Free tutorials at Wrigley Video
 

Check out the free tutorial downloads at Wrigley Video.

If you were using just Premiere I would go with dual route.. I have two RTX.100 systems with single P4's and they work great for what I am doing..

If I did a lot of AE stuff, I would opt for dual. However since the Matrox takes some load a single p4 works slick..

P4 3.6
2GB RAM
(2) 250GB SATA Drives
(1) 80GB IDE System Drive
Asus P4C800-E Mobo
Matrox P650 Video

I haven't had one issue..

Smooth QuickTime Output
 

I have been using PPro 1.5 for about a year now and I have not been satisfied with my quicktime export. Can someone give me some pointers on this?

I can get very smooth looking WMV files that are small in file size, but with quicktime, I haven't been able to produce something that I am happy with. The file size is much bigger in comaprison and there are many artifacts in the movie.

What codecs should I look at?

Thanks.

The Apple QuickTime codec isn't very good, as you discovered. You will need to purchase a third-party QuickTime codec like Sorenson 3 Pro (http://www.sorenson.com/solutions/prod/sv3_win.php) to get similiar quality to Windows Media/RealMedia video. The Sorenson 3 basic codec is included with Premiere Pro, but it just isn't as good as the Sorenson Pro version.

If you would like to see the output of the Sorenson 3 Pro codec for QuickTime files, you can download a trial of Sorenson's Squeeze 4 Compression Suite at http://www.sorenson.com/misc/free_trial.php.

Thanks Christopher. I have tried the Sorenson codec before. I will review my settings before purchasing the pro version. Too bad an upgrade is needed...

...the sorenson codec that came with PPro still didn't look as good as my WMV files.

Did you try MPEG4?

I have no troubles with MPEG 4, but for web viewing and regular Quicktime viewing, the comression artifacts in my Quicktime was not very good and the file was 3 times the size. I thought maybe it was my settings as the WMV versions always look right and the size stay small.

I agree, only use a system that can be confirmed by users that it works. The RTX is VERY picky, and it will not work properly if you just make up a system. You basically need to build something around the RTX instead of the other way around.

I had to purchase a completely new system around around the RTX card as my other machine (also new) was deemed incompatible.

the only version of sorenson that is useable costs top $$$... you almost certainly didn't get that with premiere pro... mpeg4 is marginal at best, but there is great hope for h.264, if someone ever creates a software player that will actually play the files.

if you search the recent archives, you'll find the link for the codec zip file test i posted... you'll see that real media and wmv have the best quality, but you could also look at divx or even xvid, if you can deal with the player issues on the distribution end of things.

that said, you should be able to get smooth playback in qt even if the picture quality sucks... make sure that you are manipulating the frame rate correctly.

<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Eanton : I agree, only use a system that can be confirmed by users that it works. The RTX is VERY picky, and it will not work properly if you just make up a system. You basically need to build something around the RTX instead of the other way around.

I had to purchase a completely new system around around the RTX card as my other machine (also new) was deemed incompatible. -->>>

I so second that.. My first RTX.100 system is a pieced together system and doesn't conform to Matrox standards.. A few hangs here and there.. for very small projects it works.

My new system we bought through a certified Matrox Builder for the RTX.100 and it's a class above the other system in reliability and stability..

Thanks for you input. At least now I know that's it's not completely a result of my settings. I might invest in the Sorenson Pro sometime. My playback is smooth, it's just the compression that didn't look right.

Dan, I'll look into your Codec tests. That sounds interesting.

Thanks again.

XL1s capture problems in premiere
 

When using Premiere Pro 1.5 and my XL1s through a firewire connection, I cannot use Premiere's capture window, and I get a message saying "Can't Activate Recorder. Try Restting Recorder". I know that my camera is connected to my computer (Windows gives me a message saying that a Canon XL1s camcorder is connected to my system), and Premiere tells me that my camera is "online" when I set up the device control. (Which, according to Premiere, means that Premiere can see and control my camera). Any suggestions?

Adobe Plugin Suggestions
 

Im running adobe premiere but dont have any plugins. Right now Im using it for cutting live concert footage together but am also shooting a fairly intensive documentary which will require alot of color correction to match cameras together when needed. I will also be using it for short films shot on the xl2 where the end effect is the "film look." Just wanted to know if you all had any suggestions on what to start with, what are the "must have" pluggins for premiere? Thanks!