Brad Elliott
Forum Replies Created
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That is what I would do.
We also convert any files from YT to PR422/29.97/native pixel size.
Just keep in mind that if you scale SD clips(in a HD seq) over 100% you will most likely start to see quality issues.If you don’t need to deliver HD and the majority of the clips are SD I would edit in SD 16×9 as you gain little with an HD sequence of SD clips going to SD DVD.
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Look at the pixel aspect column in final cut for your clips and sequences. Your sequence settings will also tell you your aspect ratio.
Two basic rules:
1) NTSC/PAL SD video is rectangular whether it is 4×3 or 16×9.2) 1280×720 & 1920×1080 are square. Other flavors of HD are most likely square-but it depends on the format.
I wouldn’t recommend blowing up SD video in a HD timeline via Final Cut scaling/distort. There is a really good plugin for After Effects called Magic Bullet Instant HD which in my opinion does a really good job of converting SD to HD.
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Are your video and chroma levels broadcast safe?
We have had compression fall apart with material that wasn’t broadcast safe nor was it intended for broadcast. The compression problem has been solved by going back in and looking at everything on a waveform monitor and vectorscope and making the appropriate adjustments with two filters.
We apply broadcast safe first and then levels.Could the laptop display be set brighter or adjusted in a way that is causing this?
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Is your video supposed to be 16×9 or 4×3 letterboxed?
Are the settings above for your sequence or the source clip?Click your sequence and then command+0(zero) to check if the anamorphic 16×9 box is checked. You should be able to export a 16×9 720×480 movie without any problems.
I would always recommend editing in a sequence that matches your clip settings. Unless you have changed the preference FC should prompt you for this. If your source clip is supposed to be 16×9 confirm that anamorphic is checked in the anamorphic column. This could also be causing all of your problems.
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What size(pixel dimensions) does Final Cut say the slides are?
Are the slides being up-scaled and/or distorted in the sequence?
You can check this in the motion tab. -
If the artifacts and other undesirable aspects can be seen during the playback on Youtube I would say very little can be done.
Presuming the source video uploaded to Youtube was SD the largest flv/mp4 file made available from Youtube should be 480×360(most likely 320×240). Depending on how you acquired the video it is most likely less than 1/2 the size of the original SD file submitted to Youtube. If the file plays OK on Youtube the artifacts are most likely being added in your workflow.
Without being able to see the source, the source download, and what was done next it is hard to say as there are too many variables.
Video Download Helper is a free plugin for Firefox and it will allow you to see and download the different options available from Youtube.
Screenflow is not free but if you already had it it would be a good way to capture from the best playback scenario.
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If you cannot confirm which version of Windows the user is running in my opinion the best option is wmv. Since we can never confirm what all users have we don’t chance it as the backlash of poor file playback is far more painful than just giving them a wmv.
We have gotten H264 to play in Windows7/PPT 2010 but there have been issues with systems playing back from the desktop and running a signal to a projector at the same time. It can do it but we tended to get some undesirable playback with H264 that was not found with wmv 1280×720 with a data rate of 4000kbps. Perhaps faster machines will solve this but we haven’t found a solution yet.
I prefer Episode for wmv compression on a Mac but you could try Flip4mac – their most expensive HD version is probably the least expensive option.
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I have not been able to have Compressor read meta data from a file and then translate that to a window burn.
To my knowledge Compressor’s window burn feature only starts from zero.
If someone makes timecode notes from the file that starts at zero you can just jump into your sequence 14:37 from the head and all should be well presuming the notes are right to begin with.The only other option is to use the TC reader filter and render your sequence in FC with a window burn.
Nest your sequence in a a new sequence and then apply the filter to the nest. Make sure your new sequence starts at the appropriate TC. -
I would make sure that the audio and video are the same frame rate. If not this will create many opportunities for frustration.
We gave up on using Pluraleyes to sync for us as it was consistently inconsistent. You can try Pluraleyes but just be open to the idea that you may have to manually sync some or a majority of the clips.
We normally have a slate or a hand clap at the head and then sync from there. When we don’t have this we have had to just manually sync it. Put the clips in a sequence with the camera audio and then try and match waveforms from your external device to the camera audio.