[Matt Jones]

Thanks for your response Floh. Sorry, but I’m still not sure I understand.

The bottom line is that if I want to deliver a digital spot to this station, my files must meet their requirements for broadcast. I’m just trying to understand why they ask for their digital audio levels to be set so low.

They specify -12db limit on spots delivered in H264 or DVCProHD quicktime formats.

So my producer supplied a digital VO file in .mp4 format. It does not exceed 0dBFS. There’s no D/A conversion happening here. I import the file into M100HD, cut it to exactly 30 sec, add some video and output a ref file out to After Effects. I do my graphics comp in AE and then save my file as a DVCProHD file with 48K audio for the stations. The file still does not exceed 0dB.

So 0dB on the supplied digital file should equal 0dB on my final digital file, right? -12dBFS sounds like a lot of headroom for ‘accidents’ If I’m providing a digital file in the server’s native playback format, where could the “accidents” happen?

[Matt Jones]

Thanks Dave,

My primary editing app is Media100HD, but I have FCS as well and will check into the “droplet” work flow you suggested.

[Matt Jones]

OK, for the benefit of other M100 editors who might not realize this, here’s where I went wrong:

Your “Video Playback” setting has to match your “Sequence Preset” setting for smooth output/downconvert from your Kona card.

I captured HDV. Silly me, I figured the sequence setting should match the HDV media that it contained.

The config that finally worked was:
Capture preset: HDV
Sequence preset: AKA Kona LH: 1080i 29.97 Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
Video Playback: AJA Kona 1080i29.97 8 bit(1920×1080)

[Matt Jones]

Thanks Floh,

I finished the project using the FCP export/M100HD import-downconvert and it looked fantastic. I love M100HD. I know I can count on it.

I just went back and tried what you suggested and I still have no video going to my component analog. The AJA control panel shows it correctly and I’ve selected AJA Kona 1080i 29.97 8 bit from the FCP video playback setting, but no SD video. What gives?

I’m leaving in a few minutes and won’t be back in until Monday. Have a great weekend! And thanks for the quick help today.

[Matt Jones]

..just getting back in.

I tried twice to duplicate the problem as requested. No problems either time. Doh!

I also thought of one other thing that happened Friday that was out of the ordinary. I started the project Thursday by importing DV quicktime files that the client had digitized elsewhere. No Problems Thursday. On Friday when I tried to open the project I got an -199 error. A little research on the ‘Cow revealed the -199 to be a corrupt media file error. I restarted and reopened the project. Same thing. I restarted and tried a third time and like magic, no problems. It just went away without me doing anything to the media.

The transition problem I had happened after that.

I have had no further problems since (can you hear me knocking on my wooden desk?)

Any words of wisdom to avoid this transition problem would be appreciated. If it happens again, I will immediately send you the program.

Thanks,

Matt

[Matt Jones]

Thanks Floh,

Here’s what I did:

1. Edited a M100 SD 4×3 pgm w/ DV codec selected
2. Position CTI in middle of program.
3. push option-command-H to select all tracks from current position
4. Move selected tracks later in timeline
5. insert new video clip into gap
6. push option-command-H to select all past the new clip
7. drag selected clips back to close the gap, moving the first selected clip from V-a track to V-b track so I can add transition between the new clip and the next one. This move also swaps all clips from V-a to V-b or V-B to V-a

Everything should be the same at the end of the program, but it wasn’t. 10-15 dissolves disappeared, and several cuts to/from a cutaway also got lost.

Where should I send the program?

Thanks!

Matt

[Matt Jones]

Thanks for all the work in v13 guys! couple of questions:

1. Does V13 work with the AJA 6.0.1 LHe drivers?
2. Is V13 full compatible with OS 10.5.5? (except QT:Doom)

Since I bought my new M100HD system, it has not been fully compliant with Mac OS, AJA drivers, and M100 version. I’d love to get everything on the newest versions. There’s a couple of fixes in the AJA drivers that will make a big difference to the functionality of my suite.

Thanks,

Matt

[Matt Jones]

Thanks guys,

That was my problem. Although I had originally had everything set to M100 8 bit, I reset the codec to Prores422HQ in another project and didn’t reset it it in the original project before I rendered and exported the ref file.

Now I need to re-render 100 or so GX in my timeline from ProRes to M100-8 bit. I tried using the find media, deleted them and now they don’t render at all. I guess I’ll have to re import the original PSDs and replace each one manually.

Any ideas on automating re-rendering of already rendered graphics?

[Matt Jones]

Thanks Walter, I’ll pick a couple of BD-REs up tomorrow.

The encode I tested at lunch was 21 Mbps on a DVD and it skipped and froze and skipped…

Is there a Mbps limit on for BluRay on DVD reading/playback?
If so, is it different for each player model?
How does the PS3 stack up as a player?

Thanks,

Matt

[Matt Jones]

I’ve been following this thread with great interest. We also bought Encore thinking it was the best thing out for BluRay on a Mac. Since reading all the problems everybody seems to be having with it, We’ve decided to not waste any time on it and look for other solutions.

Yesterday I took a Media100HD reference file and dropped it into Toast and burned a BluRay on DVD. I tested on a PS3 with a HDMI to a HD CRT and discovered the wrong field order. I switched the field order in Toast and the resulting “BluRay DVD” looks REALLY good. Some of the transitions got a little pixelated so I’m now looking to make a good workflow better.

I’m trying the MPEG-2 settings posted by Cody with an AC3 audio file. Toast asked me for the audio file and seemed to multiplex it without problems. If the multiplexing happens before the burn, I expect the same results for a BDR as the DVDR. We have a Lacie d2, just not willing to burn a bunch of $ up testing codecs.

I’m testing at lunch and will report back asap. This forum is a vital resource for all of us independents trying to produce good quality BluRay on a Mac. Thanks!!!!