AVCHD video too large in Pro Res to send out.

Question

AVCHD video too large in Pro Res to send out.

I use Sony 16-9 AVCHD and FCP6 and normal convert to Apple Pro Res 422. These means an hour goes to about 100 GBytes. I need to send an hours length video via a USB 32 Gig flash drive to someone else for editing. Possible work flow, Log and transfer into Apple Pro Res, assemble in FCP, compress to some format to send out.

Here is the question, any suggestions on what format to compress it to to get it a factor of 5 smaller, but still editable afterwords? The final output is for community TV in 16-9 format. Some loss in quality is acceptable.
Thanks, Claude

Posted on Jan 18, 2010 9:34 PM

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Answer 1

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jan 18, 2010 9:57 PM in response to Claude Lyneis

These means an hour goes to about 100 GBytes.

76 GB, but go on...

I need to send an hours length video via a USB 32 Gig flash drive to someone else for editing

Why limited by this? Get a usb HARD DRIVE and send it on that. Or...

Any suggestions on what format to compress it to to get it a factor of 5 smaller

Import as ProRes LT. But you need FCP 7 for this. Got that?

Shane

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Answer 2

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 19, 2010 6:57 AM in response to Shane Ross

ProRes LT runs about 1/3 smaller than standard ProRes.

a 76 GB file will shrink to something slightly over 52 GB.

Either get multiple cards and break up the file or use an inexpensive portable hard drive as Shane suggested.

x

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Answer 3

Jan 19, 2010 9:25 PM in response to Shane Ross

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't gone to FCP7 because there is no offer to upgrade the academic version, that I have. I think the USB hard drive is the way to go if it will survive traveling through the mail. Pro Res LT does sound attractive.

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Answer 4

Jan 19, 2010 11:27 PM in response to Claude Lyneis

Here's 120GB for $60:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go
and the original packaging works great for mailing!

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Answer 5

Jan 20, 2010 8:15 PM in response to stuckfootage

After some more research I realized I could reformat a flash drive to mac journaled extended and then just copy the whole AVCHD file over. This way a 16 GB flash drive is more than enough for an hour. When received, this can be imported by Final Cut Pro, iMovie or Final Cut Express just as you would download from a camcorder. Case solved.

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