Basic QT Questions

[Russell Lasson]

[MikeFromLA] “1. When should Export>QuickTime Movie VS. Using QuickTime Conversion be used?”

Export QuickTime Movie is usually used to export your movie as one file in the same file format that you’re using. In your case, DV.

Export QuickTime Conversion allows several more options like exporting a still frame, iPod Video, image sequence, video for web, etc.

[MikeFromLA] “2. What type of situations would you export as uncompressed 10 or 8 bit instead of DV NTSC?”

That’s a tricky question and many people have different opinions about it. Exporting a DV timeline to uncompressed doesn’t make your video any better looking. If you have a lot of effects, titles, and/or color correction, then it MIGHT be worth changing the whole sequence to uncompressed or DV50 instead of DV. It also depends on how you’re going to deliver it to.

-Russ

[Mike Cooper]

1. What would you recommend as really good quality settings (maybe not the absolute best) for delivering QT files that will be delivered on a DVD just for others to see?

2. What would you recommend for settings for saving QT files that will be later brought into DVD Studio Pro, in this case I would want the best possible settings since the DVD will be delivered to people.

Thanks.

[Russell Lasson]

[MikeFromLA] “1. What would you recommend as really good quality settings (maybe not the absolute best) for delivering QT files that will be delivered on a DVD just for others to see?”

I like h.264 (iPod video best quality or your own custom settings). Any computer with an updated version of iTunes will be able to play it (Win or Mac.) Unless you mean a DVD that will play in DVD players, then you go to mpeg-2.

[MikeFromLA] “2. What would you recommend for settings for saving QT files that will be later brought into DVD Studio Pro, in this case I would want the best possible settings since the DVD will be delivered to people.”

If your footage was shot using a DV camera, then I’d test the 4:1:1 color smoothing filter in FCP or using Nattress Standards Converter. That will make edges not as jagged. Then you can change your sequence settings to DV50 and export. It will take a while because everything will need to be rendered.

Honestly, I don’t know if you’ll even notice a difference doing that last paragraph, but you might.

Then if you need the best quality, you might consider taking your show to someone who really knows compression for DVD. Compressor can do a pretty good job, but it’s hard to improve the spots that you might have problems.

-Russ

[Mike Cooper]

1. Does it matter that the video is captured using DV NTSC and it is being converted with a different codec (DV50 or H.264)? Does this just mean that it will take longer to export? Can I ultimately export with any of the different codecs without affecting risking degredation of quality by changing from what it was captured with?

2. What frame size should be selected to play the video as large as possible on different size displays? This video might be viewed on a display as small as 17-inches and as large as 30.

3. When you say to

[Russell Lasson]

[MikeFromLA] “1. Does it matter that the video is captured using DV NTSC and it is being converted with a different codec (DV50 or H.264)? Does this just mean that it will take longer to export? Can I ultimately export with any of the different codecs without affecting risking degredation of quality by changing from what it was captured with?”

No, you can lose quailty along the way. I use H.264 for approval videos (they don’t need to be the best quality) and it’s easy for people to play on computers. DV50 is a better format than DV (also called DV25). If you’re unsure about what you’re doing, you probably want to stick with exporting DV for the final DVD delivery.

[MikeFromLA] “2. What frame size should be selected to play the video as large as possible on different size displays? This video might be viewed on a display as small as 17-inches and as large as 30.”

You’re talking computer displays? You want to take a video that has a DV compression and 720×480 resolution and stretch it out on a 17″ 1440×900 resolution monitor, or worse, a 30″ 2650×1600 resolution monitor, and you want it to look good? You’ll be able to see the video, but it’s not going to look great.

If you’re talking about TV monitors, then you only have one frame size to choose from. Standard definition 720×480. That’s what DVD’s are.

[MikeFromLA] “3. When you say to

[Mike Cooper]

1. So if I understand you correctly, when I capture with DV NTSC, it is the same as DV25?

2. If I export as DV 50 should I also just capture as DV NTSC 50? Or does it not matter?

3. I am talking about computer displays. So what is the best strategy for exporting the video to look its best on all possible size displays? Just leave it at 720×480?

[Russell Lasson]

[MikeFromLA] “1. So if I understand you correctly, when I capture with DV NTSC, it is the same as DV25?”

MiniDV, DV, DV25 are all the same.

[MikeFromLA] “2. If I export as DV 50 should I also just capture as DV NTSC 50? Or does it not matter?”

If you are capturing over firewire, you only have the option of capturing in the same format that your tape is in. If you tape is DV the you will digitize in DV. If it’s in DVCPRO50, it will capture at DVCPRO50.

[MikeFromLA] “3. I am talking about computer displays. So what is the best strategy for exporting the video to look its best on all possible size displays? Just leave it at 720×480?”

How are you going to deliver the files to your clients? Data DVD with QuickTime files? DVD that will be played in a DVD player/program?

If it’s a Data DVD, try experiment and see what you like as far as frame size go. You don’t want to go too big or some computers might have a hard time playing it back.

If you’re finishing to a Video DVD, your frame size is set, 720×480.

-Russ

[Mike Cooper]

I was planning to deliver the files as a data DVD with QT files just for the initial testing. The final product will be delivered on a DVD created with DVD Studio Pro.

1. What do you mean by “You don’t want to go too big or some computers might have a hard time playing it back.”

2. Why would a computer have a hard time playing it back? Because of increased RAM and processor requirements?

3. What would you consider to be a size that is not too big that will risk some computers “having a hard time playing it back?”

Thanks!!!!

[Russell Lasson]

[MikeFromLA] “1. What do you mean by “You don’t want to go too big or some computers might have a hard time playing it back.””

Some computers don’t play back HD files well. You don’t want to end up being tech support if someone trys to play a High Definition file back on a 400mhz Pentium II with 128MB of RAM.

[MikeFromLA] “2. Why would a computer have a hard time playing it back? Because of increased RAM and processor requirements?”

Yes and/or it depends.

[MikeFromLA] “3. What would you consider to be a size that is not too big that will risk some computers “having a hard time playing it back?””

Finally, if your final delivery is on DVD, then you only have one option. Standard Definition video (720×480). Don’t even worry about the other way. Just stick with that. I have a feeling that the client isn’t paying you enough to get something that might only be slightly better.

-Russ

[Mike Cooper]

Thanks so much for all of your help!!!!