Post House for Cineform Files

Rich Perry · March 12th, 2010, 08:57 PM

Can anyone recommend a good post house that would be able to convert 720p (59.94fps) cineform (avi) for output to HDCAM SR, NTSC SPBetacam or Digibetacam. I need to supply deliverables to a cable network.

It's been requested that the program master be textless and graphics free except for opening and closing credits. Audio configuration shall be: Track 1: full mix stereo left; Track 2: full mix stereo right; Track 3: narration, V/O's, stand-ups, interviews, NAT sound, background noise: anything constituting primary and secondary audio; Track 4: music (mixed to mono) and added effects only.

The other question I have is how exactly can I prepare multichannel output like this for a post house? Does anyone have any experiance with them taking PP project files or is there another method? There is a possibility that I can suplly a hard drive to a network but again not sure exactly how this would need to be formated. Thanks for any help -

David Newman · March 12th, 2010, 09:23 PM

FotoKem is doing a lot with CineForm media, but so are many of the big facilities now.

Chad Haufschild · March 12th, 2010, 09:33 PM

Hey, Rich. I just went through a simlar situation for a VOD deal. I used Fotokem in Burbank, CA. FotoKem - Home.

I was able to send them a hard drive with a Cineform 720p24 (23.976) file for a digibeta dub. They handled the whole thing with great communication and cool heads. They took my file and imported it into FCP for output to digibeta.

We ran into a little issue with their Mac recognizing the file at the wrong frame rate (never got a straight answer about the problem) but they found a work around and got it to my distribution company on time.

I didn't have to deal with the multiple audio tracks you have to, but I've done it in the past. My suggestion is to ask the post facility how they want it so it's done right the first time. What I've done (different post house) is output each individual track you need separately as a single wav file labeled accordingly (track 1, track 2, etc.). Drop those on the same hard drive and they assemble the audio in their post system. But I'd still ask how they want it. It will save the headaches.

Rich Perry · March 12th, 2010, 09:40 PM

Thanks for the info David, it's good to hear more post houses are accepting Cineform.
Chad - Great tips, these were my initial thoughts also, I will follow up with them - thanks.

March 12th, 2010, 08:57 PM	#1
Rich Perry Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 278	Post House for Cineform Files - Can anyone recommend a good post house that would be able to convert 720p (59.94fps) cineform (avi) for output to HDCAM SR, NTSC SPBetacam or Digibetacam. I need to supply deliverables to a cable network. It's been requested that the program master be textless and graphics free except for opening and closing credits. Audio configuration shall be: Track 1: full mix stereo left; Track 2: full mix stereo right; Track 3: narration, V/O's, stand-ups, interviews, NAT sound, background noise: anything constituting primary and secondary audio; Track 4: music (mixed to mono) and added effects only. The other question I have is how exactly can I prepare multichannel output like this for a post house? Does anyone have any experiance with them taking PP project files or is there another method? There is a possibility that I can suplly a hard drive to a network but again not sure exactly how this would need to be formated. Thanks for any help -

March 12th, 2010, 09:23 PM	#2
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	FotoKem is doing a lot with CineForm media, but so are many of the big facilities now. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

March 12th, 2010, 09:33 PM	#3
Chad Haufschild Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 162	Hey, Rich. I just went through a simlar situation for a VOD deal. I used Fotokem in Burbank, CA. FotoKem - Home. I was able to send them a hard drive with a Cineform 720p24 (23.976) file for a digibeta dub. They handled the whole thing with great communication and cool heads. They took my file and imported it into FCP for output to digibeta. We ran into a little issue with their Mac recognizing the file at the wrong frame rate (never got a straight answer about the problem) but they found a work around and got it to my distribution company on time. I didn't have to deal with the multiple audio tracks you have to, but I've done it in the past. My suggestion is to ask the post facility how they want it so it's done right the first time. What I've done (different post house) is output each individual track you need separately as a single wav file labeled accordingly (track 1, track 2, etc.). Drop those on the same hard drive and they assemble the audio in their post system. But I'd still ask how they want it. It will save the headaches.

March 12th, 2010, 09:40 PM	#4
Rich Perry Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 278	Thanks for the info David, it's good to hear more post houses are accepting Cineform. Chad - Great tips, these were my initial thoughts also, I will follow up with them - thanks.