[Craig Seeman]

[david bensman] “Also, I am still confused about the 720×512 frame size. Is that something that can be accomplished in Compressor (as I’ve read that it’s NOT actually resizing the image. “

The 720×512 file should be 720×480 plus 32 lines of black on the top.

[Craig Seeman]

Sure sounds like a software issue. I’ve got an issue of my own I’m looking. I’ll start another thread on that.

[Craig Seeman]

[Sean McHenry] “I still don’t see what they need 32 full lines for really but that’s fine. “

For a while they were “grandfathering” older customers with 720×480 but I believe that’s ended.

I suspect they’re using the 32 lines to embed something their (Vertical Blanking Interval) but I could be wrong on that.

Are you on Windows or Mac? I know Episode, with patch, works on Mac.
I’d suspect FlipFactory might work on Windows. I wonder if anybody has used Procoder or Rhozet to meet the 720×512 spec.

In any case, Sorenson does not do it.

[Craig Seeman]

DG spec is 720×512. That’s not just a frame size. The resultant encode has to have 32 lines of black at the top (480+32=512).

I don’t think you can do that it Squeeze the last time I tried.

There’s a patch for Episode that allows that. Also Episode can do 18Mbps.

[Craig Seeman]

At least it’s a lot easier and cheaper to install a new codec in an NLE than buying yet another deck.

The interesting thing is that Sony is modifying their own. In addition to 1440×1080 .mxf there’s now 1920×1080 .mfx although both are XDCAM 35mbps VBR Long GOP.

[Craig Seeman]

I tested Telestream/Flip4Mac Episode DG Fastchannel Patch with both 720×480 and 720×486 source and both passed. With 720×486 source one must crop the top 6 lines with the Resize Filter. In both cases the resultant encode is 720×512.

Telestream has given me the green light to distribute.

If you would like the patch post your email and I’ll send it with instructions to install.

[Craig Seeman]

I tested Telestream/Flip4Mac Episode DG Fastchannel Patch with both 720×480 and 720×486 source and both passed. With 720×486 source one must crop the top 6 lines with the Resize Filter. In both cases the resultant encode is 720×512.

Telestream has given me the green light to distribute.

If you would like the patch post your email and I’ll send it with instructions to install.

[Craig Seeman]

I’m a beta tester for Episode.
Have a look over here at the other end of the COW.
https://forums.creativecow.net/viewforum/232
What I’m testing is not yet available but will be ASAP if it passes DG certification.
I did one test that passed and I testing another spot to make absolutely sure it’s ok.

[Craig Seeman]

[Mick Haensler] “Charging for rendering is like a traditional artist charging for the paint to dry “

Nope, not the same thing. An artist can go on to the next canvas. Drying paint doesn’t tie up any additional resources. Of course if you’ve got 50 paintings drying as opposed to one you’re tying up space in your artist’s loft.

If my computer is rendering it’s doing one job and not doing another. As someone who does a fair bit of compression, rendering is a major part of the job. If someone is paying for a high quality H264 or On2VP6 encode that’s going to take longer than a standard mp4 or spark compression.

I don’t itemize render time but it’s certainly part of the job.

Of course if you have a big facility and a render farm your render is going to be very fast and each given render may not tie up the farm for long. That model allows you a much higher level of productivity and that’s where additional income is generated to cover the cost of that render farm.

A small shop may not be able to use that business model though. My business is to make sure my business is profitable otherwise I can’t be the professional artist.

[Craig Seeman]

And I’m testing an Episode “patch” that will allow Episode to meeting DG’s 720×512 spec with the click of a checkbox. It’ll “automatically” add the 32 lines at the top of an MPEG2 encode.

If the tests go well it could be ready today or at least by Tuesday. Fingers crossed.