Need help - Audio outputs for DVD and movie
by Gina Miller (nanogirl)
on
Feb 3, 2008 at 12:03:55 am
HI guys, I have a question.
Okay, I'm working on an animation that will have a narration. The narration will most likely be recorded at a sound studio. While I am currently working on the modeling, I of course need the audio track to animate to. So that everything is in sync. When it does get to the studio I'm wondering what will happen there, and what the output will be. My work is set to 1920x1080 24 fps 1 square. We will want to be able to output finals to DVD, TV and cinema potentials when it is done.
But in between thoe final outputs there will also the usual three tracks, including the narration, the music and sound effects. The Music and sound effects I will be able to put together, with the narration track and my animation to sync. Of course the final output will have to be done by professionals, but how does this all work? I keep trying to figure out how this is going to happen, how is the 24fps (film) as opposed to the 29.97 (DVD) addressed? How does the video keep up with the sound when it is changed without it distorting either the sound or the video to match? When the narration is recorded do they give me the 24 fps to work with? Someone early here had told me to render video and sound at 24, that it could be changed later but not the other way around... (in consideration for DVD/TV/film variables). Would this mean if I render all outputs, all sound and the video at 24fps that it could be some how converted to the other outputs later? If that is the case how is that done? And how does this effect my working files? If it does.
If they give me the 24fps of the narration, and I then animate the video and line up the sound effects and music together, do I then render it out as 24fps for the final outputs to then give to the professional studio, and do they then render separate tracks for DVD, film or TV broadcast? Do they use something to output the sound so that it will match all output versions and not sound funny or how does this work?
And can I have some feedback on the order? Record the narration (first because I am going to animate to it). When the animation is done I will add music and effects. Do I then take the whole package back to the sound studio people (who ever they are I haven't figured that out yet)? And in what format? Or am I thinking of this last step (or any for that matter) in correctly - is this done by the DVD makers, or "to film" house? Not sure how the broadcast folks work... do they worry about how the sound matches up to the video upon their output? Really appreciate any help at all on any of these matters.... thanks for bearing with me : ) I know I've mixed up the times here a bit so I have a time line below to help:
Timeline outline:
script is being written (currently)
I am modeling the scenes (currently)
we will have narration recorded in studio (when script is complete)
I will animate to this narration and add sound effects and music, I'll need to give it to the professionals for final outputs.
Final output potials: DVD, braodcast, cinema.
Re: Need help - Audio outputs for DVD and movie by Cale Mooth on Feb 5, 2008 at 3:14:02 pm
Hey Gina,
How are you putting your animation together? It sounds like you're doing everything in the computer? Assuming this is the case and assuming you're using a compositing program like After Effects, once you have everything built the way you want, that compositing program will be able to export a final file to the specifications you desire.
For example, if you're building your project at 1080 24fps, when you tell the software to export to DVD format it will do all the necessary calculations to get that video to 720x480 at 29.97 fps, keeping the audio and video in sync.
However, if you're going to be handing your project files over to a post house, you won't even have to worry about this. Just make sure the source you hand them is exactly how you want it and they can convert everything over without issue.
In terms of workflow it sounds like you've got it covered. If you can get your script and audio done first, that's always easier to animate to. You may want to animate to your narration and then do the score as a final step like you said.
I hope that helps! Again, if you're just going to be handing your final project files off to a post house and having them convert it to DVD, film, etc, they'll be able to handle the whole framerate conversion and you shouldn't have to worry about a thing!
Re: Need help - Audio outputs for DVD and movie by Gina Miller on Feb 6, 2008 at 1:46:00 am
Hi Cale, yes it's all being made on my computer (all animation/no camera) and is being put together in Combustion and I am in fact working at 1080 24fps. Your information has really put me at ease, I'm glad I won't have to worry about output/audio problems. Now I can relax and get back to work. I want to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, it really helped A LOT! : ) Gina`
