how do I setup for FCP for TV? what output format?

[Enge]

Errr, wow.
1. What format is your footage in, what did you capture it as?
2.When you say set-up, do you mean the easy set-up you should be using? If so, it should match your captured material settings or you will have to render everything on the timeline as you edit.
3. Levels: I would also get the tech-spec sheet from your client to make sure all your levels, audio and video match their spec or you might get it kicked back at you.
4. I work for a broadcaster and I can tell you, delivering on DVD just ain’t happening. We will only accept, at the moment, masters on a professional grade tape format, like Digital Betacam, or uncompressed 10 bit 4:2:2 Quicktimes, although that is just for promo spots at the moment. This may be different to your delivery requirement, but I’d check it out before you go delivering on DVD.

[Walter Biscardi]

[malcolm] “Making it look good is no prob i can handle that.”

As in you know exactly to how to properly grade and output your video to meet broadcast specifications? Also mix your audio to broadcast specifications?

[malcolm] “how do I output for broadcast? what format? setting?”

What does your client and the station / network specify? You must deliver in the specs provided by the station / network.

[malcolm] “how to set up FCP for the job before i start?”

Do you have a Broadcast NTSC monitor? Do you have high quality audio monitors? Do you have the proper VTR for recording your output? Do you have a fast enough media array for your video?

FCP is all set for broadcast, you just need to set it in the proper format for your delivery. Then you need to be able to properly set all your video / audio levels for broadcast.

[malcolm] “sorry for this rushed question but recently I have been trying to output my edits to dvd and they are all looking very low res, this is not a little low res it is server! all graphics are terrible. i am now streesed as I must get this right fast.
any help greatly appreciated.”

DVD’s are completely unacceptable for broadcast delivery. This is a highly compressed format and will surely be rejected by any station you will attempt to deliver to. Generally DVCAM is a bare minimum requirement, followed by BetaSP and usually DigiBeta is the standard for which SD commercials are delivered. That will require a capture card such as an AJA Kona or an external box like the AJA Io to connect to.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Tom Maloney]

just to add to the very good previous reply. I did some of these a few years back. First contact you local cable station who will be putting these on the air. They will gladly tell you format requirements, should also tell you what they want as far as, slate, bars and tone ,countdown and so on. Also make sure of their actual time for a 30 second spot. It took a little legwork on my part to contact the right person at the cable tv company. A good learning experience.

Best regards

Tom

[Debe]

It might be best for you to offline on your system, and rent a room that is properly set up for creating broadcast masters that also has access to the deck you’ll need for output, and finish in that room.

If you’re feeling like you don’t have the backgroud to do proper color correction and audio sweetening, it might be wise to pay someone else a couple of hours to put it together correctly at the end, after you and your client have made all the hard decisions.

Just anohter option. It might not be worth a stress ulcer, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll probably lose the client, and it may harm your reputation.

debe

[Joseph Owens]

Most broadcasters have a “Deliverables” document that should be identified as perhaps “Technical Specifications for XXX-Definiton Program Acceptance”. You could peruse a few on-line — just search them out, or ask the local station.
For the most part, for Standard Def, broadcasters will be looking for D-Beta, or its equivalent on disk — usually 720×486 10 bit 4:2:2. Audio at -20.
High Def is another can of worms. National broadcasters are more and more looking for HDCamSR 1920×1080 29.97 inerlaced. But that varies depending on the network.

You may be able to deliver your spots on DVD, but not as Mpg2. If you can work out the details with your producer, you might get away with a native codec like DVCpro…or ProHD…

The fatter the format, the more likely it will be acceptable, as long as the broadcaster can handle it.

JPO

[Gary Adcock]

[JP Owens] “should be identified as perhaps “Technical Specifications for XXX-Definiton Program Acceptance”.”

Even the porn industry now has delivery spec’s???

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

[Mike Nicholas]

[debe] “t might be best for you to offline on your system, and rent a room that is properly set up for creating broadcast masters that also has access to the deck you’ll need for output, and finish in that room.”

I do online editing for a living, and believe me, if you’ve never done this before (and it looks like that’s the case), you’re going to end up screwing your client and yourself. Rent out a finishing room at a facility that knows broadcast specifications. Otherwise, they might have a media buy (buying air time) that will go to waste because they can’t air what you think is MAYBE right.

“Roto is not a skill, it’s a job.”

[Walter Biscardi]

[gary adcock] “[JP Owens] “should be identified as perhaps “Technical Specifications for XXX-Definiton Program Acceptance”.”

Even the porn industry now has delivery spec’s???”

Of COURSE they have delivery specs. I mean, there’s the proper lighting, camera angles, casio keyboard music, and don’t get me started on the audio post mixing requirements. Sheesh, that’s half the work right there……

Whoops, am I thinking out loud again……..

Well since we went down this road anyway, I always thought the biggest moneymaker would be a 3D porn film. I’ll let y’all ponder the possibilities…………….

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Malcolm]

Hi thanks for the responses. i probably should have asked the question differently.
I understand DVD will not be acceptable and im sure with more details to the job I can get specs.
My biggest worry at the moment is that all work i have tried to output weather it be DVD, mini DV or QuickTime, All graphics look incredibly low rez, logos, price tags and products, No footage to capture.
mal

[Arnie Schlissel]

[walter biscardi] “I always thought the biggest moneymaker would be a 3D porn film.”

Impractical. The glasses keep fogging up. 😉

Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog