Steven Gladstone
Forum Replies Created
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OK, thanks, I thought that might be smarter.
I’ll guess I’ll pony up the $20 for the MPEG2 codec when I need it.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
I do not misunderstand MPEG Streamclip. However when downloading MPEG streamclip, there is a mention of the Quicktime alternative, which I suppose is what I should have titled the thread – sorry. The Quicktime alternative apparently Allows you to play quicktime files, and gives you MPEG2 support without having to pay for the MPEG2 codec, so I’m just wondering if there is any negative to using the Quicktime alternative to Apple’s Quicktime.
Thanks.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
DV Cam is 4:1:1 or 4:2:0 depending Pal or NTSC, and the data rate is 3.5 meg/sec. The chief difference between DvCam and mini DVis that the DvCam tape runs faster (an hour tape lasts about 40 minutes), which can help minimize frame drop outs. BetaSp (short for Betacam SP – not Betamax.) is an analog format, and I believe the digital equivalent would be 4:2:2- pretty much what that means is that for every 4 pixels across you have four samples (every pixel) of green, and only 2 samples (every other pixel) or red and blue. In the old days, Uncompressed video (Beta SP) was considered/digitized at 20 MB/sec. However compression algorithms have changed, so those numbers may not apply. On my old edit system (DPS Velocity) I could digitize Beta SP at 6 meg per second and although the image was not exactly the same, it still was the same quality.
I did a test once, comparing super 16 lenses for blow up to HD. The test was transferred to Mini DV and to HD (tiff frames), the difference between the two was startling. Lenses that appeared close in quality on the Mini DV transfer, were obviously vastly different when viewed at HD resolution. Something to consider.
Originally published in Show Reel magazine in 2007, You can read the article online at https://www.showreel.org/article.php?290
Or download it (with additional diagrams) at https://www.gladstonefilms.com/article.html
Hope this helps.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
Depending on how your footage was originally transferred, you may be able to have the selects pulled (cut the neg flash to flash) and just transfer those shots, then conform those. That may save you some money.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
Thanks Andy, I appreciate it.
To be clear I had to deliver in Standard Def, Changing the Timeline settings to 1920 by 1280 was only an intermediate step. It got me to have the image letterboxed, and then when I sent the project ot compressor to deliver it, I scaled it to 720 by 480. I wasn’t delivering it in the “Expanded” resolution. It worked, but nowthat I know the better way, I won’t have to do it again. Thanks.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
Tom and Andy, please forgive me for being unclear. I had to deliver an SD project in 4:3. Of course the client didn’t give the specs until after we had shot, and had done so in HD, wide screen. So I needed to turn in a letterboxed version in HD, for upload to DGFC, otherwise the graphics and framing would have been all wrong.
As far as the “easy” presets in compressor, couldn’t find them. everything seemed to either Squish or stretch the image. I did do a feverish search on the cow, but mostly saw posts about how someone was not going to take the time to explain how to do it, and I gave up the search (There was a great post about turning 23.98 to 29.97 in compressor – that was a life saver.)
I would love to know how to do it “properly” in Compressor, if you could share, as I know my workaround adds to the render time. Reading and following the Compressor help files, only resulted in either squished or stretched images.
Thanks.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
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I’m currently cutting FCP 6 on an older 15.4 inch Mac book Pro. Pre-Unibody. It has the Express slot, although I haven’t needed it. Running FCP 6. whatever just fine. although all work has been so far in SD and 720P off of the Panazonic HMC-150.
I thought the Unibody 17 inch still had the express card slot, as well as Firewire. I think (could be wrong) there were two versions of the unibody 15 inch, one had the express card slot, but now itseems only an SD card slot (but at least all seem to have firewire 800 – just checked the apple store.)
There is apparently an interest in refurbed pre-unibody mac book pros that have the express card slot.
I’m looking at the 27 inch imac at the end of the year, depending on my tax situation. Want the MacPro, but can’t affordit yet,and don’t think I need it for my current work – those new Prores codecs look tremendous. My one suggestion after cutting only a few months with Final cut – Pick up a two button USB mouse, it is just so much better than without.
Hope this helps.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
It is a good idea, my only question is, and maybe I missed it, what constitutes a “basics” post and what makes a post belong on “Pro?”
Thanks.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com -
Great, thanks. Will do that – now to find the AJA system test, but that is what the internet is for.
Steven Gladstone
https://www.gladstonefilms.com