Help on where to start project/output
by rehan haque
on
Aug 29, 2008 at 3:17:17 pm
Ive read so many guides and advice forums over the last few days that I think i've over analyzed and confused myself! What I really would appreciate if someone could just tell me " this is your best option, do it like this" ... and I will go away and read up on that.
some background info:
Im very much a newbie when it comes to file types, and rendering options . I'm working on a project for a competition at work, which is a short movie based on the 24 series. Our only guide line is that this needs to be output in mpeg format. ( in my limited knowledge I assume this is mpeg-2, and on dvd). It would be played back on a laptop/projector.
I am using a Sony HD SR11 camcorder and the movie will be not much longer then 5 minutes. I am really stuck for 1) what settings to record my project at 2) what setting to start project at in sony vegas and 3) what settings to output it as.
I recently read a guide to getting a "film-like" look, by converting the footage to 24fps, which was something that interested me. However am not sure what to film the footage in initially. Given my output media, should I even be working in HD ? Can I even record "HD" mpeg to Dvd to be played back on a pc/laptop.
Even if the answer is no, should I be working on HD to start with so that I have flexibilities later on Or is far better to simply work with SD footage for me.
I hope these muddled thoughts make sense! any advice would be most welcome.
Re: Help on where to start project/output by Steve Rhoden on Aug 29, 2008 at 4:36:31 pm
Rehan,
You are reading into too much information as you said.....
Based on the specs you where given, you simply need to render
your footage in "MPEG-2..DVD NTSC" format.
But first make sure your video is clean and clear...and you do
this by making sure everything is nicely color corrected and
color graded...those are the specs you can read upon right now.
(Dont bother complicating the issue with HD and film like look,
those are issue of a different level).
Steve Rhoden
Creative Director
TNX EFFECTS STUDIOS.
sample bits at
www.youtube.com/hentys
Re: Help on where to start project/output by Stephen Mann on Aug 30, 2008 at 3:44:41 am
Don't even think about "film look" right now. It's way, way overhyped, and "24" was shot in HD anyway, not film. (One scene in a Navy helicopter was shot in HDV on the Sony Z1).
Re: Help on where to start project/output by John Rofrano on Aug 31, 2008 at 1:46:48 pm
> What I really would appreciate if someone could just tell me " this is your best option, do it like this" ... and I will go away and read up on that.
This is your best option, do it like this: ;-)
You should always shoot in HD. It gives you more options in post. You will also have better looking SD by starting with high quality HD.
In Vegas use the HD 1080-60i (1920x1080 29.970 fps) project template. Set the Audio properties to 5.1 Surround. This matches your Sony HD SR11 camcorder output best. It also means all of your titles and other generated media will be created as the same high quality HD as your footage.
Render your video using the Main Concept MPEG-2 type with the DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen video stream template. Be sure yo check Stretch video to fill output frame (do not letterbox) because HD 16:9 does not exactly match DV Widescreen 16:9. Also be sure to check Save project markers in media file so that your chapter markers will be saved and available in DVD Architect.
Render your audio using the Dolby Digital AC-3 type with the 5.1 Surround DVD template.
If you have any questions about these choices feel free to ask.
Re: Help on where to start project/output by rehan haque on Aug 31, 2008 at 1:57:44 pm
fantastic, many thanks for your replies. I will indeed ditch the 24fps thing. My main concern was what template to start the the project with given my chosen output. John I think you've answered that perfectly, thank you.
