best or default seq compression format?

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Paul,

Are you referring to the Preview Render format? If so, not many options on PC version, many sequences default to “MPEG I-Frame”. Truth is, unless the timeline is unplayable, there is no need to “render” the timeline, red bars or not. As long as it plays smooth enough to check your edits, don’t render – when you do the final export using Media Encoder, it all happens there – and without the quality loss of the intermediate render file.

Of course, if it becomes necessary to render a segment to check playback quality, then do so, but recommended to NOT check the “Use Previews” box in AME, that way all exports are rendered direct from source material for best quality.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Paul Dougherty]

Thanks Jeff,

I’m on a Mac. Your answer makes me think I’m not really sure what Seq Settings mean. I know I want a 720p output and that all the source material is h.264 which I don’t think of as a “editing format” I just want a responsive timeline than when I go to export a master ProRes?) there will be no dibilitating gotchas

Thanks

Paul

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Paul,

The Sequence Setting dictates the resolution and frame rate one will be working at, for instance “1280×720, 29.97fps, progressive”.

Any media used in that sequence that does not match the spec will be scaled to the 720p settings.

The Sequence used has nothing to do with “compression” really. However, there is a preview codec associated with each preset, which is used for rendering previews (red bar turns green). I thought that is what you were referring to.

Back to the title of your post, the “best” default sequence is the one that matches the parameters of the video clips. You can drag a clip in the bin onto the “New Item” icon (next to trash can at lower right of bin) to create a New Sequence that best matches your source footage, removes the guesswork.

One could for example drag an AVCHD clip onto the New Item button and end up with an “ARRI” sequence – that is not a problem, what we’re concerned with is frame size, frame rate, fields really. If those match, good to go then.

What are the specs of the source footage?

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers