I'm a new Media Composer user and I'm not very sure which codecs/resolutions to use in importing and exporting my files; essentially: What codec should I use for import? What codec should I use for export? (highest quality) What does batch import do? What is the meaning of DNxHD, and does Media Composer come with it or do I have to download it separately? (I hope that doesn't sound like a stupid question)
I think I have to clarify my import question, because when I did research on that question, different people seemed to have different import codec options for the particular type of file they were importing. I use a Panasonic AG-HMC40 for all my video which is .MTS files, and it is also HD. (AVCHD files) The following are the import resolution options. Please tell me what each one of these means, and which are the highest/lowest quality, and the smallest/largest files. Also, are these MXF files all part of DNxHD, or not/is that something entirely different? Are they HD codec options, or are they all SD? Thanks in advance.
DV 45 211 MXF
DV 50 MXF
15:1s MXF
10:1m MXF
4:1m MXF
4:1s MXF
2:1s MXF
20:1 MXF
10:1 MXF
3:1 MXF
2:1 MXF
MPEG 30 MXF
MPEG 40 MXF
MPEG 50 MXF
1:1 MXF
1:1 10b MXF
Sibz:What codec should I use for import?
Sibz:What codec should I use for export? (highest quality)
Sibz:What does batch import do?
Sibz:What is the meaning of DNxHD
Sibz:do I have to download it separately?
Sibz:Are they HD codec options, or are they all SD
What you list is all SD. That tells me that you have your project set up for SD. If you go to the Project Window, Format tab, you can change it to HD. That will give you HD resolutions for import, capture and/or render.
I have little to no experience with MTS files, and I don't think MC5.5 will import these directly, hope others will chime in. In v6 you can AMA-link to these files and then transcode them, AFAIK.
Job ter Burg:That tells me that you have your project set up for SD. If you go to the Project Window, Format tab, you can change it to HD. That will give you HD resolutions for import, capture and/or render.
Yes, that indeed was my problem. Now, I can import using the DNxHD format, and now it actually looks HD when I'm editing. Also, I did a test export using the settings you described (same as source) and that worked out excellently. I'm doing some tests on importing as well, and I don't see much difference between the DNxHD 220 X MXF and 1:1 MXF, is DNxHD just a smaller file, but an equal amount of quality as 1:1? Thanks for all your help.
1:1 means uncompressed. The 'X' in DNxHD220X means 10bit (which is of no use if you start from 8-bit media, such as your MTS files), and it will be compressed. The X just means that you compress more bits into the same bandwidth, and since your source is 8-bit, you are using part of that bandwidth for two empty bits.
But even regular 8-bit 220 (non-X) would still be overkill, because your MTS source footage is already so severely compressed. Using 145 (non-X) will likely suffice. Nothing wrong with going 220 if you can spare the drive space. Going with 1:1 is possible but I don't see any benefit in it for your workflow.
In the early stages of a project I find it better to import at a lower resolution (ie, DV25 or 15:1s). Then I do my edit and when we have pix lock, I will Batch Import the final Seq to bring the material used up to my desired delivery resolution.
It'll save you loads of drive space and your CPU won't have to work as hard when you're doing the cutting.
Food for thought, one hour of footage imported at DNx145 is going to require about 63GB. The same hour at DV25 uses about 13GB. That's a 50GB difference per hour, that can be a huge factor depending on how much footage you have, etc.
Kenton VanNatten | Avid Editor (for hire)
"I am not obsessed... I'm detail-oriented"
Thanks for the tips. By the way I have another option called AVC Intra 100 MXF, does that have anything to do with AVCHD files/Would I benefit from importing to that resolution? Thanks.
Sibz:AVC Intra 100 MXF, does that have anything to do with AVCHD files/Would I benefit from importing to that resolution
No and no.
What is the difference between AVC-Intra and AVCHD?
While AVCHD and AVC-Intra are both H.264 compliant codecs, they are very different. AVC-Intra is a professional intra- frame codec with bit rates of 50 and 100Mb/s, utilizing the High 10 Intra and High 422 Intra profiles of H.264 respectively. AVC Intra 100 offers professionals mastering quality video for the highest level of HD production, while AVC-Intra 50 provides video quality similar to that of DVCPRO HD, but at half the bit rate, a plus for news and bandwidth efficient requirements. AVCHD is a consumer high definition (HD) digital video camera recorder format announced jointly by Panasonic, Sony, Canon and others. AVCHD is a long GOP H.264 implementation designed for less demanding prosumer and consumer applications.
AVC-Intra 100 is used with Avid in some broadcast facilities that are completely set up around an end-to-end AVC-Intra workflow.
Ok, great! I'm glad I know which formats to use now, because before I would've had no idea, (I may have even exported my final cut to SD)...so thanks for all the help!
You're welcome. Happy editing!
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