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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Exporting HD sequence for SD viewing

  • Exporting HD sequence for SD viewing

    Posted by Jamie Mcdowell on September 28, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    I’m looking for suggestions on how best to skin this cat. I have a project that I’ve shot with a Sony XD-cam and edited on a 1080p30 timeline. It looks great. Problem is that I have to show this project on an old projection screen TV with an SD DVD player and a 4×3 screen. Suggestions from anyone on how to maintain as much picture quality as possible would be appreciated!

    Trevor Ward replied 15 years, 7 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Richard Keating

    September 28, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    I would suggest first nesting it in a 720×480 (4×3) timeline. Shrink it down until it’s all in the frame and you have bars on top and bottom – basically making a 4×3 letterbox timeline. Export a reference movie that you can run through Compressor to make your DVD encodes.

    Richard Keating
    Freelance Editor
    http://www.richardkeating.com
    http://www.screenlight.tv

  • Sergei Luzginov

    September 28, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    I would change the format in easy setings to NTSC 48, then open new sequence, then nest your 1080 sequence on the new one. Done

    Florida Video Production

  • Trevor Ward

    September 29, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Here’s what I do with HD programs on SD screens: I edit in HD and export the quicktime movie. So that way I have the HD Master file. I then bring that into Compressor and use the DVD presets. Done.

    What this does, is:
    1. Let’s you keep a Master copy of the program in the highest quality, or original quality.
    2. Compresses to SD DVD directly from the original quality, ensuring a high quality encode.
    3. Gives you a letterboxed version of your program. I like this because I ensure that everything that was intended to be seen in the composition IS seen. I don’t mind bars at the top and bottom, thus giving me a slightly small image (measured from top to bottom). The advantage, with is, is if you play that DVD on an HDTV, the whole screen is filled in. It’s not necessarily an HD image, but it’s not stretched or side boxed.

    -trevor ward
    Red Eye Film Co.
    http://www.redeyefilmco.com
    orlando, fl

  • Jamie Mcdowell

    September 29, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Which Compressor setting within DVD do you use? My version is 3.0.5.

  • Trevor Ward

    September 29, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    They are pretty self explanatory. If your program is 90 minutes or less, use the 90 minute setting. If you’re going for the final DVD and want the best possible quality, use Best Quality. If this is a trial run or preview DVD or something and you just want it done quickly, use the Fastest Encode option.

    -trevor ward
    Red Eye Film Co.
    http://www.redeyefilmco.com
    orlando, fl

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