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Question re. Sorensen files
A client sent us a file to import and spit out to SD tape. Unfortunately,they sent us a .wmv file,which as you know is not supportable for AVid.
I had to convert (compress) the file through Sorensen to a HQ .mp4 file,but bec. it’s compressed it still looks nowhere NEAR as good as the native .wmv file did playing on my Avid desktop.
What is the least-compressed file version that Sorensen uses? I do not know of anything better than a HQ MPEG 4 file coming out of Sorensen.
Would there have been another way to import the native .wmv file? I tried changing the extension name to .mov,which Avid uses…but I still got the “.wmv not suitable for import” message…thus I chose to use Sorensen.
Thanks…calling back the client and asking them to send us a .mov file was NOT an option in this case.
Rob NYC -
8 Replies
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Hey Rob,
I don’t have Squeeze in front of me so forgive me if this suggestion doesnt match up exactly. Duplicate one of the HQ quicktime presets and go into the settings dropdown. In these menus you should have a place to change the video codec. If you are on the same machine that your Avid software is installed on you will have all the avid codecs installed. For SD projects I usually select Avid 1:1 and for HD it is the DNxHD flavor of whatever my project is set at. Of course you will be creating very large files but at least you wont be recompressing the already compressed wmv. Plus you will have a fast import of the finished file. Again, I am blanking on the menu terms within Squeeze, but if you hunt around you will find the right dropdown. Good luck.Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
http://www.GlenMontgomeryIII.com -
Thanks for the response,Glen.
I am sitting in front of Sorensen Sqz. 5 as I write this, but I see no dropdown choices for re-wrapping this .wmv file in the SD format I need it to be at…MPEG 50-SD SDI (I need to output these graphical .wmv elements to an SD tape at MPEG 50).
When I click on the MPEG 4 HD choice and go over to the Codec drop-down, it only lists 2 Sorensen codecs, an APple codec and a “Main Concept” codec…all of which are H264.
I am relatively new to Sorensen, and I realize that Avid (I’m using an Avid Symphony Nitris DX and Win XP) doesnt accept wmv files. We also cant ask the client to provide us with another file format for these files (more trouble than you can possibly imagine!).
I found a tutorial online, but the video is so low-rez looking I can’t read anything on the video screen 🙂
Not my day,I guess…. -
If you import the file into squeeze with the add file button, then go to the quicktime section of presets it should be available to any of the HQ .mov settings. It will not be in the MPEG options. The .mov will do a fast import into avid so you can output SDI to tape.
Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
http://www.GlenMontgomeryIII.com -
Maybe that’s my problem! For some reason,ALL the other choices are selectable in the Sorensen menus but Quick Time does NOT allow itself to be selected. Is this normal? Any idea what would be not allowing me to select Quick Time? It’s greyed out.
Thanks for spending the time here to help out a fellow editor. -
No problem, that is what the COW is all about. This is the first time I have heard of quicktime not being able to be selected. Is quicktime installed on the system? In this day and age I would be really surprised if it had not been installed through some other program. Maybe try looking in the mp4 presets and see if they can access any of the avid codecs. Another option may be scrapping squeeze until you figure out the quicktime issue. If you have after effects on that system you could render it out as an Avid 1:1 or maybe download mpeg streamclip. I have not used it myself but I have heard great things about it as a free compressor from other pros.
Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
http://www.GlenMontgomeryIII.com -
Guess what…just now found out that because we have Sor Sqz 5 installed it won’t allow me to select any QT options, due to our version of QT installed(7.6.4)…we need to upgrade to Sor Sqz 6, I found out online.
Always something 🙂 -
Gosh, it always seems like quicktime is causing issues. You could go online and download an older version of quicktime then go back to the version you are at now when you are done converting the file. That always opens up a can of worms though because other programs get affected by quicktime versions so easily. Its an option though. Best of luck, I know how yucky it is to edit with old .wmv’s. Seems it is always the only source some clients can provide.
Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
http://www.GlenMontgomeryIII.com -
So true,my friend…so true.
Gotta keep the clients happy…while not opening up any can-o-worms!
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