ARGGHH!! APPLE!!!

I have been using Final Cut Pro since version 4.

It was fine. We were taught to export the finished product as a .mov file, then drag it into either iDVD or DVD Studio Pro so it would get made into a DVD.

Later on, once I got to the working environment, I was told to export it as an MPEG2, or a .m2v file. Adobe Premiere Pro does this with a Matrox graphics card. Final Cut Pro 4/4.5 had an MPEG2 option. The .m2v file would be a movie file, whereas an .ac3 file would be the audio file. This can be brought into either iDVD or DVD Studio Pro, and burn to a DVD.

Now, in the USA, I'm using Final Cut Pro 4.5 which updated, and has the MPEG2 option gone. Instead, Apple wants us to use Compressor to do the MPEG2 conversion. Alright... But since I use a Macbook, Compressor does not work, so I have to go to NYFA and use their computers.

I'm converting a seminar that runs for 50mins. This means it takes at least 50mins - 1hr just to convert the file to the wanted format. I followed the MPEG2 .m2v format on Compressor... and guess what? iDVD and DVD Studio Pro does not support that format.... WTF?!

Another annoyance is that I film in PAL signal, due to my camera. This also affects the Resolution and Frame Rate. I've exported all my files out of Final Cut as PAL, hoping to save quality, so that I can get iDVD or DVD Studio Pro to convert them to NTSC.... Since DVD Studio doesn't even seem to read my PAL .mov files, I'm using iDVD as a 16:9 NTSC project. It is currently converting them to NTSC.... On preview at the moment, the aspect ratio is fked. It puts grey bars on the sides, squashing my image.

Let's hope this works out....

Apple, things were much easier back in 2003. Please stop updating a good product. Or at least, learn from Adobe and actually make your products talk with each other.