Stone Design Forums

As you note, exporting is slow. Further, I'm finding that videator does not seem to give me the same compression as QT with what appear to be the same settings. This is particularly apparent in producing mp4's (m4v's).

I suspect you are using the QT ipod export settings as your basis. In my experience, it's just not as compressed as you can get with still decen playback.

Well, to get around these problems, I decided to export from Videator with no compression. This produces a massive file (5 X source at least) in about the time it takes to watch the finished movie. This then automatically opens in QT Pro. From there, I do my standard output to a compressed mov and a very compressed mp4 (still plays in the ipod). I may see if I can automate this process with an applescript.

Right now, the big value add of videator is in easy editing (well, once you figure out how) and it's use of native QT format for clips. With iMovie, I had to do time consuming double conversions. A big step forward would be if videator incorporated more QT export options and decoupled export from the project window (handled it in a separate thread a la QT).

Just some thoughts.

Every single possible CODEC is available from the Export Movie..., "+" or "Options" panel.

It's a nightmarish world inside the QT Codec - where the cognescenti can actually do whatever they want - for example, Apple loves the H264 - and depending on how low rez you want to go, you can get those movies very small.

The GOOD NEWS is that our design allows you to create your own export settings, and they are automatically saved for easy export the next time.

If you create some dynamite export settings that you feel are super-duper and worth sharing, just send me the ExportSettings.plist file in ~/Library/Application Support/Stone/Videator and I'll consider adding them to the next release.

I appreciate the ability to save settings bundles. I'll see if I can get the squeeze with videator that I want.

It would be nice if videator launched the whole export process in a separate thread.

We thought about the thread - but then realized - if a user started changing state of filters or doing something else, it would potentially ruin the export.

Also, the export is so cpu-hoggy that it's best go read email for a few minutes...

The real time effects are the big plus. Where videator is saving me is in getting the movie to an editable mode and doing quick edits. It's good you put rendering on the back-end. I can live without the thread.