Advice needed for a multiple video format project (from assorted mobile phones, DSLRs, point and shoots, etc.)

[Jeff Meyer]

Best advice I’ve got is hit it with ProRes. Everything. I would probably work in a ProRes LT 720p 29.97 progressive timeline since the iPods, Canons, and GoPro can all hit that. Uprez the 4×3 SD to 960×720.

As for getting the footage there I would use Compressor instead of Streamclip. You can queue everything up on one single job instead of babysitting a computer all day long. Make a custom Compressor preset for 16×9 to convert to ProRes LT, 29.97fps, not interlaced. Go to the Geometry button and pick 1280×720, pixel aspect at Square (1.0000).
Make another preset for the 4×3 content with the Geometry’s frame size set to 960×720, same pixel aspect.
Make a destination preset for all of the footage. You’ll bring media in this folder into Final Cut.

After your presets are built drag the footage in, drop the appropriate setting and destination onto your footage, hit Submit twice, and get a decent night’s sleep, and then start editing.

If you’re going to be doing a lot of colour correction or treatment you should go with ProRes422 instead of ProRes422 LT. ProRes HQ or 4444 is overkill for the footage you’re working with.

[Francis Levy]

Wow Jeff, that is one piece of advice! I am thankful for all the details you describe on that workflow. I will take all of it in consideration for my project.
Any thoughts on how to convert the final file from 29.97 (I’d probably make a self-contained QT) to 23.98?
I was thinking of following this tutorial:
https://vimeo.com/4920433

Thanks again and hola amigo!

Francis Levy
Colima, Mexico

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[Ryan Holmes]

I second Jeff’s recommendation. ProRes for everything. One common codec that plays well on Mac and inside of FCP. We commonly use ProRes422 here at our shop for things shot on GoPro’s or Canon 5D/7D cameras. It holds up well if recompressed and does and adequate job for color grading. If you’re doing heavy VFX, like Jeff said, ProRes422 HQ of ProRes 4444 are the way to go. But you’ll need more hard drive space and speed with those codecs.

FYI~MPEG Streamclip can batch process just like Compressor (List–>Batch List or Command+B shortcut). There is very little (if any) quality difference between the two.

[Francis Levy]

Thank you Ryan, your advice is appreciated!

Regards,

Francis Levy
Colima, Mexico

[Jeff Meyer]

If you want to finish in 24p I would suggest converting to 24p at the front rather than the back. The HDSLRs and GoPro shoot 720/60, which will convert to 24p better than the 30p that came from 60p would convert. Compressor can do a nice job of converting frame rates, if you go to the Fame Controls, turn them on, and use Best quality Rate Conversion. Be sure to look into setting up a quick cluster if you’re going to use Compressor for your frame rate conversions. It will take quite a while. Quick Clusters can really accelerate the process if you have a Mac(Book)Pro with a hyperthreaded quad core, 8 cores, or 12 cores.

[Francis Levy]

Thank you Jeff!
I could even shoot 24p with the DSLRs and also iPhone4 (using Filmic Pro App) so I would convert only for the remaining footage from devices that shoot 30p. Am I right?

One thought: if I convert at the front, I’d need to convert all the raw footage from devices before start to edit, so it would be time consuming (I need to edit it all in less than 3 days!). On the other hand, converting at the end, I would only need to convert the final 4 minute video. Do you think the workflow used by Philip Bloom does not offer a good alternative?

Again, thank you so much for all your help.

Francis Levy
Colima, Mexico

[John Heagy]

Why 23.98? Do you have international broadcast deliverables?

[Francis Levy]

Hi John, I want the final piece on 24p (23.98) for a more “cinematic” look, rather than the standard NTSC “television” feel of 29.97. This video will be viewed online most of the time, it is not for broadcast purposes.
Thanks for asking.

Francis Levy
Colima, Mexico

[John Heagy]

Hi Francis,

Ah yes the the whole “24p is better”. Unless you’re able to shoot the ENTIRE project in 24p your asking for trouble converting 30 or even 60 to 24. Keep in mind the horrendous video look you want to avoid is 60i… 30p is half that rate and much closer to 24p than 60i.

A look at the future of the “cinema look”

https://www.firstshowing.net/2011/peter-jackson-talks-at-length-about-using-48fps-for-the-hobbit/

[Francis Levy]

Thanks for the advice and the link John!

Francis Levy
Colima, Mexico