[Craig Seeman]

Episode also does watermarks and even burn in time code.

[Craig Seeman]

[jiri vrozina] “I just wish Sony built into EX1 Digi Beta codec as well and perhaps HDCAM too…:-) “
Of course the EX1 would cost over $50,000 at that point.

[Craig Seeman]

AppleTV is PC compatible. Basically you’d need a compression program to make 720p24 h.264 file compatible with it. QuickTimePro ($29) and that’s available for PC too, is all one would need to compress the file.

It’s just a wild hunch but I suspect a sequence of events, Leopard’s release, a DVDStudioPro and a Blu-Ray build to order option on the next MacPro, Apple will be supporting Blu-Ray. May own wild uninformed (but reasoned) guess is that the last two parts (Leopard being the first in a few weeks) will be complete by MacWorld in January (about 12 weeks away in case that sounds like a long time).

[Craig Seeman]

Keep in mind the market penetration of HDTV is higher than that of players.

I’ve heard a number quoted that said in any given year 20% of the households buy a TV. Given that nearly all TVs being sold are now HDTV that’s about 5 years for a full conversion. I’d say HDTV might be in the majority by the end of 2008 (within 15 months) or maybe mid 2009.

Players, especially due to the HD “war” may take longer. So here’s the directions I’m thinking.

Corporate presentation might be very quick. That’s a video displayed in a meeting. That can be done right now. A good H.264 or VC-1 file can be played back from a fast computer to an HDTV.

Wedding market. If the client has an HDTV put no playback one might build into the package delivery on an AppleTV at 720p24. Build in the cost of the AppleTV ($299) and the client will get the feeling they’re getting a “gift” with the wedding.

If the client has an HDDVD player (as low as $399) you can burn a “short form” MPEG2 HD version on a standard (or dual layer?) DVD and that’ll work. If the client has a Blu-Ray player (Play Station 3 amongst them) then you have to get a Blu-Ray burner (down to around $650 now).

Offering the AppleTV package seems to be the best way to market HD delivery at the moment in my opinion. I do think it’ll take a good 2 years for the player market to work itself out though.

I think SD delivery will dominate for another 2 years or so. Taking SI out of SDI of the EX1 should result in great quality 16×9 SD delivery. I don’t want my HD to SD workflow to be a time burden (money loser) so I’m looking for realtime downconvert.

As I mention above HD delivery for the “boardroom” corporate meeting may be there already given you just need to play the file back to an HDTV which I suspect corporate boardrooms with budgets may move to quickly. This means the EX1 may be in a good position to jump into that market and for various reasons is MUCH better than dealing with HDV.

[Craig Seeman]

Complements to the chef!

[Craig Seeman]

Perian is now up to 1.0. As previously stated, AVI is a container and any number of things can be inside there. One might try DivX or 3ivx plugin also. Flip4Mac does play certain things inside AVI and Quicktime itself can in some cases.

Keep in mind that many of these 3rd party plugins can conflict so it’s best to try them one at a time, creating a “Quicktime Removed” folder to keep the ones you’re not using, handy.

One thing VLC is good for is using its information command to find out exactly whats on the inside of that AVI so you can use the right plugin.

[Craig Seeman]

So Peter, what would you recommend for similar type fx.

BTW I find researching plugins (and “demoing”) major time consuming so getting suggestions from someone “whose been there” is really valuable . . . so thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Craig Seeman]

You’ll find many different reasons for different variations on the above but here’s mine.

I charge an “x” hours minimum (half day rate).
You have to consider the time it takes to get to and from a shoot as well as any equipment checks before hand. While I’m not charging the client for short travel time it is time you’re investing into the project. Some clients will insist the shoot is only 30-45 minutes or whatever but you still have to check gear and travel to and from the location. There’s also the possibility that the client (or you) misjudged the amount of time needed so you have to allow for things to run long. It limits what, if anything, you can book after it that day.

What’s a “half day?”
There’s no correct answer. It depends on your business model. Some have a full day of 8, 10 or even 12 hours. Some allow for a near endless day (a HORRIBLE idea – set a time limit!). A half day might be 4 or 5 hours.

What’s a half day charge?
Some will charge exactly what an hourly rate might be, some more. In other words some might charge 4 hours for the 4 hour half day. Others might charge for 5 hours on a 4 hour half day. The reason being is that you often can’t book a job behind the half day so you charge 5 hours for 4 to both encourage full day bookings and to compensate yourself for the fact that you can’t book behind a half day job. In other words bill 5 hours for 4 hour half day so that 8 hour bill for 8 hour day looks more attractive.

I usually include hourly rates. If a half day (4 hour) shoot goes beyond 4 hours I’ll state the half day as $X and each additional hour as $X per hour.

BTW the above holds true for both corporate and “event” clients. If I book a wedding I state explicitly that it’s for 6 or 8 hours of shooting and that additional shooting costs $X an hour. Some “even” shooters simply charge a flat amount for an open ended day. Unless your rates are very high I think that’s bad business practice. Especially for event work, the more hours you shoot, the longer your editing is going to take too.

[Craig Seeman]

I’m looking at the possibility of using Flip4Mac’s new Pipeline to do downcoverts to SD in real time.

I’d take SD out of the SDI and convert to either DVCPro50 or IMX50. If Pipeline matches the Time Code on the HD source from the card then one can back up the cards to XDCAM and use the DVCPro50 or IMX50 edit to “autoconfirm” the SD edit to HD if/when such edit is needed.

Of course if one KNOWS one is going to deliver in HD one might simply edit in HD and then downconvert in software but, for me, I’m going on the assumption that most of my clients are going to (still are) using SD only delivery.

[Craig Seeman]

Oct 10 & 11 is HD World in NYC Javits Center. I suspect Sony will be exhibiting the EX1 there so I’ll see what I can find out first hand.

I was under the impression from those who tested preproduction models that they said it looked “clean” in low light (I’m sure that’s subjective though but I think these were people who had used the 350).