Michael Slowe
Forum Replies Created
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One of which is the Innobits software Purifier, it’s also in with their brilliant DVD encoder BitVice. I now use both and my DVD’s would easily handle plus 9 gain, probably higher if required.
Michael Slowe
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David, I fully understand your needs. You are virtually doing a ‘broadcast’ on the hoof so to speak and are under constant pressure, I don’t envy you! Also your Matrox downscale is probably even better than the one within BitVice. You are probably getting the purest signal out by using HDSDI from the camera, it’s just that it all struck me as overcomplicating the whole process but I now see where you’re going.
Michael Slowe
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Guys, the poster who suggested setting the Kelvin manually got it right. Why mess around experimenting with different cards when, with the EX cameras you can select whatever Kelvin you want and put it in a PP for instant recall. If you have your screen (camera or monitor) adjusted correctly it is good to be able visually to set how you want your picture to look. Personally I find that I get too cold a look when white balancing tungsten with a white card and generally like to warm it a little by setting the Kelvin to maybe 3600 or 3700. It’s a fast way to do it and you see what you are getting.
Michael Slowe
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Eric, a professional encoding software such as BitVice might well give you a much better quality DVD, particularly as the new version incorporates Purifier which also helps improve the picture. Are the ‘lines’ flickering on sharp edges in the picture? This is sometimes an annoying effect in DVD’s but a good encode would help.
Michael Slowe
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You boys are the lucky ones, here in the UK drizzly rain is our problem and plastic covers are OK. Hot sun? We should be so lucky!
Michael Slowe
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Well David, since time is of no concern to me whatever I don’t really notice how long things take but probably not much different from you. I’m making documentaries so my edit doesn’t start until all shooting is done and that may be over a few months. I’m shooting 1080i at 25 fps XDCAM on the Sony S x S cards (expensive but reliable). If I’m running short of space I off load the folders to a small USB powered drive through a MacBook. Back at base I then back up all the camera material to another drive. Don’t go near the edit drives until editing is due. Obviously clear all cards (only got 2 x 16 Gb’s and 1 8Gb, that’s about 150 minutes HD).
Then, as I say, I ingest and edit in ProRes HQ 422. If you are editing in that codec as well why go to all the trouble of going out of the camera SDI? I don’t follow your switcher and Matrox complications. As to encoding BD’s, well, you may be right about Toast but there aren’t a whole lot of BD encoding options around. My BD’s look really great so I’m not complaining. Obviously most people still want DVD’s and my BitVice downscaled and encoded discs are good but not as good as BD. My films run from anything between 10 minutes to 1 hour, hardly ever longer. I take my time, film making needs a lot of thought and reflection, rushed stuff looks – well – rushed.
Michael Slowe
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David, some questions if I may.
What codec are you shooting in and then what for the edit?
Why such a convoluted workflow?I shoot in XDCAM, import into Media 100 as ProResHQ 422 for editing. All I then do is export to QT .mov in the same codec and drag the file into Toast 10 which does the rest. The burner is a stand alone Lacie BD burner. Toast encodes to mpeg 4 , I thought it was better than H264, is it? My resultant BD’s look pretty damn good anyway.
Michael Slowe
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Absolutely, Apple and Sony do not seem like they are bedfellows! To preserve our HD quality we have to distribute on BD and the sooner Apple understand this the better for us all using Macs. I too use the Lacie Laura refers to, does a great job. Incidentally Laura, what drugs are you selling? (for the moderator – joke).
Michael Slowe
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Laura, when you read the posts do pay attention to any mention of BitVice. This, in my opinion and experience, is one of the best encoding software available. It does an awesome downscale whilst encoding VBR double pass a QT .mov (HD) into M2V (SD) file.
Michael Slowe
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I’m by no means a ‘tech’ guy but when I was faced with this I was told to use the H264 codec. More than that I can’t help other than to say I believe that there are a variety of settings within this codec and doubtless others will pile in with more detailed (and probably better) advice.
Michael Slowe