XDCAM EX 1080p24 to DVD - any advice?
by Tangier Clarke
on
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:37:22 pm
Folks, I am getting ready to make a DVD from our show which uses the XDCAM EX 1080p24 format (entirely edited in this native format). Just wanted to see if anyone had any pointers and/or advice before I do the standard make quicktime, send to compressor for my dvd files, import to DVDSP, etc.
Trying to get the best quality I can with what I have (Final Cut Studio, Latest version - snow leopard)
Some have suggested going to some flavor of ProRes Quicktime first, so I would just like some feedback.
Re: XDCAM EX 1080p24 to DVD - any advice? by Alex Elkins on Nov 4, 2009 at 11:05:59 am
[Tangier Clarke]"Some have suggested going to some flavor of ProRes Quicktime first, so I would just like some feedback."
You should definitely render your timeline as ProRes first. Rendering as XDCAM EX will add additional compression unnecessarily.
In your sequence settings window (CMD+0) simply change 'Compressor' to Apple ProRes 422'. Then under the Video Processing tab of the same window change to 'Render all YUV material in high-precision YUV'.
Doing these things will ensure that you don't lose any quality that you might see as a result of adding text, effects, colour correction etc.
The[Tangier Clarke]"Just wanted to see if anyone had any pointers and/or advice before I do the standard make quicktime, send to compressor for my dvd files, import to DVDSP"
Re: XDCAM EX 1080p24 to DVD - any advice? by Tangier Clarke on Nov 4, 2009 at 2:45:18 pm
Can I just export to Quicktime movie to yield the same results? My timelines are already fully rendered with color correction and filters and I don't likely have the time to change the render settings, rerender, and marry my mix to picture before exporting to quicktimes.
I would export using the ProRes 422 codec, not the HQ if that's OK. Please advise and thanks. Afte this, i don't think i want to use the xdcam ex codec anymore. I need to spend more time with the prores format.
Re: XDCAM EX 1080p24 to DVD - any advice? by Alex Elkins on Nov 4, 2009 at 3:26:43 pm
[Tangier Clarke]"Can I just export to Quicktime movie to yield the same results? My timelines are already fully rendered with color correction and filters and I don't likely have the time to change the render settings, rerender, and marry my mix to picture before exporting to quicktimes."
If you export a Quicktime file as ProRes after rendering the timeline as XDCAM then you will have still added unnecessary compression. Exporting as ProRes won't add further noticeable compression but it's diligent to export from a ProRes timeline to begin with.
My suggestion would be to duplicate the timeline so you still maintain the rendered XDCAM version. Then in the new timeline change the compressor setting to Apple ProRes 422, render and export. If you don't have the time, or don't require the best possible quality then you can export from the XDCAM timeline as you suggested. It's just not the best way to do it.
[Tangier Clarke]"I would export using the ProRes 422 codec, not the HQ"
That's exactly what I'd do. HQ is overkill for something originating on XDCAM.
Re: XDCAM EX 1080p24 to DVD - any advice? by Tangier Clarke on Nov 6, 2009 at 10:33:25 pm
Thanks for the tips, but i want to clarify. You mentioned to change the compressor toe ProRes 422. How about the Render control to ProRes 422?. I've read some people only changing that option rathe than the compressor.
