10 Replies Latest reply: Sep 9, 2010 7:25 AM by wonderspark RSS

    Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?

    wonderspark Community Member

      It seems I overestimated the capabilities of CS3.  I have been unable to export a file to create a Blu-ray disc.

       

      System specs:

      2009 Mac Pro 4,1 3.33GHz Quad core

      ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 (Apple)

      16GB RAM

      640GB HD for OS X 10.6.4, and all programs

      3x 1TB HD in RAID 0 via Apple RAID card for data, scratch

      LG WH10LS30 10x Super-Multi Blu-ray burner (kit for Mac Pro from OWC)

      Adobe Production Premium CS3 (updated to 3.2.0 for Pr)

       

      File specs:

      DVCProHD P2 MXF footage, shot on Panasonic AG-HVX200P

      1280x1080 29.97(24P), aspect ratio = 1.5

       

      Project settings:

      DVCProHD 1080i/1080p, 60Hz

      23.976 frame rate, progressive scan

       

      The project is 1 hour 32 minutes long, and I've tried Export to Encore, Export to AME and Export Movie to H.264 Blu-ray m4v, using the preset for 1080p High Quality 24p and 23.976fps.  Codec is MainConcept H.264.  The target bitrate is 25Mbps, Max 30Mbps.  I've tried both Main and High profile.  After I post this question, I'll be trying to change VBR to 1-pass, since it gets through the first pass during encoding every time, but crashes Pr during the second pass.  It doesn't even make it to Encore... it just won't encode the export file, despite my attempts to follow all the rules.

       

      I'm out of ideas.  I don't want to give up and say Premiere Pro CS3 is worthless to me until I can confirm that as a fact.  I purchased CS5, and it's sitting on my shelf awaiting installation, but I thought switching versions in the middle of a feature film edit was bad, so I've been holding off.  However, if CS3 is unable to produce a Blu-ray copy, I might have to try that next.

        • 1. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
          wonderspark Community Member

          Ok, so 1-pass VBR made it crash during the first pass.  It never did that using 2-pass VBR.

           

          Could it be because I have ten sequences all nested into an 11th sequence?  The movie has ten scenes, and I gave each scene its own timeline to edit.  I then placed all ten timelines onto a new timeline, and when I changed one scene, it updated on the big ten-scene timeline automatically.  I then placed some titles between each of the ten sequences to tie them all together, and that's what I'm trying to export... the 11th timeline containing ten timelines.  I rendered, so all effects and timelines are green.

           

          Or is it because I'm on a Mac?  Does CS3 not produce a Blu-ray file on even new Macs?

          • 2. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
            wonderspark Community Member

            In the absence of any answers, I keep reading other threads and trying different things.  Could it be the length of the project?  I now hear that perhaps Premiere won't render a project if it's too long, like over an hour.  Any truth to this?  Anyone know anything that they're willing to share?

            • 3. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
              wonderspark Community Member

              I still can't get this movie exported to burn to BD-R. Thank you for helping me.

              • 4. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                wonderspark Community Member

                I don't understand why this won't export.  I'm hoping that someday, someone will help me get this to work. I'll keep trying new ways to make it work in the meantime. Thank you for your suggestions and help, fellow editors!

                • 5. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                  Community Member

                  Hi,

                  I have cs3 but dont have a machine powerful enough to edit HD of any kind that is more than about maybe 20 min ...I have a PC.

                  It slows up a LOT if I have HD on my timeline and I add effects etc.  That is why I haven't responded to your thread.

                   

                  I have (approx ) a dual core 3ghz cpu and 4 gig ram, 2 hard drives with OS and programs on boot drive and projects on 2nd drive. I have no problems with SD video at all but HD is just NOT something I can do.

                   

                  I suspect there may be some others using CS3 that also shun large HD projects simply due to the machines they have.

                  With the new 64bit OS and CS5, allowing PC users to actually "see" more than 4gig of ram, most HD users are now using new 64 bit OS and CS5....with a lot of ram and multiple cpu's and raid drive setups.

                   

                  Although this doesnt help you out a lot re: your problem, at least it might explain a little bit why so few have responded yet...it's simply because I don't think that many cs3 ( 32 bit program ) users have done what you are trying to do.

                   

                  Perhaps you could try exporting to encore for blue ray a very small segment of ONE timeline, and see if your hardware works OK with THAT...  ??  Sorry I can't help more

                  • 6. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                    wonderspark Community Member

                    That makes sense... I didnt think there would be an issue, since CS3 has been so good up to this point. I have lots of effects - every frame has at least one effect - and it plays smooth, so I forgot it was 32-bit.   I thought of a new technique. I'll export each scene to P2, and reimport as native, unmolested DVCProHD files, and then try it again. I'll also try to run with just one scene as you suggested... That's a good idea! At least then I'll know if it's merely the size of the project.  Thank you for the help!

                    • 7. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                      wonderspark Community Member

                      Crashed on a ten minute scene.  Trying a six minute scene with only one effect on a single video track... If that's too hard-core, well, I chose the wrong system to edit a movie.

                      • 8. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                        wonderspark Community Member

                        Ok, I've had a success!  The 6:42 long clip with only the "black & white" effect on it rendered out into a working m4v.  It imported into Encore, and plays on the timeline in said project.  I'm beside myself with glee, except that I need to do this to an entire feature-length film...

                         

                        How do I get from here to there?  Does anyone think the idea of exporting the whole finished film out to P2, and exporting to m4v from that, will produce a Blu-ray disc?

                         

                        Thank you for the help!

                        • 9. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?
                          wonderspark Community Member

                          If nothing else, I seem to have a cumbersome work-around.  I dragged sixteen copies of the 6 min 42 sec m4v clip that I made onto the Encore timeline, and successfully burned a BD-R.  So, if I have to, I can export my movie into sixteen (or more, possibly) segments, drop them in order onto the timeline in Encore, and burn my BD-R that way.  It seems pretty stupid to have to go that route, and if anyone can help me figure out why I can't export the movie in one clip, I'd worship the earth you walk upon... repay you in some other way, like buy you fifty Powerball tickets or something.

                          • 10. Re: Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file? Answer: Short clips ONLY
                            wonderspark Community Member

                            Update:  I remembered that sometimes deleting preference files can help solve mysteries, and did so.  This allowed me to export a TEN minute clip that had crashed Premiere during an earlier attempt.

                             

                            So, until someone successfully encodes a 90+ minute movie, I'd say that the answer is NO, CS3 cannot encode a full-length Blu-ray file for burning.  One will just have to encode in smaller segments, import them all into Encore, and stack them onto the timeline in order to get a feature length movie on BD-R.

                             

                            Encore creates chapter points at each clip, however, so that can be handy if your segments happen to be good chapter points.