I am looking for a way to get around the 2GB file size limit of QT. I am capturing VHS from a VCR and I have to keep re-setting up the capture every 7 minutes. Is it possible to automate the whole process with AppleScript? I was thinking that if I could start a new file as soon as the old file reaches the size limit, that would eliminate my problem. I could specify a file name with a number at the end and just add 1 one to the next file name. That way I could readily see the sequence. I have no experience with AS, but it doesn’t look all that difficult to learn, so I was hoping it would be an easy solution.
there’s a 2GB cap in QuickTime files? I work with QT files exported from Final Cut that are 5GB and up. What hardware/software are you using to capture? Some programs have a limit to how long of time they’ll capture, like Final Cut’s default is “limit capture now to 30 minutes”. Check for a limiting setting like that. However as for an AppleScript, if the program you’re using has built in support for AppleScript you should be able to write a script pretty easily.
also, what kind of compressor are you using? 7 minutes of VHS-quality being 2GB seems pretty bad. I normally get DV quality at least half a GB smaller than that for 7 minutes
I use AlchemyTV to play the VHS tape and record the video. Every time it hits the 2GB (that means 7min 33 secs) it stops recording and I have to pause the tape and do the setup again. If I’m working with 2 hrs of original video, this gets to be a pain. I’m using Final Cut Express to do the editing. I’ve been in touch with the support group of Alchemy and they weren’t much help, so it doesn’t look like I can modify anything from that end. I do have QT Pro, if that’s necessary.
I’m not familiar with AlchemyTV. Is it a TV tuner card? Do you capture from Final Cut Express?
oh and Final Cut Pro doesn’t have built-in support for AppleScript (at least my searching has not show that is does) so I doubt that Final Cut Express would. If you want to make a script to control it you’ll likely have to use System Events to send the commands to Final Cut
I’m not using FCE to do any of the capture, just the editing. Alchemy is a tuner card with the capability of recording from VCR. It records directly to my hard drive as a QT movie. I can then import it to FCE for editing. Every time I record to the hard drive, when the file size hits 1.99GB it stops recording. If you can get a 5GB file size, I don’t understand what’s going on with my QT. I’ve been in several discussion groups and you’re the first person that has said they can get more than the 2GB. So I’m kind of surprised, not to mention interested, in what you are doing to get that much. Are there some preferences in QT that have to be setup before you start? Is this the proper forum for those kind of questions? That’s somewhat OT.