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Codecs and their theories and workings
Hi there,
Firstly I would like to say hello! as its my first post, although I have been lurking and taking the odd bit of knowledge for a while!
Secondly, I would like to ask if any knows of, or has authored themselves, a guide to modern HD codecs and the theories and workings behind them?
I ask because I have just been promoted to head of post production at a t.v. station where I have been editing on FCS, on and off line, for a couple of years. I know the codecs and their advantages in terms of quality, bit rate, disk space usage etc. on a basic level… but i really want to expand my knowledge base and be up to date with the latest technological advancements. So I want to know the real basics first.Thank you in advance and I look forward to sharing some knowledge with you all.
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3 Replies
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I too would like a concise explanation of codecs.
Moto Guzzi rider
dog lover w/wife, Ex & 3 kids -
How mathematical about this would you like to get? If you’re willing to really dig into it, learning about the nuances of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264) would be a good start. They’re the basis of many codecs nowadays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG2
– Basis for XDCAM, HDV and DV/DVCPRO HDhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC
– Basis for AVC-Intra and AVCHDIn my professional life I’ve found that DVCPRO HD is a good option since it renders quickly, looks good enough for my needs, and I have access to more storage than I need so the bit rate isn’t the issue. If I was pressed for storage, I would use XDCAM HD422. If I was very pressed for storage, I’d use XDCAM HD.
Hopefully someday Apple will allow you to export AVC-Intra. At that point I’ll be a convert 🙂
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Thanks for that Michael, should get me started.. i’ll work through it later!
We use HDV and XDCAM EX and APPLE PRO RES. They are all quite good value for the space they need, seeing as ours is very limited! I just want to get a knowledge of the workings of them for future reference when we have to buy new cameras etc, as inevitably new formats will form.
Thanks againAny more guides out there people? Maybe some specific to the codecs that are built on MPEG-2 and beyond?
All the best,
Charlie
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Charlie Key
Head of Post Production
charlie.key@weddingtv.com
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Wedding TV Limited
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