[Todd Reid]

Jerry-
Thanks for the suggestion, but my hands are tied to the needs/requests of the client.
They have just converted their whole delivery system to HD. The problem is that several of their vendors will continue to use the dvd players they have to loop these segments. They have requested total 1080i, then backtracked to ask for both formats. Your suggestion would have been a great way to accomplish the aspect ration part of my equation, but not what my client wants.

I really need to have both 1080i & (4:3) SD.

Thanks again.

[Todd Reid]

That is a GREAT point, and along the lines of my thinking when asking the initial question.

As Walter stated above, its hard to change your rate after the client has payed it (even if you discuss it before hand, that you are “giving them a break”).

With my existing client, I have an excellent relationship and we are learning together. So what I’ve done so far is go to his facility and we played around with his P2 footage, all with no charge.
I also will not charge him for “newbie mistakes”, however I wanted to be careful to make sure from the get-go that the new realm of HD requires more money for everyone involved.

This has been a good thread for me, lots of great advise.

[Todd Reid]

Since I don’t have the experience in HD, does that mean I shouldn’t charge more?

I was thinking about raising my hourly rate by $10 for HD projects.
Is this not reasonable?

One client has been with me for over 6 years and we are both newbie to HD.
If I charge them the same, when/how do I make the transisition to a larger rate?

typically how much more do you charge when you hear the words HD?

[Todd Reid]

I’ve had a glossy MBP for several months now, and I find that I have no trouble with reflection or poor color. I love it!
I do FCP, Photoshop and motion work and I actually feel that the colors are much more vibrant.
But as is mentioned here, it is a personal taste. Don’t take anyone else’s word for anything other than their opinion, look at them both and form your own opinion.
Having said that, get the glossy, it makes the colors look awesome!

[Todd Reid]

another option is zmatte
digitalfilmtools.com

we get excellent results from this running fcp 5.04

[Todd Reid]

When we export quicktimes for viewing on a pc, we’ve had good results with Quicktime Conversion (sorenson3 codec).

Always had issues using the final cut quicktime (on a pc).
I personally steer clear of AVI, if possible.

[Todd Reid]

There is an audio filter that could do what you want (I’m rendering so I can’t get in to see exactly what its called) but I think its EU Peak Limiter.
Start with these parameters in the 4 boxes 0, .04, 20, 10. Then MOST IMPORTANT take you level down to say -12.
If this doesn’t get what you want, start by changing your levels, before you change parameters.
This is the setting that I use and it works about 90% of our programs.
Sometimes it tries to raise and lower at the same time due to music under or such and it sounds a bit weird, but I think this will get you started.

[Todd Reid]

use “export using conversion” and choose your codec (quicktime if desired) than it should be more like what you were expecting.
Those “final cut movies” should still play in quicktime by control-clicking and choosing “open with”, then choose quicktime player.

[Todd Reid]

I have heard about this rare occurrence.

Something extremely similar happened to us and it was determined that the mac had a low level crash, without any visible signs of it crashing. Everything was still up and running, but none of our saves (or auto-saves) were able to be found.

The fix was as simple as rebooting and the problem stopped. We still didn’t have our previous saves, but at least from that point on we maintained our saves. This actually caused a large amount of re-editing.
Not sure if this will help you, but if you haven’t… I suggest rebooting and repair permissions, and see if that does it.

[Todd Reid]

contol-click clip in timeline, choose speed then put a check in the reverse box.