[Tim Gallaher]

Thanks for the suggestion, Neil. I see now what the problems were. The software is a little buggy and crashes unexpectedly sometimes. But also the archived DVD footage I was trying to rip was recorded at reduced pixel numbers, unbeknownst to me, by the guy who burnt the DVDs. That’s why I can’t get 720 x 480. And apparently even on full DV size, the best you can get is 718 x 480. It refuses to rip if you try to turn off that cropping, which is odd, but what the heck.

Anyway, I’m good now. Thanks for the input, All!

[Tim Gallaher]

I realize I should clarify (can’t seem to edit these). One problem with Handbrake, for instance, is when I choose a video title on the DVD to rip, it tells me the source is 720×480, yet the only options for my finished file (which I’m guessing is what “storage” refers to, are 672 X 384. I don’t want that. I want at least 640 X 480. But no where can I seem to alter this. And also, when I try to rip just it’s default 672 x 384, just as a test, I get error messages that say it didn’t work, repeatedly on different DVDs. This has happened before. The instructions on their site are so vague and general that there are no details about how to deal with this sort of thing.

And when I’ve tried MPEG Streamclip, I drag a DVD image onto their interface and absolutely nothing happens. Zero. Yet there too, there are no explicit directions for troubleshooting such things. I know they are free, but that doesn’t help me use them.

Thanks

[Tim Gallaher]

Thanks Steve. I forgot to mention that I tried both Handbrake and MPEG Streamclip before, but could not get either to work and was not able to find any tutorials on the web to make them clearer. It appears that the interface is assuming the user knows something that I must not know. Any suggestions on where to find clear user manuals or tutorials?

Thanks much

[Tim Gallaher]

Hi All,

I have a follow up question for this. I’m also archiving final output videos for projects that other companies have produced and done about us. Since we did not produce these videos, we only want to archive the finished video rather than archiving their raw footage and edit files, etc. Is there a standard set of specs to archive in? If I leave it up to the client, we get all kinds of different files (mp4, mv4) with different mbps and different audio specs. Frame rate and pixel dimensions should ideally be what the project was shot on, I know. But for project where you don’t own the raw footage, is it best to archive in H.264 or full quality? If H.264, are there standard compression specs to use?

Thanks

[Tim Gallaher]

Ah, got it. Thanks. And to answer your question, I have used Premiere Pro CS6.

thanks again!

[Tim Gallaher]

Yes, I know most NLEs can handle any clip format/codec. But are you saying that FFmpeg can convert, for example, a Premiere Pro file to a Final Cut or something like that?

[Tim Gallaher]

Thanks Tim. That helps.

And yes, having the editing file would be great. My boss just needs a quick answer now, so there isn’t time to research any contractual obligations regarding if we get the editing file. But I will vie for that.

For me though, the issue is software. Even if we get the editing file but it’s in a software we don’t use, it will be no use to us unless we purchase that software. And if you are working with different post-production facilities and thus likely different software editing files, that can get expensive. We’re a small non-profit.

But your answer is most helpful, so thanks a ton again!

Tim

[Tim Gallaher]

I’ll check it out. Since the puppet is moving as well, not sure it would work. But thanks.

[Tim Gallaher]

Thanks Dave. That would work if I was trying to fill in the empty spaces created by the rods in front of that bench, which is static. But the point of the rods is to move the puppet, so not sure your idea would work for a moving puppet whose motion is dependent on the rods themselves. Thanks though!

[Tim Gallaher]

Thanks Kale. In theory, that seems like it would work, though the puppet may have textures and mottled surfaces that would make cloning inadequate. The example in the video is monochrome green, so that’s why it works. I’ll have to experiment with something not so monochromatic to see if it can work on that too. Appreciate the idea!