What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics?
by Jake Kemper
on
Jul 24, 2008 at 3:58:06 pm
Hello guys, went thought some of the codec lists, but haven't see anything new these days on this subject. I've only recently begun doing a lot of HD for Television, going to be doing a lot more soon. Most of my clients are going HD , so I'll be doing it on a daily basis.
So far I've gotten away with seq. files and Animation codec quicktimes for special projects. I've been asked to use DVCPRO HD, but most of what I do is PC based and that doesn't work out. Looked into Raylight, found this bitjazz codec(seems the best idea so far) but the issue with this solution is, yeah, the reader is free but to get clients to load it would be tough. What my biggest client will be going to is h.264 on Avid systems. I've tried this codec and the file sizes are good, but the quality doesn't seem to be there for graphics.
Wanted to know what workflow people are using out of After Effects for delivery on HD graphics, especially when you're high volume on PC and don't want to kill people's systems needlessly. Seems like HD's nothing new now, has to be a standard graphics workflow out there.
Thanks for any help or feel free to hit me over the head if I'm rambling. ha.
Also, they made me sign up for an account after I wrote this..hope it doesn't double post.
Re: What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics? by ian williamson on Jul 24, 2008 at 5:32:24 pm
If space is the issue, then I use HuffYUV. It's extremely easy to install on a PC (just right click on the codec file and select install), and if they have ffdshow installed, then they already have Huff.
The benefits of Huff are two fold; It's 100% lossless and it supports alpha channel. The downside to Huff is Avid still doesn't import it.
If you are creating graphics for an Avid system, the DNxHD codecs are available to download from Avid. The 220Mb/s HD codec is lossless as well, and if I remember should support an alpha channel. Plus it's a quicktime codec, so your media will work cross platforms.
Re: What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics? by Gary Hazen on Jul 25, 2008 at 1:45:32 pm
I'll second the notion of using DNxHD. I had posted a link to download the codecs, but the Cow is holding the back the post because of the link. Anyway, you can download the DNxHD codec from Avid's site. Do a couple of test renders comparing QT animation to DNxHD 220. I think you'll be pleased with the results and your Engineer will be happy with the smaller size. The editors will enjoy faster import times using an Avid native codec.
Re: What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 24, 2008 at 6:10:19 pm
[Jake Kemper]"Seems like HD's nothing new now, has to be a standard graphics workflow out there. "
Yeah, you're right, HD isn't exactly shiny-new. But what people tend to forget is that a single frame of HD contains at LEAST five times as many pixels as a comparable frame of SD. So in order to maintain picture quality, you need five times the bitrate. And the hardware isn't exactly keeping up yet.
In terms of hardware, we're at the same point with HD as we were with SD perhaps five or ten years ago.
If I were the one making the decisions, I'd stick with universally-available codecs like Quicktime's Animation or JPEG 2000, and let 'em work it out on the receiving end.
Dave LaRonde
Sr. Promotion Producer
KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA
Re: What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics? by Joey Burnham on Jul 24, 2008 at 6:52:50 pm
[Jake Kemper]"don't want to kill people's systems needlessly."
What would kill their system? The large file size? I would assume that if your clients are already working in 1080p then they wouldn't have to worry about file size! If you have 1 main client I would find out what codec they are using in their NLE and use that, or just use animation.
In my experience animation is absolutely wonderful, but there's a little bird around here somewhere who's not so happy with it for some reason, but I don't know why.
Re: What codec are you guys using (pc based) to deliver HD graphics? by Jake Kemper on Jul 24, 2008 at 8:59:02 pm
Honestly, I'd love to stick with Animation codec, but I'm hearing its going to take too much space on the systems. Although, this is from an engeneer that was ticked they were bringing graphics in at DVCpro50 for SD and not 25 so, yeah, he's into numbers, not quality.
Avid Unity system is whats being used currently or something of that flavor.
If thats whats being used then thats whats being used. Its the best thing for us to do, but honestly, it is a big file. If there is some middle ground, I'd like to use it. Especially for the volume of stuff thats going to be going back and forth. Thats for the ideas though, gives me fuel to keep with a lossless codec.
