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Edit AVCHD for both HD and SD output
Hi,
I did some searching but didn’t find answers to my specific question, which is, how do I edit my AVCHD footage with a PowerPC Mac for SD output, but while also retaining the ability to go back later and output a full HD version onto Blu-Ray DVD.
Almost all of my customers (primarily weddings) are still wanting sd, but I want to shoot in AVCHD so I can offer the Blu-Ray upgrade.
I’ll be getting an Intel Mac eventually but for now I have the limited AVCHD handling ability of the non-Intel Mac. So the ideal workflow for me would be to convert the footage right away into 16×9 SD and edit that, so long as there is a way to use the same timeline later but referencing the original footage. Unless there is an efficient way to edit as HD and then downgrade to SD as the last step before outputting to DVD.
Please help! -
2 Replies
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“Unless there is an efficient way to edit as HD and then downgrade to SD as the last step before outputting to DVD.”
I am assuming that ProRes is not an option because your non Intel is running an older version of FCP?… that does not support it? Can’t remember that far back on compatibilities. But if I remember correctly DVCPRO HD was doable on PowerPC machines. If so, try trans-coding everything to DVCPRO HD (I think you can do this in Mpeg Streamclip) and edit in HD and then, as you mention, down-convert to SD as the last step in the work-flow. This is what I would try first. Should be pretty smooth.
Good Luck!
Richard Cooper
FrostLine Productions, LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
http://www.frostlineproductions.com -
[chris walker] “Unless there is an efficient way to edit as HD and then downgrade to SD as the last step before outputting to DVD.”
On a PowerPC, I would suggest converting your AVCHD footage to DVCPROHD at 1080 HD. I don’t believe the PowerPC computers handle ProRes at 1080 very well so the DVCPROHD codec is probably your best bet.
As far down converting to SD, you can use Compressor, or just put the project in a SD timeline and render it out.
Russ
Russell Lasson
Colorist/Digital Cinema Specialist
Color Mill
Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.colormill.net
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