7d>FCP7>Print to video>Broadcast. workflow advice

[Shane Ross]

Hire someone…or get your client to hire someone. Outputting for broadcast isn’t as simple as putting something onto tape, or as a file, or making a DVD. You have to color correct to make sure that the image falls within broadcast spec (video levels not too hot, to low, chroma levels within limits), you need to output to a tape format the TV networks accept. You need to make sure the show start time hits a specific timecode on the tape, you need to have audio mixed properly….tons of stuff.

[John Og] “An editor friend advised export at 1920 X 1080 to dv tape. “

That would be HDV. To do that you need to put your footage onto an HDV timeline and conform it to HDV. HORRIBLE thing to do to your video. And will the station accept HDV as a master format? You can’t get the proper timecode to it. I haven’t heard of a TV station or network accepting an HDV show master.

[John Og] “As a tv editor whats the least trouble for you to broadcast. Is a .mov file on a Data DVD out of the question?”

I output what the network wants. I have an HD capture card that allows me to output properly to a deck. And I get a spec sheet from the networks detailing what they want, and what specs the tapes need to be to be acceptable to them.

Outputting for broadcast is a whole new level…high up on the professional chain. Not something a self professed noob should be trying to do…without training in how to do it.

Shane

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[Walter Biscardi]

[Shane Ross] “Outputting for broadcast is a whole new level…high up on the professional chain. Not something a self professed noob should be trying to do…without training in how to do it.”

Yep. I have a tutorial / article on here about getting the broadcast specs. You must deliver what the particular station or network requires or the master will be rejected.

This includes the correct format, the correct frame rate, the correct frame size, the correct levels on both video and audio, the correct layout of the audio channels, etc…….

You need the specs from the station before you can start anything.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” Winner, Best Documentary, LA Reel Film Festival.

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[Paul Jay]

Edit it in HD
Send to Compressor.
Create SD ProRes file ( with Frame controls resize filter to BEST)
Import in FCP.
Match timeline.
Dump to DV or Digi.

[Yohan Aton]

Hi Walter,
Just stumbled onto your post and am hoping you can point me to the tutorial / article you spoke of “about getting the broadcast specs”.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Yohan