[Llewelyn Roderick]

I’m with Bogie and David on this one.

Yes, the DVD is safest however…
If you have a projector capable of projecting more resolution than PAL/NTSC and your master is 720/1080 then you’re going to get a much more bang for your buck if you project off the MacBookPro via DVI out.

I’ve projected short films (up to 40min) via my MBPro’s DVI output into a projector. The films were Quicktime movies at 1080 resolution using H264. Beat the socks of the DVD.

For what it’s worth.

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Bob, while I have you “on the line”

I’ve just had a look at the Batch list and it’s very rich in information, however the one critical bit of info I’m missing is TC IN and OUT for the edit.

I need to compile an Archive Usage report for the Producers so that they can pay for what they’ve used and while I can see from the BATCH list which bits of archive we’ve used and how much I can’t provide any TC for the program master. I have exported an EDL list of just the Archive video layers but it is very difficult to decipher and ‘marry’ to the BATCH list.

Any ideas.

regards

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Bob

That was spot on! Thanks a million.

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Lisa

You are 90% home on this one, you have just missed one very important step. The geometry tab has three sections:
1. source
2. dimensions (ie the output size you want)
3. padding (how to negotiate between diff aspect ratios)

So in your example you’ve told compressor your dimensions, but you haven’t told it what to do with the aspect ratio.

Simply (yep it is) click on padding and select your source aspect ratio. In your case you’ll select 16:9 and hey presto, compressor will automatically add the necessary letterboxing without cropping your image. (cropping is a diff function).

You can check that it has worked by looking at your source clip in the Preview window. There should be a red line in the middle of the image with the source on the left and a preview of what compressor is going to do on the right. You should see the letterbox. DON’T worry about the fact that it looks squashed. It renders perfectly.

Hope this unblocks your pipeline

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Jeff

I’ve finished two feature length doccies in the last few months with very similar source footage (a mix of xdcam, hdv and dv).

My solution would be to do your offline the way you’ve described (with the mixed formats) and then to online in Prores.

For example:
My suggestion for the offline is create an Easy Setup (prores or prores HQ 1920×1080) and if your machine can handle it, do your offline in this master sequence.

For the online, Media Manage your locked off-line edit to Prores 1920×1080 and use the new Media Managed project as the basis for the online. This usually fixes all kinds of field order issues with the DV footage and the upscaling and readies your edl for Color.

good luck.

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Hey Daniel

I’ve been reading up on the cineform (Neo HD) for mac. Have you used it? Can you tell me about your experiences? Do you know if it can convert DPX files to Prores or Cineform for that matter?
cheers

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Kristian

Thanks for clarifying that. More specifically what I’m looking for is 25p extraction from 50i in 1080. I don’t think Aja does this either (but I stand to be corrected). Or simply put, a descent hardware deinterlace.

I’m buying a decklink SDI card in the next few weeks so that I can take advantage of the Decklink HD Pro’s hardware conversion abilities. Like Matt, I seldom need a deck (playout from digital file at a nearby facility) and have been missing out on the card’s hardware conversion functions.

cheers

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Hi Matt

I’ve got a BM Deck Link HD pro, the pre-cursor to the Extreme and I’ve just hit a wall with it. I need to master a feature length doccie that was shot on the EX in XDCAM 25p and that’s the one thing it can’t do: 1080p25!

But apart from that it works a treat. I think SDI monitoring is critical for a pro facility (which the HD pro has). Not sure if HDMI is going to cut the mustard.

I work in PAL, so no comments on pull-down.

I am looking at the Kona 3 now because of the superior (as reported on the cow) downconversion from HD to SD. 90% of my work is mastering to HD but every HD job needs a high-quality SD master whether for local TV broadcast or as the source for a high-quality DVD master.

Hope this helps. Cheers

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

8Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM with BM Decklink HD Pro, 2TB Raid, 20″ Sony PAL SDI CRT & 19″ Sony HD SDI LCD + 4Core 3Ghz edit 2

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Eric

I’ve managed to get it to work, but the results are very poor. I’m not seeing what’s so great about Bitvice. Any ideas?

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za

[Llewelyn Roderick]

Dear Gary

This is a late question, but when would one need SD 25p to HD 25p? These days?
However, the point is worth mentioning, that even if you don’t need that workflow, I often need to convert HD 1080i to HD1080p. Which the teranex clearly can’t do.

What would you recommend as the next best solution?

thanks

Llewelyn

Llewelyn @ Fireworks
HD for indies post production
http://www.fireworksfilms.co.za