How Does One Achieve The Highest Possible Quality SD DVD

[Lisa Laughbaum]

[Scott] I thought were you looking for advice on how to make your show look better?

I was… using the footage I’d already shot.

[Scott] The subject line of your post is “Re: How Does One Achieve The Highest Possible Quality SD DVD”

Next time I’ll be sure to write my subject line so it reads “How Does One Achieve The Highest Possible Quality SD DVD using FCP and Color with footage they have already shot on their Canon GL2 and some Mismatched Sony HD Cam, in low light, shooting from the back row, without bothering the LD or buying new cameras.”

[Scott] Instead of useful info we could use to help you, we get the “I’ve been doing this for x number of years” speech.

Your right. All those screen shots I provided and the detailed description of my workflow were absolutely useless information. I guess until I’ve been in production for 25 years like you, I have no business saying how long I’ve been working at this. And by the way, who is we? Everyone else who responded obviously had no problem understanding my situation or the information I posted.

[Scott] I pointed out you had a lot of small things wrong with your workflow…

But you never said what they were. Didn’t take the time like Mike to point out that my some of my settings were incorrect. Did you even read them?

[Scott] And you might want to consider getting some time in with an editor. That is the polite way of saying, your not as up to speed on FCP, and production as you think you are, and you need more help than just a simple answer on the forum will provide.

That’s polite?! I never once insinuated that I think I am expert in FCP or that I didn’t need help. I think you might be projecting your feelings about yourself on me. And, as a matter of fact, just last weekend I paid an editor to sit in my studio with me for five hours to figure out what I am overlooking. Needless to say, I picked the wrong editor, because I got more useful and pertinent information regarding my “true” question from everyone on the forum.. other than you that is . You could tell me nothing more than how to fix what I had already finished. I’m not saying your advice isn’t valid… if that had been my question. But it wasn’t. You would have known that if you had taken the time to read past my subject line.

[Scott] So, yes to expect your GL2’s shooting 4×3 stretched(by the camera) to 16×9, under poor lighting, to match your third “new professional grade Sony HD camera” (whatever it is) is not realistic.

Other than the difference in color, they are matching just fine. I’m glad for the opportunity to learn more about grading and color matching. Gosh, maybe I’ll even try to tackle “Color”. Guess I’d better bone up on 3WCC first.

[Scott] Especially when you cut it in the wrong sequence settings, and have to compress 2 1/2 hours of material, shot at this quality level, to a SD DVD.

Hmmm…. You think maybe that was the gist of my original post? Could that have been the situation I needed help with? I don’t know…

[Scott] Michael Sacci already went over all of this with you in the DVDSP forum. You have been presented plenty of options to improve your production values, in areas that you have direct control over, to “Achieve The Highest Possible Quality SD DVD” but just choose to dismiss advice that doesn’t reinforce the current methods as ‘negative’. I’m ok with that.

You’re right again. I did get some very useful information from Michael, B.J., Chris and David. I AM using many of the options they presented to me, and I’m grateful and thankful they took the time to give me the answers I needed. Your advice was useless in my current situation and condescending to say the least.

Thank you for making my first post so enjoyable. Say hello to your high horse for me.

Lisa Laughbaum
Laughing Tree Productions
http://www.LaughingTreeProductions.com

[Lisa Laughbaum]

I can dig it!
Thanks David

Lisa Laughbaum
Laughing Tree Productions
http://www.LaughingTreeProductions.com