encoding nightmare: standardized format from different platforms

[morten]

I am getting footage from a bunch of different people that needs to be cut together for a broadcast show. problem is they are all novices and don't really know what they are doing. I need to come up with one standardized format they all submit content in so there is no codec and other issues further down the line.

I'm hoping you guys can give me some input on this. Some of them are shooting SD, some HDV, some HD etc. and they are on FCP, iMovie, Premiere Elements and Vegas.

What format should I ask for? H.264, MPEG2, what?

also, can someone point me to a step by step walk through for each of the major editing platforms to set up proper exports so that the end result is consistent uncompressed SD?

I'm really frustrated now cuz I just got three files from three different editors, two of which were in unreadable codecs that QuickTime and Premiere Pro didn't recogmize and one that was so compressed it made YouTube look like HD :furious3:

thanks,

morten

 

[Shooter]

If they are novices (or amateurs) its unlikely they can produce the standardised format if you cant.

Why not just reject unsuitable /unuseable media?