Best video codec to work in ProTools

[gsilbers]

i am exporting mjpeg A to work oncomputers using PT version 6.9 in OSX and version 7.2. in OSx.4

it seems to work and has been for a while but i want to know if anyone else uses other codecs for video in PT that might be better.

does DV do a better job and if so what settings?

or any other codec but please give the settings cause there are way too many!

thanks

[Jag88]

Hi,
Not sure if you are outputting to an external monitor, but, we use a Canopus for output, which requires a DV compression.

Using QT Pro to export whatever flavor client gives me, settings are...
DV/DVC Pro NTSC ( or PAL depending on where you are )
640 x 480
Medium quality works just fine.

Hope this helps.

JA

[Whitecat]

DV seems to put the least amount of pressure on your CPU when it comes to PT playback. anything I've done has been DV of some flavour, of varying quality, but as long as the frame rate matches everything is cool.

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by Jag88

Hi,
Not sure if you are outputting to an external monitor, but, we use a Canopus for output, which requires a DV compression.

Using QT Pro to export whatever flavor client gives me, settings are...
DV/DVC Pro NTSC ( or PAL depending on where you are )
640 x 480
Medium quality works just fine.

Hope this helps.

JA

thnkas!

there is DVpro ntsc 25 and 50
iwhich one is better for pt?
or whats the differnce?

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by gsilbers

thnkas!

there is DVpro ntsc 25 and 50
iwhich one is better for pt?
or whats the differnce?

Sort of neither.

For PT - the best option, if you're working with NTSC, is simply DV/DVCPRO NTSC - it's the same codec, same bandwidth. In PAL it's just DV-PAL. The difference is in the frame/field rate, but you should be working with whatever framerate the project you're mixing/scoring/whatever is posting in.

[soundguydave]

If the footage wasn't shot in DVC PRO 50, don't bother converting it to that format. regular old DV will look great.

[gsilbers]

thanks

[starcrash13]

I usually ask for Motion JPEG-A 640x480 (or 320x240 if it makes it easier for the client to send a smaller file and a grungy work print is OK with everyone). DV may be better quality and slightly less CPU taxing, but the file size is way bigger which can be annoying for transfer when you are dealing with six reels. Of course Canopus, which I do not use, requires DV.

I ask that the dialog/ production sound be panned hard left and editor's music/ temp FX be panned hard right. I also ask for an academy leader, tail pop, and F+F window burn (or timecode). Usual stuff.

[soundboy]

I use a Mojo, so I ask for DV25, and sometimes thats what I get! If I have time I stick it in Media Station and transcode it to MXF, that way it is truly frame accurate with the mojo. Otherwise, there is always an offset.