Comp setting for mini DV footage

[John Cuevas]

If it’s 4×3 then NTSC DV is the preset you want.

Will you be finishing in AE? I ask because the other consideration is what/where is the next stop for you animation. I only mention this because if you are going to an Avid next, then I would suggest working in a D1 comp. There is a 6 pixel differnce, but those 6 pixels can cause some real ugliness in the Avid.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
Thinkck.com

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[Victoria Murphy]

Hi Johnny. I’ll be finishing in FCP; most likely FCP7. (I know, mini DV, FCP, I’m stuck in the past, but I started this project a while back). Is there anything I should take into consideration re this?
Thanks.

[John Cuevas]

I’m verynot familiar with FCP, haven’t ever used it, but I believe you can set up your project to any size you want. That being the case you shouldn’t have any problems at all. You could double check on one of the FCP boards to be sure though.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
Thinkck.com

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[Victoria Murphy]

Will do. Thank you.

[Victoria Murphy]

Hi Dave, Thanks for your suggestion. ProRes 422 does not appear to be an option in my Output Module Settings under the Format drop-down menu, or under Video Output/Format Options/Video Codec. Is ProRes 422 a plug in that I need to get? (I see from Wikipedia that it is an “intermediate codec” made by Apple.) Also, ProRes 422 is not an option when I create a new comp.

(BTW, I see from the Adobe site that you respond to an enormous number of posts. Thank you for that. I’m not very familiar with the workings and etiquette of user forums. If, in the course of working on my project, I return to this suggestion of yours with more questions, will you see that, or should I start a fresh post?)
Victoria

[Victoria Murphy]

Hi Dave. I (now) have FCP7 on my computer; it has the ProRes 422 codec. AE still does not show that codec as an option in the render settings.

To recap where I currently am in my workflow: I have imported the DV footage through FCP. I am now importing some clips into AE. Once I finish the opening sequence in AE, I will render it and import it into FCP, where I will create the rest of the project. I understand that you are recommending that I do my final FCP render using ProRes 422. Does that codec affect any part of my work in AE? If not, is there anything I can do to keep my footage as lossless as possible as I work with it in AE? (Please let me know if you don’t understand my question.)

Thanks.