Posting files for Windows users

[direttore]

Hi,

I have some test footage I could share, but don't know what extension to use for all users including Windows folk. I'm on the Mac and the captured files from FCP come up as Quicktime files but with no extension. I tried adding "m2t" but then VLC wouldn't play it as it does with other downloaded files so my guess is that they are not "m2t" files. What are they?

[stephenlnoe]

You could upload the MOV's that QT makes. I think for those type of files I change the extention to m2v or m2t and then they'll import into any NLE.

[WarrenS]

That's assuming you shot and edited to HDV they would be m2t. What codec did you use on the timeline?

[direttore]

Warren, since this is for the JVC HD100 clips, yes, I shot HDV. I didn't put it into any timeline or sequence yet. They're just raw as captured by FCP 5.0.4 with Quicktime 7.0.4 on Tiger 10.4.5 (everything the latest...). They land with no extension, so I was just trying to make sure the Windows guys will be able to use them if I post them. Some interesting footage... I tried chaging the extension to "m2t" but then VLC Player which is the one I use on the Mac side to play m2t files did not recognize them, so it's a bit confusing...

[WarrenS]

If you captured into FCP I think it puts it in a QT wrapper. If you go to captured footage and right click "open with QuickTime" does it play? You probably just need a .mov extension for windows guys to play in QuickTime. Why not put a few seconds up and I'll see if I can open it?

Warren

[direttore]

They come up as Quicktime files. I don't need to "right click to open with Quicktime".

I zipped the first file, but again, when you un-Zip it, it will not have an extension on the Windows side. On the Mac it should come up OK as Quicktime files.

It's a 108 MB file and it's here (http://www.baypointbiosystems.com/transfer/Scene-tests-5.zip)

It was shot on a semi-sunny day in San Francisco aiming at a corner coffee shop.

It was shot with Paolo's settings for "True Color" see http://www.paolociccone.com/hd100-calibration.html
[I think we all owe a great big applause to Paolo for doing all this work for us; the settings are the best, if you ever tried the default HD Live 30 setting that comes with the camera you'll see the difference, the horror... the horror...]

White balance was the 5600 K preset.

Evaluating previous tests, I like shooting with Black Stretch 3 for the widest latitude and Detail at -3, anything below that for Detail starts to look too soft for me. In this clip I switch on the fly between Black Stretch "Normal" and "3" so you can see the difference.

I shot this series of tests in an environment with diffused sunlight, plenty of shadow areas, moving objects, close-up and wide... so you can see all the goodies - which is the point of the test.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's one that's a wide shot and the Detail is set to -2. Black stretch 3 and everything else stayed the same as in the previous (No. 5) cip.

It's 43 MB and it's here. (http://http://www.baypointbiosystems.com/transfer/Scene-tests-15.zip)

On the above shot, white balance was custom set on a white card. This is a little warmer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's another variation, a closer shot of people sitting outside the coffee shop (same settings as above: Detail -2 Black Stretch 3):

It's 67 MB and it's here. (http://www.baypointbiosystems.com/transfer/Scene-tests-16.zip)

As before: White balance was custom set on a white card. A little warmer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A pull back from a STOP sign on the corner. Nice detail, a little CA... (darn!) (41 MB) (http://www.baypointbiosystems.com/transfer/Scene-tests-25.zip)

...and a locked off shot of the Coffee Shop logo on the wall (http://www.baypointbiosystems.com/transfer/Scene-tests-27.zip) (18 MB)

Everything the same as on the previous shots, but on this last shot above, the Color Gain was put up to 1. Detail is at -3. (a little bit of everything, sun, shadow, highlights, blacks...)

One of the things I am still not very pleased with on this camera is the stock lens. The CA is totally unacceptable and it shows in almost every situation. Shame that JVC chose such a poor glass for this otherwise great camera. The skin tone rendering is great on it as is the wide latitude and soft un-video look. I just came back from a 2 day shoot shooting interviews indoors and out, under all kinds of circumstances, F-stops, ND filters on and off and the CA is visible in almost every shot to a professional eye.

...........................
Miklos Philips
Producer-Director
Point Zero Pictures
http://www.pointzeropictures.com

[WarrenS]

Hi direttore,
I downloaded the big clip. It plays great in QuickTime. Then I transferred to my PC side and it "tried" to play in QuickTime but only had audio. I renamed to .m2t and .m2v and it played in Windows Media although it tended to choke a little. Looks good. Looks like a nice sunny day in the arts community. I like the friendly dog.

Warren

[direttore]

Hi Warren, thanks for checking that out. So, Windows folk, rename the clips as above to see these. cheers

miklos

[stephenlnoe]

I got them to play in windows (but not smoothly). Thanks for posting footage, it's looks great.