Compressor encoding for DGFastchannel
by Mark Arenz
on
Sep 19, 2008 at 7:42:03 pm
I've been using Compressor to make material for DGFastchannel with a setup based on their specs:
File Extension: mpeg
Estimated file size: 6.75 GB/hour of source
Type: MPEG-2 program stream
Video Encoder
Format: M2V
Width: 720
Height: 480
Pixel aspect ratio: NTSC CCIR 601/DV
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: 29.97
Frame Controls: Automatically selected: Off
Start timecode from source
Aspect ratio: 4:3
Field dominance: Bottom first
Average data rate: 15 (Mbps)
2 Pass VBR enabled
Maximum data rate: 18 (Mbps)
High quality
Best motion estimation
Closed GOP Size: 15, Structure: IBBP
DVD Studio Pro meta-data enabled
Audio Encoder
Format: MPEG
Sample Rate: 48.000kHz
Channels: 2
Bits Per Sample: 16
This has worked just fine so far, but now I'm hearing that what hey really want is a 720x512 file. Using "padding" does not seem to make a difference, either. The final result is still 720x480 (according to MPGStreamclip). I could shell out a grand for Episode Pro, including all sorts of capabilities we already have with other aps, but I want to find a way to make Compressor work. Any ideas?
Re: Compressor encoding for DGFastchannel by Tony Corapi on Sep 20, 2008 at 1:48:38 pm
I use a program called Main Concept v 1.5. I have delivered over 150 commercials this way to DGFC and have never had an issue. All my spots have been 720x480 and never a rejection. I was told by DGFC that compressor only did mpeg2 4:2:0 and would not work. Main Concept is around $300. I export a self contained movie out of FCP and then encode that in Main concept and then view the encoded file in VLC which is a mpeg2 viewer for mpeg2 4:2:2.
Re: Compressor encoding for DGFastchannel by Mark Arenz on Sep 22, 2008 at 5:51:52 pm
It's very strange. I've been sending them 720x480 stuff for a while now, but suddenly I hear that what they really want is 720x512. I think that has to do with closed-captioning, but still it seems strange that we have to invest a further $1k in software that does a million things we already do with compressor. Seems like a waste.
Re: Compressor encoding for DGFastchannel by Mark Arenz on Sep 23, 2008 at 6:16:40 pm
Unfortunately, they're the only game in town and they say it is.
So, now I need an MPG2 4:2:2 encoder that can pad the top and bottom (of course, half the engineers sad add 13 to the top & bottom, and the other half say add 26 to the top) or just pass through the raster without scaling. Is there any choice other than paying $1k for software that's about 99.9% redundant?
