Need some suggestions for easily batch converting a bunch of CF'ed 1920x1080 clips to regular 4x3 DV (letterboxed). Though we could do it with HDLink, the foreign customer would then need the CF codec to decode them for their use. Not good...

We're doing it in AE now to batch convert to m2v's, but wondered if there's a better mousetrap out there for this? How can we quickly and easily batch down-vert these to regular DV size and format (720x480 MPEG2 in AVI wrappers)?

Somehow the DV/D1 world is getting dimmer now and we can't wrap our brains around how to do it more easily from 1920 HD.

Stephen,

Try TMPG EXPRESS 4.0 / http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html

Best value for money.

Just used the trial Tmpg 4.0 today and it is really sweet with the AC3 feature. I compaired mpeg encoding to main concept and IMO Tmpg is the winner.

Stephen,

Try TMPG EXPRESS 4.0 / http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html

Best value for money.

We've got it, but it doesn't do batch converts easily, as you're forced to make each file a "project" with TMPGEnc 4. Not friendly at all, unless we missed something somewhere

...Though we could do it with HDLink, the foreign customer would then need the CF codec to decode them for their use. Not good...
Stephen, the customer can always download CineForm's free Neo Player for either Windows or Mac to view footage. It's really just the CineForm decoder and it never expires. He/she can view footage in WM Player, in an editing app (PPro/Vegas) on Windows, or similar on Mac. Distributing the CineForm files will save a step of going to another codec.

Problem is, our agreement was to supply these foreign customers with some downscaled DV versions of some of our stock footage (shot in their private forest gardens) so they could use them if wanted.

The free decoder/player is certainly easy to download and use, but doesn't help us meet that criteria for them. They need something generic.

We've got it, but it doesn't do batch converts easily, as you're forced to make each file a "project" with TMPGEnc 4. Not friendly at all, unless we missed something somewhere

Stephen, skip the batch encode tool - Load multiple clips via the ADD FILE
BUTTON / Click the deafault - apply filters tab and select Output Format
(This preset can be saved for cont. use) Also select -"output mode" on top as preferred choice.

This will encode all your clips loaded in the loaded order and save them as
seperate clips.

It seems like the batch tool merely splits up your processing power to start encoding all the clips at once - 1 x clip per processor - Time wise it calculates to the same objective.

Hope this helps/
Sorry for the poor English.

Tnx Herman, it worked just fine. Funny I had never tried multiple clips with it, as I never needed to before...

I do like TMPGEnc for it's control over output and speed. I had given up on it and now it's back in the show!