HELP with AVID DNx output settings from RR

[Carl Dieker]

Hey,

I am a FCP/MAC-guy but have a client right now who wants to cut his piece on AVID/PC. I would like to give him the clips with the new color science (RA/RR). The final delivery is a music video in SD. I have been looking through the different AVID DNx formats in REDrushes. My client is a master of color grading. Since the material is for SD broadcast he has asked for the highest possible DNxs 1024x576. He doens't know how to work with DNX or TIFF and doesn't have the time to go through it at this stage.

So is this the right settings in REDrushes?

RENDER
Debayer Quality: Quarter Res
RESIZE
Scale: 1024x576
OUTPUT:
Avid 720P DNx185/220 10bit (50, 59.94)

If I use these settings on my 25fps material I actually get 1024x576 QT-wrapped DNx-clips at 25p.

I am right or I am wrong on this one? The settings in REDrushes for DNx are not so flexible.

Thanks,

Calle

 

[cmaeditor]

Your scaling is off. It should be 1280x720

 

[Carl Dieker]

But that is the thing, I am doing SD (1024x576) 16:9 for delivery in Europe. Otherwise I would have gone HD and not use the Quarter Res Debayer. Capic?

 

[Carl Dieker]

Any other bid?

 

[Carl Dieker]

I just talked to Jörgen Persson (cineXML) and he told me that Avid does not support the DNx SD format. He suggested the HD route instead and then a final downscale to SD:

Debayer Quality: Half Red (High)
Scale: 1920x1080
Outout Format: Avid 1080P DNx 175/185 10bit



arty:

 

[MichaelP]

The first step seems to me that you want to work in a mastering resolution (I'll get to delivery in a second). Basically avoiding an offline, pull list, transcode selects, relink, etc. For music videos editing at a mastering resolution is perfectly feasible since the hours of source material is more reasonable than a feature drama or documentary.

That being said, then either a 1/2 premium or 1/2 good debayer to a DNxHD 175x will be the way to go. Once the video is finished, either transcode directly within Avid to an SD resolution for SD deliverables, or use the Avid hardware with SD down convert and its options directly.

Michael

 

[Carl Dieker]

either a 1/2 premium or 1/2 good debayer

Michael

Thanks Michael. I have just three questions more.

1. Is there a big difference with 1/2 premium vs 1/2 good debayer when it comes to rendering to AVID 1080P DNx 175/185 10bit?

2. The 1/2 good debayer is still 10bit, isn't it not?

3. And in your opinion, would both 1/2 premium and 1/2 good debayer be acceptable when making renders for broadcast?

/Calle

 

[Carl Dieker]

4. Would I save a lot of time going with the 1/2 good debayer vs 1/2 best debayer?

 

[MichaelP]

There is a slight difference in rendering times between 1/2 good and 1/2 premium but it it no where near the difference between those and full debayer. There are several threads here about debayer quality when finishing in HD or SD. My basic rule of thumb is offline to DNxHD 36, 1/1 good. When finishing for HD I go 1/2 premium. I suspect that since your target is SD, that 1/2 good will be fine.

Michael