1.2 monitor window: not seeing edit cut markers, compression markers

There are times when I will go straight from the FCPX timeline (in this case, v.10.1.2) by selecting all the clips and then use the command SEND TO COMPRESSOR. As opposed to dropping a Digital Master output into Compressor.

When I did this same kind of process in FCP 7.0.3 (sending from the timeline), I could always toggle to see the (in the Compressor monitor window) the edit cut markers, along with any compression markers that I may have added while in that timeline.

So back to FCPX, I've now sent to Compressor v4.1.2 and I've loaded in my timeline and the Compressor preset to generate regular DVD files from an HD timeline. I can see my project displayed in Compressor's monitor window and I have gone into the drop down menu to toggle it to SHOW EDIT CUT MARKERS, SHOW COMPRESSION MARKERS, but nothing is showing up.

I wonder if I have the wrong setting…or if they may be some kind of issue with Compressor 4.1.2? In the FCPX timeline I did change the clip appearance to the minimum, where it becomes a very skinny timeline incorporating all the clips into generic units. Maybe I shouldn't have selected that?

Also, a related side question, in my audio file…when I go the Inspector where I see the settings, a bit rate of 192 kps is greyed out and that seems to be the only selection. I was hoping to kick it up to 224 but it seems to be locking me out. This will be encoded as a Dolby Digital file that I will use when I author the DVD in DVDSP.

Thanks for any helpful advice that can be offered…John

The edit markers will show in a future release, I'm sure. Bugs to work out, I assume. But, no issue, because you can't change them anyway, they happen where edits are made, and that's that.

Compression markers you can add (only) in Compressor just fine. FCPX at this time does not allow you to add Compression Markers in its own timeline. But you can add them, in the rare instance they are needed, manually in Compressor.

In the Audio Inspector, are you looking at the codec applied to the video, or the preset in the preset pane? Which is highlighted? If in the Inspector, do you have the video selected, or the compression preset specifically selected? Did you click on the button to change the Quicktime settings, if available?

And also, what preset are you applying to the video, specifically?

This may help, too.
Compressor; Transcoding Explored

Thank you for the insight about edit cut markers not showing up…yet. Somehow it was reassuring to see them there in FCP 7…as you knew those cut markers were forcing I-frames in Compressor.

Also, thanks for letting me know that compression markers can not yet be added to the FCPX timeline, though if one really needed to force one you can do it in Compressor.

As for the audio question and not being able to change the DVD audio encoding rate from 192 to 224…I discovered what the issue was. In the Compressor preset, the audio pane was showing audio format as "automatic." I took it off that and toggled to Stereo L R, and then immediately the 192 data rate was no longer greyed out…I could toggle that up to 224.

No issues with the video preset.

I basically took the Compressor preset for "Create DVD" and modified it and saved it as a customized preset. But tell it not to actually burn a DVD, just to make the files and then stop. I then take them into DVDSP and finish the project off there.

I was taking a five minute project (1920 x1080 HD) to 720 x480 29.97 to create a standard def DVD (using two pass VBR, best motion, 6.4/7.54…and tweaked it by adding a Sharpen Edge filter at +3…which is a noticeable sharpness improvement on a SD DVD without getting a video halo or ringing effect. Also added a slight GAMMA correction filter in compressor at about 1.05 to help compensate for the slight bleaching effect that can occur when the DVD is burned. And in addition, a color mid tones RGB filter, at -3. -3.-3. Helps give a bit more saturation and richness to the flesh tones without introducing a color cast.

Thanks again for your tips…very helpful!!

John

And since you made a Compressor preset, you know you don't have to launch Compressor anymore, right? You can use that to create a custom Destination in FCPX, export directly from there.

Thanks again for tip about using my Compressor encoding preset as a custom Destination inside FCPX…that should help speed the workflow!

John