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Bitrate for DVD question.
I’m working with an outside editor (my first time) who is using FCP. I have given him really nice DNxHD (1920×1080) files. What I am getting back (720-mpeg) looks average. My editor says that FCP works best with ProRes, so he first converts them. When he is done editing he exports the video as a .mov (?) and further converts this to an mpeg-2. His instructor (certified pro with Apple) has told him his workflow is correct and noted that a max video bit rate of 8.2 is too high – we should use something around 7.5.
I usually render using VBR because my content runs longer. When I have a short DVD I render up to 8.5. I have not had a problem with this.
My question is… What is the point where my DVD won’t play on some DVD players because the bitrate is too high?
Bonus question… Is FCP really that picky that I can’t import whatever I want and output to mpeg-2 without extra programs to do conversions?
Jeff
2-Xeon X5680 @ 3.33, EVGA SR-2 Mobo, 48GB DDR3, GTX 580 3072MB, 16TB Attached Storage, Win7, Vegas 11 x64
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2 Replies
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[Jeff Schroeder] “My question is… What is the point where my DVD won’t play on some DVD players because the bitrate is too high?”
The spec allows for up to 9.8Mbps. Most people recommend that you don’t exceed 8Mbps to 8.5Mbps just to be safe.
[Jeff Schroeder] “Bonus question… Is FCP really that picky that I can’t import whatever I want and output to mpeg-2 without extra programs to do conversions?”
It’s not a matter of being picky. It’s a matter of being consistent. FCP likes to conform everything to ProRes so that it’s easier to work with. It’s just like converting files to CineForm to use them in Vegas Pro. I know that Sony makes a free plug-in that will allow FCP to ingest MXF but I’m not sure if it edits it natively after that or converts it to ProRes as well. Notice he said “works best with ProRes”. I don’t think it’s a “requirement”. They just prefer to use ProRes because it’s easier for them to work with.
The problem is that he’s giving you back MPEG2 in a QuickTime container which is not ideal for use on a PC. Tell him to kindly render back out to Avid DNxHD before he sends the file to you. That is the preferred format for interchange between a Mac and PC so that you don’t get any nasty gamma shifts.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks John.
2-Xeon X5680 @ 3.33, EVGA SR-2 Mobo, 48GB DDR3, GTX 580 3072MB, 16TB Attached Storage, Win7, Vegas 11 x64
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