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Mixing formats in the same timeline
I need some advice.
For the first time in my experience, I have a project this week in which I will be mixing different formats in the same timeline: P2–DVCPRO HD 720p60 (960 x 720), DV and DVCam.
This project will have to be completed in a relatively short timeframe and will be shown only once at an awards banquet, so I’m guessing it will be played off of a laptop and projected onto a large screen.
My question is: what will create the easiest workflow and result in the best looking finished product (or are those two different things)?
I’m guessing that the best solution is to go for the lowest common denominator: create a DV timeline and downgrade the quality of the P2 footage (it’s only interviews shot in a hotel room). The DVCam footage is an interview and a transfer of B&W footage from ABC’s broadcast of the 1964 Winter Olympics (Innsbruck). The DV footage is relatively recent b-roll of patients receiving physical therapy.
My thought is that the P2 footage will suffer less by being scaled up to fill a 4×3 frame than the DV/DVCam would suffer by being scaled up to fill a 16×9 frame.
Is this the best approach? Are there any other pitfalls I need to worry about? Are there frame rate issues I ought to be concerned about?
Any advice would be most appreciated, as always.
TIA,
Mike Raff
Richmond, VA -
3 Replies
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Hi Mike,
I would do it the way you describe it.
Put everything in a DV sequence.
Render to Proress. Before rendering, set “Render in high Precision” and “Motion Effects Rendering: BEST”.
Rafael -
Hey Mike,
I guess I would start off first with the question of how do you WANT it displayed? What can the projector deliver? If the projector can deliver at 1280 x 720 do you want to utilize that? (Is the file going to be blown up to fill the screen anyway?) What kind of creative approach are you taking? Do you want to accentuate the 1960’s 4:3/B&W look and contrast it to the contemporary?
For me it would start at the creative and then go back to your timeline from there. For me, personally I’d rather see something shot at 720p/widescreen stay that way if the projection can exploit it. Your other footage is already dated and the audience knows that. Rezing it up to 720p/widescreen isn’t going to kill it but you could even keep that portion 4:3 (and/or even at DVcam dimensions) so you don’t lose as much rez and keep the entire frame without cropping.
Just my 2 cents, but I guess the first question is what is your creative intent for the piece.
🙂
Hans
Hans Damkoehler
VideoBloom, Inc.
Senior Video Editor/Producer -
I would first ask what primary aspect ratio you will want to utilize? If it is a slide presentation then do you want the 4×3 when showing HD footage to be letterboxed or do you want to expand it so you fill the 4×3 with the HD footage.
Why don’t you try both with a start point and take a look at it? Create a timeline for the HD first, and then do the same for DVCam 4×3 format, and take a look to see what they each look like.
In my experience, when it will ONLY get projected onto a big screen at a meeting, then letterbox the HD and go with 4×3. Resolution might be a non-issue depending on the projectors. Better to find out what kind of projectors and start from there.
Greg Ondera
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