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DNXHD codec
Hi there. Please forgive what might be a stupid question, but I’ve been working on Final Cut for the last few years and I’m not really familiar with DNXHD.
We are trying to find a way to get files of some animation to a UK post house that is using Nitris DX boxes to feed PC based Symphonies. We originally sent them 1080 25P files in Uncompresssed 10-bit HD. The post house said with were unacceptable because they required 4 hours or more to import the 40 minutes of footage. I was told the cause of the long import time was because a “third party codec” is required since the files had a codec “attached.”
The post facility suggested “sending the files without any codec at all.” I thought there had to be some file format and talking to them I found they were referring to the “none” codec. We tried sending files in this format, but the post facility tells me some of the files are in “none” while others “have a codec still attached.”
I’ve read good things about the DNXHD codec. We use DNXHD 220 10-bit for some projects (in 59.94i) where I work. Upon downloading the Avid codecs and putting them on another computer, I found DNXHD 200 didn’t seem to show up for projects in 25P, but DNXHD 185 10-bit did. I sent a test file to the facility in the UK. The reported it sped up the import time, but “DNXHD is a highly compressed format and not acceptable for broadcast programming.”
Can someone more familiar with current Avid systems give a suggestion, please. I don’t know what the number after DNXHD means, although I would have thought 10-bit would be uncompressed.
Thanks in advance
McKee Smith
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2 Replies
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[McKee Smith] “I sent a test file to the facility in the UK. The reported it sped up the import time, but “DNXHD is a highly compressed format and not acceptable for broadcast programming.””
This post house doesn’t know what it’s talking about. DNxHD is a compressed format, but it’s visually lossless. You’re not seeing 220 because you’re in a 25p project – the numbers denote the bitrate. At 59.94i you have more frames/second so it requires a higher bitrate. At 25p 185 is basically the equivalent of 220 (if I’m understanding it right).
I remember reading that the Olympics were cut in DNxHD. Somehow I think if it’s good enough for the Olympics, it’s good enough for this UK post house. Especially if they want to cut down on the import time into their Avids (you have to use an Avid codec for the fast import).
I’d say you should ask them to compare the DNxHD file to the uncompressed file you sent to see if they can actually notice a difference with the naked eye, but I’m betting they’ll say they can just to be right and not have to admit they don’t know what they’re talking about.
Michael.
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I’ll be working late. -
You also might want to point them to this article:
https://news.creativecow.net/story/859146
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