[Michael Gibrall]

Sorry I spelled your name wrong. Waiting in line at the airport.

[Michael Gibrall]

Joe:

I gave the film file to someone with a Mac to convert. Again, I compiled my Sony Vegas timelined movie with the DNxHD codec used to compile and followed your instructions on your web page. I went over the top and compiled with the highest setting of 4444 listed as an option. The film was,for the most part, shot on a Canon 5D Mark III, but also on a Mark II and a T3i.

Their Mac didn’t have the DNxHD codec so I downloaded the codec for the Mac from the link supplied on the web page you offered in your instructional web page.

What I’m told is the codec, after being loaded on a Mac, won’t play back the movie on a Mac. This includes Quicktime, VLC player and MPEG Streamclip. I’m told they can hear audio, but that’s it. And he’s tried it on both his home and work Macs. I’m able to play back the video on my PC, a quad core processor 2.5ghz, 8 megs ram. Granted, choppy at times, but I only want the file to serve as a master to convert to ProRes HQ.

Is it a certain version of OX 10 that is required for the codec, for example? Is there hardware, which may be older, somehow obsolste? I know he has an older version of his Mac OS 10 because I gave him a hard drive that was formatted on exFAT and his Mac wouldn’t recognize it. To fix this, I was able to put the PC made DNxHD movie file on a Mac formatted external drive and gave it to him.

Is it because I compiled in 4444 highest setting, perhaps?

Thanks for your help.

[Michael Gibrall]

Sounds like my “safe” audio is 16 bit 48 audio, using my standard stereo.

[Michael Gibrall]

Yes for a typical bluray player. It’s not a blockbuster feature, but an independent film.

I’ve used AC3 in the past, but I have rendered multiple wav an aiff (because someone wants the files for a mac at some point).

What would you suggest for a 1080p independent film? I’d like the best quality without chocking a home bluray player, if that’s even possible.

[Michael Gibrall]

After restarting Sony Architect Studio 5, the option for 23.976 showed up for bluray. I thought it was there. That was bizarre.

It is strictly NTSC 29.97 though when it comes to DVD.

[Michael Gibrall]

If you have the original timeline, find the proper template or fine tune one for your needs.

[Michael Gibrall]

Thanks, John.

I guess I can avoid recompression by rendering my 23.976 fps film as 29.97fps.

Again, I did this already as an mpeg2 and compiled, and the dvd plays back normally and looks good.

I could recompile the film as an m2v file and go 29.97fps to avoid compression on the bluray, but honestly, I’ve seen it recompressed and I’m still blown away at the quality. These renders have gotten the film into festivals so I can live with it for now.

[Michael Gibrall]

John, thank you.

I do see the video ‘brighter’ from the conversion of the m2v file by MPEG Streamclip when playing on a pc.

I assume the Avid DNxHD QuickTime codec is the best route to use vs. the compressed m2v, but I must admit the m2v file, native, still looks fantastic. But, again, I’m losing a generation when I do this for the final prores output.

I’ll check into all of this.

Thanks again.

[Michael Gibrall]

Thanks guys. I need to have the audio file in this format per a distribution company’s requirement for dvd and SD streaming release.

The film was shot on DSLR with audio recorded separately. In most, but not all cases, the audio operator used high end audio equipment. I’m assuming it doesn’t matter as long as the output is in the end user format they wanted?

Thanks in advance.

[Michael Gibrall]

Thank you!