How to tap the power of the cluster?

My situation is that I am rendering DVCPro HD 720/30p out from the timeline into anamorphic SD DVCPro25, using quicktime conversion, and it is slow going. I have an octo-core mac tower to edit on, FCS2/FCP7, and the FCS2 version of Compressor.

I've been told there is a way to make Compressor apply all eight cores to the render via "clustering", but I must admit to ignorance as to how to do this. There are no other systems networked to this mac so the 8 cores are all I've got. What I'm looking for is an "easy recipe card" answer as to how to set up more rapid rendering from the FCP timeline thru Compressor, and create a droplet for my desktop so that this procedure can be automated for future use. Can anyone help with this?

And when you submit the job in Compressor you have to select the virtual cluster, instead of 'this computer' from the drop down list. This should be available once you 'start sharing'.

Scott Sheriff
Director
http://www.sstdigitalmedia.com


"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." ---Red Adair

Where were you on 6/21?