-
Please help! Multiple HD & SD formats to 16:9 DVD
Hello,
I’ve searched the Cow for answers, and although I’ve gotten closer to the solution, I wanted to run my problems and planned workflow past all you fine people. I apologize for the long post.
THE BACKSTORY
I’m an in-house editor for an ad agency (8-years experience on Avid, 2 on FCP). We have taken over the editing of a promotional video for our city. First draft was done by another post house, but the city didn’t like it and turned the job over to us. That post house has handed all of the digital files over to us via firewire drive. It turns out that they collected many of these shots from over ten 3rd parties in the form of digital files. So I now have a large collection of video files (SD, DVCPRO HD 1080i60, DVCPRO HD 720p60 29.97 & 59.94, HDV 1080i60) Any suggestions on how to make all of these formats play nice with each other? I have no options on finding the original tapes due to time/budget/logistical restraints. I am stuck with what I have.THE OUTPUT
The client would like a 3 min program at 16:9 ratio DVD. Any 4:3 footage will have graphical bars on the side. I also plan to keep any type or graphics within the 4:3 title safe zone just in case they ask for a cropped version. The program will also contain many motion graphics produced in AE.THE MACHINES
We have 2 identicle FCP workstations
Dual 2.7 PowerPC G5
Mac OS 10.4.8
6.5 GB RAM
FCP 5.0.4
AJA Kona LS
QT 7.1.3
After Effects 6.5THE PLANNED WORKFLOW
1. Use compressor to make 4:3 letterbox versions of all files for offline editing.
2. Edit an offline version in FCP of the project using these 4:3 temp files.
3. Export the offline sequence to AE via automatic duck.
4. In AE, change the comp to 864×486 with D1 pixel aspect ratio. (this is the step I am least sure of.)
5. Go through manually and replace each clip with its original file.
6. Interpret each clip according to its file type.
7. Resize clips as needed.
8. Apply motion graphics and animations as needed.
9. Export high quality at 864×486 movie file.
10 Compress for 16:9 DVD and author in DVD Studio ProAny comments or suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Reins -
2 Replies
-
WOW! Sure sounds like a mess!
Ok… How much time do you have and how much footage (in number of clips) do you have?
You can mix any format on the timeline, BUT you have to render it each time just to see it. Hopefully, your SD video is the majority. If not, I think I might look at the majority of the footage and edit based on that. You know, the less rendering, the faster your edit.
As for your graphics… This is supposed to be a 16×9 edit, right? Well, if you make your graphics for 16×9, then they will be fine on a 4×3 tv. If you need, you can have two timelines… one 16×9 and one 4×3 and build your graphics off of that.
[Reins] “The program will also contain many motion graphics produced in AE.”
Can I ask why you want to do all of your graphics in AE? Motion is much faster and editable from the FCP timeline.
Anyways… Just food for thought.
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Thanks Wayne,
There is really no format that seems to be the majority (They are all equally a pain in the butt.) That is why I thought I’d just first run them all through compressor to a SD 4:3 common format. It doesn’t look great on many of them, but I can at least do a quick offline that doesn’t require a render after each edit. Originally, I thought my next step would be to replace them in FCP and then start on the graphics. However, there will be a lot of animation and compositing going on – that’s why I’ve taken that AE path. As far as choosing AE, its simply because I’m 20 times faster and more competent in AE over Motion.
Oh and good question on the timeline – They need it in 2 weeks. Anyone know of a nice strong coffee?
Thanks,
Reins
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up