Quick question about Avid resolution…

[Jon Zanone]

Which platform / version of software are you referring to?

Jon

[Jimmy Zito]

Sorry about that. Adrenaline 1.6 on PC. I’m trying to learn more about the technical specs of all this stuff, and how it works, and I’ve checked on the web about this specific question and just got more confused. So any light you can shed on it would be appreciated.

Jim

[Juan Salvo]

Because AVID uses the D1 spec for uncompressed (720×486), DV is not a professional/broadcast format. D1 is.

[Jimmy Zito]

Right. But here’s my question:

Why did the engineer gods decide to make that 6 pixel difference, so that when I burn DVDs etc, I have to worry about chopping off 6 from the top with uncomp. video and not with DV. I’m kind of asking a rhetoricl question, but I’m just frustrated with all these different formats, etc and no standards.

[R. Hewitt]

I’m afraid DV (and DVCAM) is a professional format. It’s used extensively now for News/Features and documentaries in the UK and many other countries around the world. The format is fully supported in both professional and broadcast grade cameras.

I’m sure we would all like to use D1 but it’s no longer cost effective on the budget programmes are made on these days.

[Jon Zanone]

[James Zito] “I’m just frustrated with all these different formats, etc and no standards.”

Yeah, you and everybody else, buddy! I’ve tried to keep my sanity by pretending it doesn’t exsist. But then again, I’m shooting DVCPro 25, Beta SP and DV. I’ve got a PC XPress Pro DV, MC Meridian, and people want everything from DVD and VHS to Beta SP. And don’t get me started about giving my PC based clients .wmv PowerPoint files from a mac. I’ve got no hair to pull out!

Ahh, for the good ol’ days of linear editing (that dissolve will cost you $500.00!), 1″ tape machines and grumpy engineers who made everything work and play well with others.

Then again, maybe not.

Jon

[Juan Salvo]

I didn’t say DV wasn’t used in professional applications… Just trying to point out the reason why avid uses the D1 spec for their 1:1 resolution.

[R. Hewitt]

Fair enough!

[Jimmy Zito]

Yeah, I think the only “Broadcast Standard” now is that the footage is compelling and interesting. It doesn’t really matter what format anymore. Which is fine with me.

Jon, it sounds like you have it much worse than me. In fact, I bet there are a lot of people in this industry that have it worse. But I just had to vent a little and hear that there are other people out there that are as annoyed as I am about nothing being standardized.