Being on the verge of buying the latest Final Cut Studio upgrade, it occurred to me, why? The lack of support for Blu-ray (just so they can push their online distribution model) has been burning me. It is my number one post-production issue. Not being able to produce Blu-ray content for a client base that IS asking about it, is a lost opportunity cost that has reached a tipping point with me. And still, in the latest release they've left DVDSP untouched.

Looking carefully at my new Encore CS4, it feels like it's about 2 years ahead of DVDSP. Encore is a pretty good option for Blu-ray and one-step downconvert to DVD functionality is slick.

Goodbye DVDSP4

Craig,

I've used Encore to burn 4 Blu Ray dvds for customers already. Edited in FCP exported as quicktime. Import to Encore, add Menus from Motion. It all works flawlessly.

What I have not done is down convert. You mention it's a single step. I've always headed back to final cut and dvd studio pro to handle my standard dvd burns. Can I do that easily in Encore? Any help you could give me would be great.

I'm an idiot if it was easy to do in Encore.

Steve Pustay

Yeah Apple has dropped the ball with DVDSP support/Bluray. However don't throw the baby out with the bathwater- the new FCP has plenty of other nice additions. It's just that DVDSP seems to be their red-headed stepchild.

Count me in with the frustrated multitude. I was shocked when the new FCS came out and DVD Studio Pro still didn't have true Blu-Ray support. I'm a big fan of Apple products, but this is really chafing me.

My sixth sense tells me that this will be a non-issue soon with FCP... I bet it's coming soon via update - hopefully they won't make us buy a whole new version tho.

Well, while they are dragging their feet they are losing people to the CS series. At least make an announcement if something is coming, you know? Personally, I don't think it's coming.

Count me in as well! We are trying to be the leading Blu-ray studio in our area and DVD studio is slowing us down. Come on, even toast support blu-ray now!!

why not, I'll add my voice to the frustrated masses, all 8 of us.

Just give us BluRay for crying out loud.

Have any of you tried the Bluray functionality in FCP 7 yet? I haven't as I don't have a Bluray burner, but from what I can tell it looks like an after thought. No custom menus, no preview...

Craig,

I've used Encore to burn 4 Blu Ray dvds for customers already. Edited in FCP exported as quicktime. Import to Encore, add Menus from Motion. It all works flawlessly.

What I have not done is down convert. You mention it's a single step. I've always headed back to final cut and dvd studio pro to handle my standard dvd burns. Can I do that easily in Encore? Any help you could give me would be great.

I'm an idiot if it was easy to do in Encore.

Steve Pustay

Once you have your HD project authored (in Encore CS4), go to the build tab, select the format drop-down and choose DVD, in the "output" drop-down choose DVD disc.

Some helpful details in this video:
Learn Encore CS4 - Getting Started: 07 Exporting to multiple formats | Adobe TV (http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-encore-cs4/getting-started-07-exporting-to-multiple-formats/)

I haven't tried them yet Matthew, but yes, it does look like very minimal stuff there. I will find out sometime.

It's been update after update that I have waited patiently but one can only take so much neglect. I swear if bluray isn't an option by the next upgrade I'm gone. And no will not jump through any hoops just to get a hackjob bluray.

Have any of you tried the Bluray functionality in FCP 7 yet? I haven't as I don't have a Bluray burner, but from what I can tell it looks like an after thought. No custom menus, no preview...

I haven't tried it as I refuse to purchase the latest 'upgrade', but I've done a fair amount of research on it. FCP7 offers a very basic rudimentary BR option. You can't create custom menus, for example. Anyways, from what I've read it really does seem like, not so much an after-thought, but more like a 'we just aren't going there and this is all we're giving you' type of thing. At this point, part of me is hoping BR fails as a product just so I don't have to come up with a solution outside of FCP. d;-)

IMHO I think Apple is letting DVDSP 4 go they didnt write it and it probably would cost to much to revamp it for bluray. I think they will eventually release full capabilitys in either FCP or compressor but I wouldnt hold my breath. Apple is'nt big on small updates along the way it will more likely come with the next FCS which if its like 3 might be up to 2 years. also Apple isn't going to release BR support if they dont have BR burners in there computers and they just released new i-macs and minis WITHOUT BR options even players. Use Encore I do and it works fine.

All the Mac/FCP users, what brand of Blu ray burner are you using? I'm in the process of buying one. Would love to hear about your experience with your burner. Thanks.

Im windows but I use the Pioneer models. Im pretty stuck on them.

Here ya go.

MCE Internal 8X Blu-ray Recordable Drive for Mac Pro and Power Mac (http://www.mcetech.com/blu-ray/)

It says "FCS compatible" ...but only in that dumbed-down, limited way through the export share option that is not for pros. The main thing is that it's Mac compatible, and with Encore you can actually author a professional project.

Craig,

I use an LG external burner (Super Multi-Blue) ... I've had great results and am very pleased. Mounts easily on the Mac and I've used Encore and FCP to burn a number of BluRays for brides.

Steve Pustay

Hmm. I bought the FCP upgrade specifically for the Blu-Ray support. It is true that you are stuck with the templates BUT the key here is that you can replace the background image which is really all I need for the occasional client that wants a BD. It does import your chapters and will create sub menus.

I use a buffalo BD burner and it all works fine.

Craig,

I use an LG external burner (Super Multi-Blue) ... I've had great results and am very pleased. Mounts easily on the Mac and I've used Encore and FCP to burn a number of BluRays for brides.

Steve Pustay

I have the same and it works absolutely fine. Blu-ray dvd with printable surface is falling in price very fast. I just purchased another 10 Traxdata printables for £16 inc postage. No beer mats in nearly 100 burnings.

The FCP blu-ray solution is almost identical to the Toast 10 solution, thoug it seems to work much slower than toast for the same quality of result. If you want a basic menue screen with name at the top, a play button, chapter markers every 3,5 or 10 minutes, it works fine. If you want something more pro, forget it and go with Encore.

Encore has been blu-ray compatible for over a year. Apple should be totaly ashamed of themselves. There really is no excuse and they will lose out in the long term.

My guess is that Apple were hoping that Blu-ray would be a turkey and go away. Sorry to tell them it is not and in a couple of years time, with a large percentage of households owning a blu-ray player, Apple will have missed the boat.

So can you not add chapter markers wherever you want them in FCP and have those same markers on the BR disc?

Sorry, FCP solution is not legit like Adobe Encore's.

Wal-Mart has Blu-ray players for $148 now - probably $99 by Christmas.

i too have been using Encore. the only thing I don't like is having to redo
my chapter markers. Aside form that, MUCH easier to use.

So can you not add chapter markers wherever you want them in FCP and have those same markers on the BR disc?

Your chapters are imported from the FCP timeline. So can put them anywhere you want and they show up in the sub-menu.

The caveat is that you can only have one video track per BD disc. So if you have a full length video and a highlight video of the same wedding you have to put them on separate discs. I can live with that for now so the upgrade was worth it for me.

Hope this helps...

J.

Justin, thanks for the info. That 'feature' would definitely NOT work for me. Good to know.

Anyone know were to find printable blu-rays in North America, Canada if possible?

As far as using FCS to export and not being able to put highlights and the full ceremony on the same disk, why not just create a sequence in FCP with both on the same timeline, add markers, and export?

Anyone know were to find printable blu-rays in North America, Canada if possible?

ok that took me all of 10 whole seconds to find :P

Ridata (BDR-254-RDIWN-CB25) Blu-Ray 4X White Inkjet Hub Printable Media 25 Pack in Cake Box - SuperMediaStore.com (http://www.supermediastore.com/product/u/ridata-bdr-254-rdiwn-cb25-blu-ray-4x-white-inkjet-hub-printable-media-25pk?max=15&offset=0)

So can you not add chapter markers wherever you want them in FCP and have those same markers on the BR disc?

Toast has just released an update (10.0.4) which now gives you:

- multiple video tracks (sequences, chapters, whatever) on a BD and
- FCP chapter markers within a track FINALLY being correctly recognised.


(BTW: Can the latest FCP really only put ONE track per disc?? I don't think I'll bother with any upgrades then.)

ok that took me all of 10 whole seconds to find :P

Are you on dial-up? Just kidding, thanks for your help!

Encore has been blu-ray compatible for over a year. Apple should be totaly ashamed of themselves. There really is no excuse and they will lose out in the long term.

My guess is that Apple were hoping that Blu-ray would be a turkey and go away. Sorry to tell them it is not and in a couple of years time, with a large percentage of households owning a blu-ray player, Apple will have missed the boat.
They should especially be worried about Premiere CS5. Adobe has been hyping it very loudly and if it’ll really be as good as they say it will, their would be almost no point to getting Final Cut at all.

This would be like Sony refusing to allow NetFlix on the PS3 but they did the right thing and not be stubborn. I mean, if they didn’t support NetFlix, it would have been one of the most stupid things Sony has ever done. They want as many PS3’s sold as possible and theirs no time to play politics and miss out. Basically if someone wanted to buy a game system and are obsessed with NetFlix and don’t care about Blu-Ray, the chances of them buying a 360 would be much higher. Now that the PS3 is getting NetFlix support, the situation would be different. Never mind the fact that the PS3 finally cost the same as the 360.

Apple should take Sony’s example.

Here in the midwest I'm not seeing any Blu-ray penetration at all.

As far as using FCS to export and not being able to put highlights and the full ceremony on the same disk, why not just create a sequence in FCP with both on the same timeline, add markers, and export?

Bill- this works fine. You just wouldn't see the chapter list until the 2nd menu because there's just a "play" button icon and a "scene selection" button icon on the home menu.

Here in the midwest I'm not seeing any Blu-ray penetration at all.
I don't know everyone else here in Miami, but I am over 50% and I use Toast 9

Here in the midwest I'm not seeing any Blu-ray penetration at all.
Because of the PS3, I don't think Blu-Ray penetration is that bad no matter where you live and they'll be a whole lot more PS3's come Christmas although a lot of stores are including free games if you're buying one tomorrow.
PlayStation LifeStyle PS3 Wins Holiday Season With Unbelievable Bundles (http://playstationlifestyle.net/2009/11/26/ps3-wins-holiday-season-with-unbelievable-bundles/)

Can anyone confirm if their PS3 will play BD-R and/or BD-RE?

Mine plays them just fine.

Thanks for the info Adam. I know one of my customers has one (PS3) he bought last year so that he could play Bluray (as well as for the gaming). He will be getting a BD-R in a few weeks. Nice to know, it should play fine.