HDCAM Dub at DVinfo.net

James J. Lee · September 28th, 2009, 06:56 PM

Hey guys, I'm trying to send a 30 sec. commercial to broadcast that have requested an HDCAM tape. I shot the footage in HDV and have edited with Final Cut in Native/Prores 422. I have compressor so could output most formats/codecs. I'm looking for a post house where I could (ideally) FTP a file and have them print to HDCAM tape. No one locally (Marietta, OH) has this capability. I need a fairly quick turn around. Anyone want to do this quick job for me or have recommendations? Thanks, J.Lee

James Brill · September 28th, 2009, 11:10 PM

The file should be around 800MBs which isn't small but falls under the limit for most FTP sites. I would provide the post house with a link to your FTP site, obviously, as well as a fed ex account number to ship the tape with or a pre paid fed ex sheet so they can ship the tape for you as soon as it's done.

I would just create a self contained quicktime movie of your sequence and let the post house which should have Final Cut and some form of a hardware SDI card to play it out to tape with deal with it.

Also don't put bars or a countdown on your quicktime just the start of the show. All of this gets added when laying back to tape in real time by Final Cut. If you need to have a specific title in the front provide a .psd or a type of word document for them to load in the front of the show themselves. I lay back a lot for Final Cut users at the facility I work at and whenever they give me anything before their show it usually gets cut off since it isn't up to spec.

James J. Lee · September 29th, 2009, 08:46 AM

Thanks James. That's good info. I just contacted the closest post house and asked them for a quote. They said that I would save $ putting the slate, bars, & countdown on myself. They will get back to me with a quote. I will be sending a prepayed fedex label. For reference, can you tell me what I should expect to pay for the service?

Shaun Roemich · September 29th, 2009, 09:05 AM

I'd expect to pay for 1 hour of edit suite time plus the tape.

James Brill · October 5th, 2009, 10:25 PM

Yeah expect to spend between 150 to 300 for the dub. I think it's crazy if you get charged for adding bars and tone but whatever. To me that little bit of help with a dub is like coffee or snacks in the waiting room.

Personally I'd rather add it myself and make sure it's to spec than getting a call in the middle of the night frantically asking for me to re dub it. Although I work at a post house not a dub house so that could be why I think that way.

James J. Lee · October 6th, 2009, 08:32 AM

Thanks guys. I had it done semi-locally by delivering the ProRes files to another FCP editor that had an HDCAM deck. He said it would be cheaper if I delivered complete with bars/tone/slate, and I paid $175. I wonder, is there a database out there somewhere of Post & Dubbing shops, their location & capabilities? I used ProductionHUB, but had to make about 10 calls before I found someone that would work.
It's clear that since my investment is currently in HDV shooting & editing, I will be regularly looking for sources of transcoding and dubbing.

David W. Jones · October 9th, 2009, 06:57 AM

You might contact the broadcast outlets you are sending dubs to, and see if they accept data files or ftp transfers. Almost all of the TV stations I have a relationship with prefer that method to tape.

September 28th, 2009, 06:56 PM	#1
James J. Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Triad Area, NC Posts: 99	HDCAM Dub Hey guys, I'm trying to send a 30 sec. commercial to broadcast that have requested an HDCAM tape. I shot the footage in HDV and have edited with Final Cut in Native/Prores 422. I have compressor so could output most formats/codecs. I'm looking for a post house where I could (ideally) FTP a file and have them print to HDCAM tape. No one locally (Marietta, OH) has this capability. I need a fairly quick turn around. Anyone want to do this quick job for me or have recommendations? Thanks, J.Lee __________________ J.Lee Photography, LLC http://www.jamesjlee.com

September 29th, 2009, 08:46 AM	#3
James J. Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Triad Area, NC Posts: 99	Price Reference Thanks James. That's good info. I just contacted the closest post house and asked them for a quote. They said that I would save $ putting the slate, bars, & countdown on myself. They will get back to me with a quote. I will be sending a prepayed fedex label. For reference, can you tell me what I should expect to pay for the service? __________________ J.Lee Photography, LLC http://www.jamesjlee.com

September 29th, 2009, 09:05 AM	#4
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	I'd expect to pay for 1 hour of edit suite time plus the tape. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

October 6th, 2009, 08:32 AM	#6
James J. Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Triad Area, NC Posts: 99	Thanks - Got it Thanks guys. I had it done semi-locally by delivering the ProRes files to another FCP editor that had an HDCAM deck. He said it would be cheaper if I delivered complete with bars/tone/slate, and I paid $175. I wonder, is there a database out there somewhere of Post & Dubbing shops, their location & capabilities? I used ProductionHUB, but had to make about 10 calls before I found someone that would work. It's clear that since my investment is currently in HDV shooting & editing, I will be regularly looking for sources of transcoding and dubbing. __________________ J.Lee Photography, LLC http://www.jamesjlee.com

September 28th, 2009, 11:10 PM	#2
James Brill Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 299	The file should be around 800MBs which isn't small but falls under the limit for most FTP sites. I would provide the post house with a link to your FTP site, obviously, as well as a fed ex account number to ship the tape with or a pre paid fed ex sheet so they can ship the tape for you as soon as it's done. I would just create a self contained quicktime movie of your sequence and let the post house which should have Final Cut and some form of a hardware SDI card to play it out to tape with deal with it. Also don't put bars or a countdown on your quicktime just the start of the show. All of this gets added when laying back to tape in real time by Final Cut. If you need to have a specific title in the front provide a .psd or a type of word document for them to load in the front of the show themselves. I lay back a lot for Final Cut users at the facility I work at and whenever they give me anything before their show it usually gets cut off since it isn't up to spec.

October 5th, 2009, 10:25 PM	#5
James Brill Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 299	Yeah expect to spend between 150 to 300 for the dub. I think it's crazy if you get charged for adding bars and tone but whatever. To me that little bit of help with a dub is like coffee or snacks in the waiting room. Personally I'd rather add it myself and make sure it's to spec than getting a call in the middle of the night frantically asking for me to re dub it. Although I work at a post house not a dub house so that could be why I think that way.

October 9th, 2009, 06:57 AM	#7
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	You might contact the broadcast outlets you are sending dubs to, and see if they accept data files or ftp transfers. Almost all of the TV stations I have a relationship with prefer that method to tape.