Specific advise on codec and bit rate at DVinfo.net

Cees van Kempen · January 20th, 2012, 08:14 AM

With my nanoflash I ususally shoot I-Frame Only @ 220 mbps. I prefer I-Frame above LongGop for my workflow. Shortly I will be on an expedition with no access to mains and I will dump my footage on Nexto devices. I want to keep data rate lower during this trip and consider two options:

- Shoot LongGop @ 50mbps and transcode to Prores in post
- Shoot I-Frame @ 100mbps and work with this files in post

I understood well that quality of LongGop @50 should be better than I-Frame @100, but am not sure if that will still be the case when transcoded to Prores afterwards.

Does anyone have advise on which will give the best end result quality wise?

Andy Mangrum · January 20th, 2012, 09:55 AM

Hello Cees,

What NLE are you using to edit your footage?

Best Regards

Dan Keaton · January 20th, 2012, 03:07 PM

Dear Cees,

Personally, I never recommend 100 Mbps I-Frame Only.

I would shoot 50 Mbps Long-GOP over 100 Mbps I-Frame Only.

140 Mbps I-Frame Only is ok to use.

100 Mbps I-Frame Only should be reserved for very unusual situations.

Dave Sperling · January 21st, 2012, 10:56 AM

My feeling is that if you have enough cards, go with 100Mbps Long-GOP. The picture will be that much better, and then Xfer to pro-res if you need to. Start with the best image you can afford! The nano at 100/LongGOP is excellent!

Ronan Fournier · January 21st, 2012, 11:10 AM

If you are on expedition with a limited space on the Nexto, 100Mb/s maybe be risky. 50Mb/s is good (approved for broadcasting by BBC) but you may think that you haven't the best possible quality for your project. So the good compromise seems to be Long-Gop 80Mb/s! :)

You may also adapt the data rate during the shooting: 50Mb/s for interview, 100Mb/ for complex shots in nature with a lot of movements for instance…

Cees van Kempen · January 23rd, 2012, 02:39 AM

Thanks all. It seems 50-100 mbps LongGop is the way to.

Andy, I use Final Cut Pro 6.

Cees

Dan Keaton · January 23rd, 2012, 07:12 AM

Dear Cees,

For Final Cut Pro, for you situation, 50 to 100 Mbps Long-GOP should work great.

If you have scenes with an excessive amount of detail, or excessive movement, then 100 Mbps is preferred.

If you were editing it older versions of Avid, then 50 Mbps Long-GOP would be preferred.

Andy Mangrum · January 23rd, 2012, 11:35 AM

Hello Cees,

Any Bit rate would work fine for Final Cut Pro,

Everyone has mentioned very good advice,

Thanks Everyone,

Best Regards

Adam Letch · January 23rd, 2012, 05:37 PM

I'd go the 80mbps long GOP, noticed a worthy jump in quality from 50, and you save space over 100. But at the end of the day, the size of your field back up will determine everything..

Ron Little · February 2nd, 2012, 10:05 AM

I just finished a music video shot on green screen. I went with 50mbps long gop. Would 80 mbps be better for green screen?

Dan Keaton · February 2nd, 2012, 12:14 PM

Dear Ron,

50 Mbps Long-Gop may work fine for you, for green screen work.

I would normally recommend 100 Mbps Long-GOP, unless one is editing in older versions of Avid.

Ron Little · February 3rd, 2012, 10:07 AM

Thanks Dan. I have another green screen job coming up. I will give the 100mbps setting a try. I guess I should test it with CS5 before the job just to make sure I can edit it.

Dan Keaton · February 3rd, 2012, 10:14 AM

Dear Ron,

That is always a good idea.

Ron Little · February 26th, 2012, 08:54 AM

Dan, I just wanted to check back in to let you know that the green screen shoot at 100mbps went well. It was the easiest key I have ever pulled. It is 100mbps from now on.

The Nanoflash is a great product but your service is above and beyond.
Thanks Ron Little

Dan Keaton · February 26th, 2012, 09:24 AM

Dear Ron,

Thank you very much for your kind comments.

We try hard to provide world-class service 24/7.

January 20th, 2012, 08:14 AM	#1
Cees van Kempen Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nieuw-Vossemeer, The Netherlands Posts: 455	Specific advise on codec and bit rate With my nanoflash I ususally shoot I-Frame Only @ 220 mbps. I prefer I-Frame above LongGop for my workflow. Shortly I will be on an expedition with no access to mains and I will dump my footage on Nexto devices. I want to keep data rate lower during this trip and consider two options: - Shoot LongGop @ 50mbps and transcode to Prores in post - Shoot I-Frame @ 100mbps and work with this files in post I understood well that quality of LongGop @50 should be better than I-Frame @100, but am not sure if that will still be the case when transcoded to Prores afterwards. Does anyone have advise on which will give the best end result quality wise?

January 20th, 2012, 09:55 AM	#2
Andy Mangrum Sponsor: Convergent Design Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Colorado Posts: 166	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Hello Cees, What NLE are you using to edit your footage? Best Regards __________________ Andy Mangrum, Tech Support Convergent Design, Inc

January 20th, 2012, 03:07 PM	#3
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dear Cees, Personally, I never recommend 100 Mbps I-Frame Only. I would shoot 50 Mbps Long-GOP over 100 Mbps I-Frame Only. 140 Mbps I-Frame Only is ok to use. 100 Mbps I-Frame Only should be reserved for very unusual situations. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

January 21st, 2012, 10:56 AM	#4
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate My feeling is that if you have enough cards, go with 100Mbps Long-GOP. The picture will be that much better, and then Xfer to pro-res if you need to. Start with the best image you can afford! The nano at 100/LongGOP is excellent!

January 21st, 2012, 11:10 AM	#5
Ronan Fournier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Paris, France Posts: 201	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate If you are on expedition with a limited space on the Nexto, 100Mb/s maybe be risky. 50Mb/s is good (approved for broadcasting by BBC) but you may think that you haven't the best possible quality for your project. So the good compromise seems to be Long-Gop 80Mb/s! :) You may also adapt the data rate during the shooting: 50Mb/s for interview, 100Mb/ for complex shots in nature with a lot of movements for instance… __________________ http://www.songesdemoai.com/

January 23rd, 2012, 02:39 AM	#6
Cees van Kempen Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nieuw-Vossemeer, The Netherlands Posts: 455	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Thanks all. It seems 50-100 mbps LongGop is the way to. Andy, I use Final Cut Pro 6. Cees

January 23rd, 2012, 07:12 AM	#7
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dear Cees, For Final Cut Pro, for you situation, 50 to 100 Mbps Long-GOP should work great. If you have scenes with an excessive amount of detail, or excessive movement, then 100 Mbps is preferred. If you were editing it older versions of Avid, then 50 Mbps Long-GOP would be preferred. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

January 23rd, 2012, 11:35 AM	#8
Andy Mangrum Sponsor: Convergent Design Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Colorado Posts: 166	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Hello Cees, Any Bit rate would work fine for Final Cut Pro, Everyone has mentioned very good advice, Thanks Everyone, Best Regards __________________ Andy Mangrum, Tech Support Convergent Design, Inc

January 23rd, 2012, 05:37 PM	#9
Adam Letch Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 414	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate I'd go the 80mbps long GOP, noticed a worthy jump in quality from 50, and you save space over 100. But at the end of the day, the size of your field back up will determine everything..

February 2nd, 2012, 10:05 AM	#10
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate I just finished a music video shot on green screen. I went with 50mbps long gop. Would 80 mbps be better for green screen?

February 2nd, 2012, 12:14 PM	#11
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dear Ron, 50 Mbps Long-Gop may work fine for you, for green screen work. I would normally recommend 100 Mbps Long-GOP, unless one is editing in older versions of Avid. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 3rd, 2012, 10:07 AM	#12
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Thanks Dan. I have another green screen job coming up. I will give the 100mbps setting a try. I guess I should test it with CS5 before the job just to make sure I can edit it.

February 3rd, 2012, 10:14 AM	#13
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dear Ron, That is always a good idea. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 26th, 2012, 08:54 AM	#14
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dan, I just wanted to check back in to let you know that the green screen shoot at 100mbps went well. It was the easiest key I have ever pulled. It is 100mbps from now on. The Nanoflash is a great product but your service is above and beyond. Thanks Ron Little

February 26th, 2012, 09:24 AM	#15
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Specific advise on codec and bit rate Dear Ron, Thank you very much for your kind comments. We try hard to provide world-class service 24/7. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia