Content Delivery Format

D

ddp

Well-known member
So my first real video shoot went from taping a friends band live to a legal issue with the bands record label.
The settlement between the two has me delivering the edited version of their upcoming single to the label for promotional use.
They wanted it on Beta tape but I don’t have that option. They want the best quality format possible.
They plan on using it for in-store promo and for web based advertising so they’ll obviously be tinkering with it once I send it in. Do I just send them a standard authored DVD or?
When I was talking with them on the phone I thought it was all cut-n-dry but the more I thought about it the less I realized I know..... or the more I needless confused myself.

I’m using FCP 5.

Thanks,
DDP
 
Well on the legal end of things, if it doesn't implicitly say the deliverable format in a binding agreement, then I would guess you can deliver whatever, but really you ought to consult an entertainment lawyer.

If they want it on an archival format (should actually be Digital Betacam), but you can't get access to such, then perhaps deliver them uncompressed Quicktime movie files (tell them to provide an external hard drive). Then they can take it to any post production facility and have it output to whatever.

Though also I guess it depends on the process involved in ingesting it and cutting it. If it was shot on say mini-DV, you brought it in at DV resolution, and simply edited it, without using any major effects or the like, you can output back to mini-DV. You can't create quality/data by simply outputing to Betacam or Digital Betcam. If you haven't added elements in the cut (outside visual effects or such), and really you've just cut DV footage and used some transitions, well I'd dump it right back to mini-DV then. And even if you did add some minor effects, odds are they aren't going to lose much by having you deliver at mini-DV quality.

However, if you no longer have access to even a camera to use for the output, then I'd go with the Quicktime Movie. That will give them some flexibility for their purposes. However, from what you describe, if you did deliver an authored DVD, they ought to be able to make use of that just fine for their described purposes. Not preferrable, but they don't need the extra quality for in-store promo's and especially not for web videos. Good luck.

cheers.
 
Thanks for your reply VaricamLife.

I did shoot it on mini-dv (5 actually), brought it in over firewire and did basic cuts along with some amateur color correction.
It was Digital Betacam they asked for but the contract states:"Format: DVD or FTP transfer in any standard digital Audio-Visual format".

I do still have the cameras so I'll just send them a mini-dv along with an authored disc. They have to have it by Monday so they can pick which one works best for their needs.

I shot it in squeeze mode, when I dump it back to mini-dv do I set the camera in squeeze mode again?

Thanks again for your time.

DDP
 
Squeeze mode is for the camera only- it does not apply in VCR mode. You might want to go ahead and drag your sequence into a 4:3 standard sequence so it becomes letterboxed. Otherwise they might complain that the image in native squeeze/16:9 looks strange.

Noah
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top