How to render for editing at DVinfo.net

Jeff Harper · January 31st, 2012, 10:16 AM

I have some 1920 x 1080 24p AVCHD video, 40 minutes in length that I've edited and I must deliver this same video to the customer so that they can in turn edit again.

I had to edit in advance for them because they cannot edit multicamera themselves (which I found out AFTER the shoot) so I had to choose the best shots and audio sources, etc, and now they will simply cut out the best pieces for their own use on the web later. They do not want me to do this, but had originally wanted me to edit and changed their minds, now they want to do it themselves.

Anyway, how to render this footage for them? I just realized I should find out what they are editing with first, so I'll find out and report back.

Seth Bloombaum · January 31st, 2012, 11:12 AM

It's a pretty short list, and totally depends on what their editing system can accept. The big one is whether they're on Mac or PC.

Avid DNxHD - several flavors, a free codec download from AVID, runs in a QT wrapper, is mac/pc compatible. I've never investigated the various 24p options.

Cineform - (aren't you a big user of this?) Prior to GoPro's purchase, a cross-platform codec with freeware players on Mac & PC. Maybe it still is, I've not kept up.

Sony MXF - if their system will accept it, I've never used it outside of Vegas, don't know much about distribution of the codec outside of the Vegas world.

Lagarith - a freeware codec that's pretty versatile, but you need a bit more DIY to make use of it. Runs in an AVI wrapper.

HuffyYUV - Haven't used this for years, it may be available cross platform. Similar to Lagarith.

Others? Of course I'm listing the common DI formats, very high quality with some compression.

If all else fails - Uncompressed AVI, or QT Animation Codec. Neither of these are compressed, they will be huge. But, for this kind of project you're going to need to deliver on a hard drive anyway. If cross platform, you'll need HFS+ mac drivers on your PC, or they'll need NTFS drivers on their Mac to break the 4GB filesize barrier.

PS. All the above would be considered editing codecs. Some folks ignore conventional wisdom about quality, and deliver highly compressed files in this situation, say, a high bitrate h.264. All the math and codec engineering says they're wrong to do so, but they do it anyway, and the end viewers rarely know the difference.

Jeff Harper · January 31st, 2012, 11:37 AM

Seth, thanks for kindly outlining the options available for me. I want to render right out of Vegas, and I'm thinking of just rendering out to an avi file, and yes the file will be huge, I'm sure.

I just learned they are editing in Windows Movie Maker, so an avi should be fine for them.

Thanks again! Jeff

Mike Kujbida · January 31st, 2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

I just learned they are editing in Windows Movie Maker, so an avi should be fine for them.

WMM? Shudder :(
Beg and/or plead with them to buy a copy of Vegas Movie Studio HD 11
It's only $45 and will make their editing life a LOT easier.

Jeff Harper · January 31st, 2012, 12:54 PM

Mike, I hear what you're saying.

The customer is comfortable with WMM, only wants to extract short clips from the video, and should work fine for them.

I really don't care what she uses, to be honest. My main concern is to get files to her and move on to my next project!

Thanks for the advice, it's not a bad idea at all.

Dan McGuckin · February 2nd, 2012, 06:18 AM

If they are editing in WMM, you may as well render to WMV as that's what they are most likely going to render out to.
I remember not so long ago when I was in WMM and all proud of my movies. lol.

Jeff Harper · February 2nd, 2012, 06:43 AM

My first video was made with WMM. It was a wonderfully simple interface. I still remember how strange and mysterious the whole movie making thing was to me, and how amazing it was to watch something I put together on a DVD.

Leslie Wand · February 2nd, 2012, 04:36 PM

i still teach my basic course using mm. it's universal, free, and very stable.

it might not have any bells and whistles, but that can be a huge advantage when trying to teach 'structure' rather than anything else.

January 31st, 2012, 10:16 AM	#1
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	How to render for editing I have some 1920 x 1080 24p AVCHD video, 40 minutes in length that I've edited and I must deliver this same video to the customer so that they can in turn edit again. I had to edit in advance for them because they cannot edit multicamera themselves (which I found out AFTER the shoot) so I had to choose the best shots and audio sources, etc, and now they will simply cut out the best pieces for their own use on the web later. They do not want me to do this, but had originally wanted me to edit and changed their minds, now they want to do it themselves. Anyway, how to render this footage for them? I just realized I should find out what they are editing with first, so I'll find out and report back.

January 31st, 2012, 11:12 AM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: How to render for editing It's a pretty short list, and totally depends on what their editing system can accept. The big one is whether they're on Mac or PC. Avid DNxHD - several flavors, a free codec download from AVID, runs in a QT wrapper, is mac/pc compatible. I've never investigated the various 24p options. Cineform - (aren't you a big user of this?) Prior to GoPro's purchase, a cross-platform codec with freeware players on Mac & PC. Maybe it still is, I've not kept up. Sony MXF - if their system will accept it, I've never used it outside of Vegas, don't know much about distribution of the codec outside of the Vegas world. Lagarith - a freeware codec that's pretty versatile, but you need a bit more DIY to make use of it. Runs in an AVI wrapper. HuffyYUV - Haven't used this for years, it may be available cross platform. Similar to Lagarith. Others? Of course I'm listing the common DI formats, very high quality with some compression. If all else fails - Uncompressed AVI, or QT Animation Codec. Neither of these are compressed, they will be huge. But, for this kind of project you're going to need to deliver on a hard drive anyway. If cross platform, you'll need HFS+ mac drivers on your PC, or they'll need NTFS drivers on their Mac to break the 4GB filesize barrier. PS. All the above would be considered editing codecs. Some folks ignore conventional wisdom about quality, and deliver highly compressed files in this situation, say, a high bitrate h.264. All the math and codec engineering says they're wrong to do so, but they do it anyway, and the end viewers rarely know the difference. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

January 31st, 2012, 11:37 AM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: How to render for editing Seth, thanks for kindly outlining the options available for me. I want to render right out of Vegas, and I'm thinking of just rendering out to an avi file, and yes the file will be huge, I'm sure. I just learned they are editing in Windows Movie Maker, so an avi should be fine for them. Thanks again! Jeff

January 31st, 2012, 12:54 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: How to render for editing Mike, I hear what you're saying. The customer is comfortable with WMM, only wants to extract short clips from the video, and should work fine for them. I really don't care what she uses, to be honest. My main concern is to get files to her and move on to my next project! Thanks for the advice, it's not a bad idea at all.

February 2nd, 2012, 06:18 AM	#6
Dan McGuckin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 71	Re: How to render for editing If they are editing in WMM, you may as well render to WMV as that's what they are most likely going to render out to. I remember not so long ago when I was in WMM and all proud of my movies. lol.

February 2nd, 2012, 06:43 AM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: How to render for editing My first video was made with WMM. It was a wonderfully simple interface. I still remember how strange and mysterious the whole movie making thing was to me, and how amazing it was to watch something I put together on a DVD.

February 2nd, 2012, 04:36 PM	#8
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	Re: How to render for editing i still teach my basic course using mm. it's universal, free, and very stable. it might not have any bells and whistles, but that can be a huge advantage when trying to teach 'structure' rather than anything else. __________________ www.lesliewand.com.au