AC160 best camera settings to output to dvd
- Thread starter bigmajik
- Start date
scapsinger
Well-known member
Using 1080 24p is a good option as you can scale down to 480p24 easily. Could also do the same with 720p24.
Avoid 1080i...doesn't look good going down to DVD from my experiences. The interlacing doesn't down-res nicely.
720p60 is probably more preferable for any high motion stuff at the reception. So you may want to consider 1080p24 or 720p24 during the ceremony and 720p60 during the reception.
If you want the DVD to be progressive instead of interlaced, then stick with the 24p settings. You can go from 60p to 24p but it's not as pretty (the exception being if you do any slow-mo....60p gives you about 2.5x the frames of 24p so it makes for very pretty slow-mo).
As for sequences, you should just use a sequence preset matching your footage. You never know...that couple may want to have a Blu-ray copy in 8 months and if you dump your assets all into a 480i timeline then you're kinda screwed if they want to up-res later. So if you're planning to go to 24p DVD, then shoot your stuff in 1080p24 or 720p24 and edit in the matching timeline preset. If you're doing 60i DVD, then use 720p60 and also use the matching timeline preset.
You'll do the downconverting to SD inside of Encore or the Adobe Media Encoder once you're done with your edits.
Good luck!
Avoid 1080i...doesn't look good going down to DVD from my experiences. The interlacing doesn't down-res nicely.
720p60 is probably more preferable for any high motion stuff at the reception. So you may want to consider 1080p24 or 720p24 during the ceremony and 720p60 during the reception.
If you want the DVD to be progressive instead of interlaced, then stick with the 24p settings. You can go from 60p to 24p but it's not as pretty (the exception being if you do any slow-mo....60p gives you about 2.5x the frames of 24p so it makes for very pretty slow-mo).
As for sequences, you should just use a sequence preset matching your footage. You never know...that couple may want to have a Blu-ray copy in 8 months and if you dump your assets all into a 480i timeline then you're kinda screwed if they want to up-res later. So if you're planning to go to 24p DVD, then shoot your stuff in 1080p24 or 720p24 and edit in the matching timeline preset. If you're doing 60i DVD, then use 720p60 and also use the matching timeline preset.
You'll do the downconverting to SD inside of Encore or the Adobe Media Encoder once you're done with your edits.
Good luck!
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
I also shoot all my weddings in 1080i ... it just seems to be more forgiving in run 'n gun situations BUT you are not going to get that "filmic" look at all.... If you are leaning towards the creative side then yes 24P is great. I shoot all my weddings documentary style so 1080i works best for me. I use Sony Vegas not Adobe so I can't comment on HD to SD rendering but mine always turn out pretty darn good!! If you do shoot interlaced remember to let the NLE de-interlace the footage on the timeline before rendering to DVD ..you are taking Upper Field first footage and outputing to Lower Field first when it renders to SD!!
Chris
Chris
scapsinger
Well-known member
For what it's worth, here's some pre-ceremony stuff I did last year (sorry...Vimeo quality is a little rough today):
https://vimeo.com/32936403
That was shot in 720p60 and delivered on Blu-ray and DVD. Kept it 720p60 for Blu-ray, of course. For DVD, I let it run to 60i (Encore default). For Vimeo, I went to 720p30.
Everything for that wedding was shot at 720p60 using HMC150 cameras. The AC160 will look slightly better but the general "feel" is the same for each HD format.
There were a couple of sequences that we edited at 24p to allow some slo-mo work. Could have done the same in a 60p sequence but it wouldn't have been as smooth of course. Still not bad, though.
https://vimeo.com/32936403
That was shot in 720p60 and delivered on Blu-ray and DVD. Kept it 720p60 for Blu-ray, of course. For DVD, I let it run to 60i (Encore default). For Vimeo, I went to 720p30.
Everything for that wedding was shot at 720p60 using HMC150 cameras. The AC160 will look slightly better but the general "feel" is the same for each HD format.
There were a couple of sequences that we edited at 24p to allow some slo-mo work. Could have done the same in a 60p sequence but it wouldn't have been as smooth of course. Still not bad, though.
scapsinger
Well-known member
When I do a wedding ceremony I avoid setting up lights unless I absolutely have to do so. I discuss low lighting concerns with the bride and the location coordinators to see how they feel about accessory lighting and if it is going to be truly dark I either explain that it will look bad without accessory lighting or I may suggest moving the camera in as close as possible with the camera. Overall, I don't want to make a scene, and often times an event facility such as a church will strictly prohibit any lighting.
For receptions I'm the complete opposite. Again, I express my needs to the bride and let them decide what I'm allowed to do, but most people don't care what it takes to get good video, they just want it to be worth their money. So I typically set up 1 or 2 lights to cover the dance floor where 99% of the action takes place and then keep a Comer 1800 camera light handy to get quality light outside of the dance floor as well as on it.
It is imperative that you talk to the bride and the event coordinators to be sure you are allowed to do anything, but if they'll let you toss lighting around, do it, just make sure everything is secure or completely out of the way so you don't get sued. I usually keep the lights near the DJ stand or the speakers since people are avoiding those anyway.
For receptions I'm the complete opposite. Again, I express my needs to the bride and let them decide what I'm allowed to do, but most people don't care what it takes to get good video, they just want it to be worth their money. So I typically set up 1 or 2 lights to cover the dance floor where 99% of the action takes place and then keep a Comer 1800 camera light handy to get quality light outside of the dance floor as well as on it.
It is imperative that you talk to the bride and the event coordinators to be sure you are allowed to do anything, but if they'll let you toss lighting around, do it, just make sure everything is secure or completely out of the way so you don't get sued. I usually keep the lights near the DJ stand or the speakers since people are avoiding those anyway.
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
That's good advice!!
What I currently use is a single 6 x PowerLED on-camera light on one camera for roving/dancing shots during the reception and for the speeches I have just a single lighting head with 8 x 55W CFL lights in it and a nice high stand and they bounce into a silver umbrella just to cover the speaker. I have one cam on the speaker and the other shoots the cutaways. You will also need at least one radio mic on the groom for the ceremony or a recorder in his pocket.
Chris
What I currently use is a single 6 x PowerLED on-camera light on one camera for roving/dancing shots during the reception and for the speeches I have just a single lighting head with 8 x 55W CFL lights in it and a nice high stand and they bounce into a silver umbrella just to cover the speaker. I have one cam on the speaker and the other shoots the cutaways. You will also need at least one radio mic on the groom for the ceremony or a recorder in his pocket.
Chris
What about 1080/30p for ceremony and reception? One frame rate to keep simple. The hand-held work can look a little choppy with 24p sometimes and that extra rate of 30p is often enough to smooth it out without looking too video-y like 60i.
Use CineV settings for a bit of filmic feel.
All my 30p stuff down-converted to sd-dvd has looked great.
Use CineV settings for a bit of filmic feel.
All my 30p stuff down-converted to sd-dvd has looked great.
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
If you are doing a bit of handheld I would seriously stick to 1/60th ... 1/30th will give you more light if the venue is really dark but you should keep movement to a minimum!! These cams have awesome low light capabilities so natural light shouldn;t be an issue at the ceremony. At the reception where there is a fair amount of movement using 1/30th is a bit risky especially on the dance floor!!! Far better to squirt some extra light on the people and help the camera a bit!
Chris
Chris
scapsinger
Well-known member
What he said. You'd be better to use the gain and boost it up to 6db or so. Slower shutter will look ugly (potentially) with the kind of motion you'll encounter.
And thanks for the kind comments on my video work!
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
Your showreel is great actually!!! Really nice work there!!!
On the subject of weddings... any suggestions on what scene file to use????
Chris
On the subject of weddings... any suggestions on what scene file to use????
Chris
scapsinger
Well-known member
Scene file...just depends. Most of the default ones are a good place to start, you can usually tweak them once you're comfortable with what each setting does. I run off the Cine files but add some more vertical detail.
If you haven't checked out Barry's book yet give it a look, he provides a thorough explanation of what everything does in the scene file settings. Very handy!
I also use a "Warm Card" kit and usually white balance against a 1/4 warm card for the ceremony, but I usually just go off a white card for the reception because there are so many different light sources constantly changing.
If you haven't checked out Barry's book yet give it a look, he provides a thorough explanation of what everything does in the scene file settings. Very handy!
I also use a "Warm Card" kit and usually white balance against a 1/4 warm card for the ceremony, but I usually just go off a white card for the reception because there are so many different light sources constantly changing.
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
Many thanks for that!!!
I have a very rare free wekkend this Sat/Sun as the hubby to be was in an industrial accident so the wedding was posponed at the last minute! Great chance to play with some scene files on the new cameras!! Sadly I'll have to order Barry's book from the USA as it's not available in Australia at all!!
Chris
I have a very rare free wekkend this Sat/Sun as the hubby to be was in an industrial accident so the wedding was posponed at the last minute! Great chance to play with some scene files on the new cameras!! Sadly I'll have to order Barry's book from the USA as it's not available in Australia at all!!
Chris
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
Just one more point if shooting a wedding!!! DON'T shoot it on the default F1 scene file..your footage will end up very washed out and unsaturated!! If you don't have time to play with scene files then use the "spark" setting (F3 on the dial) which will give a bit of wow factor at least to the footage...I'm busy still editing a wedding shot on the default file and I have had to boost saturation on virtually every clip!!! If you are looking for the cinematic style heavy contrast then the CINE scene files are good and "film like" too!!
Chris
Chris
tylerdlugolecki
Member
Chris, what are your render settings in Vegas for down converting and exporting in SD?
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
Hi Tyler
I render out to MainConcept MPEG2 and then I have modified the DVD PAL preset in Vegas simply by changing the aspect ratio to 16:9 and calling it PAL DVD Widescreen. Seems to work well!!! One little trick also is to drop the Sony Sharpen plugin onto all your video tracks BUT leave the default setting at zero!! I have no idea why BUT it does make the SD footage a lot better!!!! This way is NOT the best but the most practical...the best involves all sorts of external encoders and a multistage process. I haven't had a complaint yet and it looks pretty good on a big screen TV BUT you can definately see it's SD!!
Chris
I render out to MainConcept MPEG2 and then I have modified the DVD PAL preset in Vegas simply by changing the aspect ratio to 16:9 and calling it PAL DVD Widescreen. Seems to work well!!! One little trick also is to drop the Sony Sharpen plugin onto all your video tracks BUT leave the default setting at zero!! I have no idea why BUT it does make the SD footage a lot better!!!! This way is NOT the best but the most practical...the best involves all sorts of external encoders and a multistage process. I haven't had a complaint yet and it looks pretty good on a big screen TV BUT you can definately see it's SD!!
Chris