I wish this were true. But in reality, I've never been able to get more than 3GB of RAM usage out of After Effects. Maybe this has changed with CS4 (I'm using CS3). Dunno...

Sounds like your experience is different, Mitchell, but this is what Barefeats found on an 8 core mac running CS3:

"The big news with After Effects CS3 is that it's not only written in Universal code (native for both PPC and Intel Macs), but it has a special feature called "Multiprocessing" which is enabled in Preferences. There is a check box that enables "render multiple frames simultaneously." When checked, AE spawns a process for each core called "aeselflink" and grabs up to 3GB of real memory per process. It's like creating a "render farm" within a single Mac.
We used the TotalBenchmark project by Brian Maffitt to "exericise" After Effects CS3 on four of the top performing Macs. Not only were all 8 cores "cooking" in the top Mac Pro, but 1.5GB of real memory was dedicated to each process -- or a total of over 15GB in use out of 16GB available!" Adobe After Effects 7 vs 8 (CS3) on various Macs

"We decided to experiment with this feature using the TotalBenchmark project by Brian Maffitt. Part 2 took 355 seconds to render on the 8-core Mac Pro with Multiprocessing "OFF." It only took 168 seconds to render with Multiprocessing "ON." Multi-Processing on the 8 Core Mac Pro

I have 16GB or ram and a few weeks 4GB went bad. So for a week I has 12GB and notices a big difference in render times. You can set up the machine if you use color, motion to use most of the ram. Ram is so cheap I would go with at least 16GB.

My mistake. I don't use the Multi-Processing function. It has some negative effects that come with the additional render speed.

1) Delay in doing RAM previews. This is a big pain while you're working on a project
2) Uses all the system resources while rendering. So you can't really use any other programs while it's rendering.

The solution would be to work with multi-processing turned off and then turn it on to render. But in my situation, it is kind of a pain to remember and it really doesn't make that big of a difference in shortening your render times.

You results may vary from mine. :)

FCP can save edited file to .MP4 for use in other NLEs.

I believe there will be an FCP solution obviating the need to rewrap MP4 to MOV.

FCP - MBP 2.93 - Multi-Cam Editing????
 

Me again, lol... is anyone Editing Multi-Cam events like live bands???? I wondering how many streams of HQ EX3 Footage my Macbook Pro can handle in post?

I have the Newest MBP 2.93
4 Gigs of Ram
17"


I'm thinking 2, but has anyone done more?

There is a LOT of misinformation around about RAM usage and requirements on Macs.

True that FCP stays within a 4gig RAM footprint. Compressor though splits jobs into "threads" - spawning what many would consider many "apps" that consume RAM. If you edit your audio chances are you have an audio app going like Logic or ProTools, Ableton Live, etc., other internet apps. Without Compressor going you could have 6 to 7 gigs of app space on the go. Granted some of this will page into the background but as soon as you use Compressor this is where you want RAM.

I often render 3 to 5 hour event videos and have things set up to use most or all of the cores in my Mac Pro and sometimes hog tie the other Macs in the house. Typically Compressor will grab about 8 gigs of ram. I thought it would grab more but sometimes it does. Depends on whether or not the machine sits idle.

The stuff about 4 gigs is enough is not correct. Yes for FCP but that is only part of the equation. If you use Compressor as "standalone" in rendering and have it set up right it will want more ram than 4 gigs and your render times will be much shorter.

XDCAM HD Easy Setups Missing in FCP
 

Hello everyone,

I am trying to import my XDCAM (Sony EX-1) footage, but before I do so I need to choose the XDCAM easy set up. I have installed the latest XDCAM Transfer app and EX Clip Browser, and still no luck. When going to the Final Cut Pro Additional Easy Setups folder (Applications > Final Cut Pro Additional Easy Setups > English) I see the easy setups that I need but they do not show up in my FCP. How can I get this working? Help is greatly appreciated.

Software Specs:

Final Cut Pro 6.0.5
XDCAM Transfer 2.9.0
XDCAM EX ClipBrowser 2.00.00(209.409)

I had this problem... read towards the bottom of this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/sony-xdca...tings-bug.html

I would get as much as your budget allows initially, it might be hard to source the ram at a later date..
I would probably swap at least one of your 7200rpm drives for a 10k or 15k. I use 2x WD 10K Raptors in Raid 0 as a 'Render' / temp drive. If your OS drive was 10k or 15k you would notice a huge increase in performace booting and loading programs.
just my 2c

Just turn all your settings down in FCP. (Unlimited RT, Dynamic, Dynamic, etc..). That why you won't get the "Dropped Frames" message and you'll probably be able to play 3 or 4 streams of XDCAM footage. The quality won't be as good, but when you render and export it will switch back to the highest quality.

Get info into FCP from clips
 

Howdy all.


So i need a solution to a problem i am facing.
I have a large amount of footage ( 20hrs ++ )
the director wants to do a drag and drop from the hard drive storage into his own organisation in a FCP file. I am highly parionod about this whole tape less process and I have noticed that if I drop a file from disc into FCP my handy dandy log note has gone. This i was using as a link back to the data.

I originally used XDCAM transfer through FCP to get my footage off the cards
is there a way to find where this info has been stored? or get it back into FCP?

I swear i am going to go grey before this shoot is over! its the first time i am working with only data ( 3 data and two footage backs up isn't over kill right?)

thanks in advance for your help

Jennie