Avid Export Advice at DVinfo.net

Hugh Calveley · September 18th, 2008, 10:41 PM

I'm trying to export my Avid Canon HDV 50i project for playback on the following displays.

1) Large Plasma and or digital projector.
The input to this device will be the output from a laptop (S-Video or better).

2) Small LCD the input being a DVD.

I've spent about a day playing with various file formats and codecs (From Sorenson 3 to Xvid) and all have failed, either from being too low quality or too large (some were getting over a 1gig for just 2mins of footage) for the players (QT, VLC) to handle.

What was really depressing was that I downloaded the marymoorHD.wmv example video from this site and it was less than 60meg and looked way better than anything I had produced :-(

Both displays will be progressive so should I be looking at deinterlacing or should I just trust the smarts in the displays?

I know there are going to be quite a few variables (how fast is the computer playing out the footage etc) but if you could tell me how you're getting your footage out and or give me some general pointers - workflows - tools I should use to get the best quality footage for the respective displays - I would be very grateful!

Cheers

Hugh

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere - I did a search and couldn't find anything that useful.

Bill Pryor · September 19th, 2008, 08:43 AM

We have an ancient PC in the conference room going to a 50" plasma. I've found the best combination of something that looks good and something this fit-for-only-the-trash computer can play is an H.264 QT at 1080 X 720. I export with QT Conversion, put a key frame every 24 frames (it's from a 23.98 timeline). I'm using FCP, not Avid, but you should be able to do an H.264 I would think.

September 18th, 2008, 10:41 PM	#1
Hugh Calveley New Boot Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Auckland New Zealand Posts: 9	Avid Export Advice I'm trying to export my Avid Canon HDV 50i project for playback on the following displays. 1) Large Plasma and or digital projector. The input to this device will be the output from a laptop (S-Video or better). 2) Small LCD the input being a DVD. I've spent about a day playing with various file formats and codecs (From Sorenson 3 to Xvid) and all have failed, either from being too low quality or too large (some were getting over a 1gig for just 2mins of footage) for the players (QT, VLC) to handle. What was really depressing was that I downloaded the marymoorHD.wmv example video from this site and it was less than 60meg and looked way better than anything I had produced :-( Both displays will be progressive so should I be looking at deinterlacing or should I just trust the smarts in the displays? I know there are going to be quite a few variables (how fast is the computer playing out the footage etc) but if you could tell me how you're getting your footage out and or give me some general pointers - workflows - tools I should use to get the best quality footage for the respective displays - I would be very grateful! Cheers Hugh Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere - I did a search and couldn't find anything that useful.

September 19th, 2008, 08:43 AM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	We have an ancient PC in the conference room going to a 50" plasma. I've found the best combination of something that looks good and something this fit-for-only-the-trash computer can play is an H.264 QT at 1080 X 720. I export with QT Conversion, put a key frame every 24 frames (it's from a 23.98 timeline). I'm using FCP, not Avid, but you should be able to do an H.264 I would think.