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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Highest Common Denominator for file export

  • Highest Common Denominator for file export

    Posted by Bob Cole on December 18, 2007 at 4:21 am

    A client wants me to make a Quicktime movie of the final edit, and put the file onto a hard drive, so that he can take it to a rental place with a DigiBeta deck for output.

    I’m going to call the DigiBeta-owning studio and ask anyway, but I’m just curious as to your advice, because it is relevant for archiving all sorts of projects: what is the “Highest Common Denominator” for an output file? I use the Kona LHe formats extensively — but that may be limiting, if another place lacks the Kona card. I assume a DV file is pretty universal, but lower quality — and I’m sure there is a Quicktime animation codec which is very high quality but has huge file sizes. Is there a happy medium for outputting a master which can be used anywhere?

    Thanks.

    Bob C

    MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 10 GB 667MHz
    Kona LHe
    Sony HDV Z1
    Sony HDV M25U
    HD-Connect MI
    Betacam UVW1800
    DVCPro AJ-D650

    Bob Cole replied 18 years, 8 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • David Roth weiss

    December 18, 2007 at 5:23 am

    Bob,

    Typically either an 8 or 10-bit uncompressed QT would be the file of choice. What is the original?

    David

    David Roth Weiss
    Director/Editor
    David Weiss Productions, Inc.
    Los Angeles

    POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

    A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.

  • Rafael Amador

    December 18, 2007 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Bob,
    I think as David, keep in 8/10b Unc. If I’m not wrong AJA and BM use the Apple codec.
    I don’t think Animation is a good option (except for PC compatibility) because makes too big files and is RGB. Keep. I think that PhotoJPEG at 75% would be a better choice.Very good quality, smaller files and you keeps in YCbCr.
    rafael

    PPC G5 2x2Gh 4GbRAM/BlackMagic SD/PMBP 17″Core2Duo 4GbRAM
    JVC DTV-17″/FCS2/AE CS3/COMBUSTION/SHAKE

  • Bob Cole

    December 19, 2007 at 2:39 am

    Thanks — it’s in 8-bit uncompressed and that’s how it will stay.

    BC

    MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 10 GB 667MHz
    Kona LHe
    Sony HDV Z1
    Sony HDV M25U
    HD-Connect MI
    Betacam UVW1800
    DVCPro AJ-D650

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