Comping LW with DV footage from Final Cut

[Noclar7]

Not specifically LW, but I figured some of the Mac cats could help.

Does anybody have any info/links about the communication/differences between Microsofts DV codec and Quicktimes DV codec?

Instance1 :

DV Video edited in Final Cut on Mac ->
quicktime DV exported for comp ->
Loaded into After Effects/DFusion for 3D comp ->
DV codec looks like crap even though there is no recompression.

Instance2 :

DV Video edited in Final Cut on Mac ->
Microsoft DV exported for comp ->
Loaded into After Effects/DFusion for 3D comp ->
DV codec looks like crap even though there is no recompression.

so we tried Instance 3:

DV Video edited in Final Cut on Mac ->
quicktime uncompressed exported for comp ->
Loaded into After Effects/DFusion for 3D comp ->
Video looks good, but at expense of Huge files to store.

What is up with the DV codec? there should be no loss?

RJ,

[renrique]

Of course there is loss because the result of your editing is not directly played, it´s exported.

The option of exporting it without compression is the best way (in my poor knowledge).

I had this problem before when I send a commercial material to the tv station, they ask me to put the quicktime in a loseless codec.

I tryed the None compression. That results in a larger file, but the detail is intouched.

[WesM]

Hey Noclar7,

I have had this same problem before. What I figured out is the the DV codecs, whether quicktime or microsoft, are for ntsc video. They will look like crap on your computer monitor, but if you were to lay them down on tape, or play them back on a ntsc monitor, everything would look fine. They are for broadcast video work. I believe that they are in a different color space, YUV, for video. I use the DV/DVCpro quicktime codec when Im editing in Final Cut. The None compression is good for highend work, but it is huge when it comes to file storage. I use the Animation codec when I render from lightwave. It is a lossless compression when set at 100% quality.
Here is a good source for info on codecs
http://www.discreet.com/support/codec/
Hope this helps.

Wes

[renrique]

Yes WesM, you are correct, but even if you use the None codec, you can reduce the size of the file setting a large keyframe number.

That makes that only the changing pixels of the next frame where saved, instead of the whole frame.

I used this and it creates a sustancially smaller file and the tv company told me taht it was ok for their needs.

[Noclar7]

thanks for all the info guys, hopefully we wont be shooting on DV25 for comp scenes in the near future.

regards,
RJ

[mlinde]

Originally posted by renrique
Yes WesM, you are correct, but even if you use the None codec, you can reduce the size of the file setting a large keyframe number.
You should always be careful randomly tweaking your keyframes. You can make your animation smaller by using a large keyframe number, but if you have a significant amount of change in your image, you can lose entire motion sequences by skipping them between keyframes. Typically a setting of keyframe every 15 will reduce your filesize and maintain your information well, but you need to know your piece before you pick a random keyframe setting. In addition, the type of motion can dictate a different codec. Take some time to review the concepts behind the codec you use to understand how best to minimize your file size and maximize your image quality.

[renrique]

This maybe happen in a real time play of the video but when you use a video with high keyframe number in a render involved process that doesn´t happen.

when you use a high keyframe number is just the same thing that makes discreet cleaner.