Export for projection on large screen

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Level 1

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Export for projection on large screen

Hi and thanks in advance for any advice.

I need to export my 24p HD project for projection to a large screen. Shot on multiple formats, but all converted to ProRes. Not sure of the best way to do this for best quality. Making a DVD is easiest, but quality really suffers.

Should I just export with current settings and play QT file directly from a laptop? Or would it be better to export uncompressed? What do I physically need to provide for all this to work smoothly. The AV people want to keep the whole evening's presentations, including Power Point, on one computer.

Thanks!

Mac Pro quad core-3GB Ram, Mac OS X (10.6.2), FCP 7

Posted on Jul 6, 2010 1:13 PM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

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Jul 6, 2010 2:06 PM in response to rjmontana

What resolution(s) does the projector that you will be using, work with?

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Answer 2

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 3:33 PM in response to Nick Holmes

It's a 720P three chip digital projector. A Titan HD 600.

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Answer 3

Jul 6, 2010 4:18 PM in response to rjmontana

You build your sequence to match the target output. To over-resolve your projector is a waste of energy and resources. However, you might someday have access to a 1080 projection system so it's a gamble at the editing stage.

There are two questions you must answer and then test:
1. How will you play back the video?
2. How will you feed the playback to the projector?
2a. How will you feed audio to the house system?

Your Mac may or may not have the proper outputs. If you burn a DVD, you're going down to MPEG2. If you want to burn an HD disk, you need to start researching that option quickly.

bogiesan

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Answer 4

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 4:24 PM in response to David Bogie Chq-1

What they're telling me now is that they want to play as a file from a Dell Computer, as they want to keep all programs for the evening on one computer. Will a Dell handle a QT file properly? The event is Saturday, so what are my options at this point for decent quality?

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Answer 5

Jul 6, 2010 6:53 PM in response to rjmontana

Good lord, you have a huge problem now.
Theyprobably do not have Quicktime on the Dell. You must find out quickly and you then you need to have time to compress an H.264 file. It will be beautiful but you still have to make certain they know what they're doing and that you can load the file to their hard drive. It's often difficult to play big media files form optical drives.
They will want a Windows Media Player file, .wmp or .avi.

Unfortunately, there are way too many ways to provide them with a file. Are there other folks giving them files? Talk to them. They will know more than the "staff."

bogiesan

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Answer 6

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 7:22 PM in response to David Bogie Chq-1

Thanks again for the help here. I know I have a problem and I'm getting nervous. So, if they just download Quicktime, will that be enough to play my QT file? Or if I compress an h.264 file, what would the ideal settings be?

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Answer 7

Jul 6, 2010 7:39 PM in response to rjmontana

Having a Dell isn't the real issue; it's the graphic card, the processor and the RAM in the Dell that's gonna matter - along with having the codec needed on the system to play the file.

-DH

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Answer 8

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 8:42 PM in response to David Harbsmeier

So, if I were to bring an assortment of files to see what works best, what would you recommend? It's tough to feel in control of my project, but throw caution to the wind when it comes to delivery.

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Answer 9

Jul 6, 2010 9:02 PM in response to rjmontana

Why not encode a short test 720p QT movie and send it to them to see if they can play it before you go any further. It shouldn't be too difficult for them to download iTunes to the Dell and test it.

That way they can work out the playback issues while you move forward with your edit.

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Answer 10

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 9:28 PM in response to thrillcat editorial

To encode the 720p QT movie, would I come out of FCP self contained and then create in Compressor? Also, why would they have to download itunes and not just QT for Windows?

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Answer 11

Jul 6, 2010 9:37 PM in response to rjmontana

They could do either. I usually suggest iTunes because more people know it, they know it's free, and it has a few extra features they end up liking. If they're playing all the videos for the event from the same computer, they can make an iTunes playlist of all the videos.

I use the AppleTV preset in Compressor to project via iTunes via a 10,000 lumen Sony SXRD 4K projector on a 24’ x 12.5’ screen and it ... is ... glorious.

You can export self contained, or just export via Compressor.

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Answer 12

rjmontana Author

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Jul 6, 2010 9:47 PM in response to thrillcat editorial

Thanks. This looks promising. So if you could just provide your workflow I would be grateful. Do you use the H.264 1280x720 for apple TV preset in Compressor? That's the only Apple TV preset I could find.

Also, I've never used itunes to play video. Could you also explain that process. And you say the quality is glorious. I like that.

Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks very much!

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Answer 13

Jul 6, 2010 9:55 PM in response to rjmontana

Edit.
Send to Compressor.
AppleTV preset.
Submit.
Wait.
Drag file into iTunes.
Play.

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Answer 14

rjmontana Author

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Jul 7, 2010 12:56 PM in response to thrillcat editorial

The Apple preset works beautifully on my MacPro, but completely chokes on my G4 laptop and I'm guessing it will on the Dell too. Going to take it there today to experiment. Any suggestions on how to make the Apple Preset work better for the G4 or Dell, by changing some of the parameters? Hoping to find an answer soon. The clock is ticking.....Thanks!

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Answer 15

Jul 7, 2010 1:22 PM in response to thrillcat editorial

thrillcat editorial wrote:
TIf they're playing all the videos for the event from the same computer, they can make an iTunes playlist of all the videos.

Yar, but the resistance will take the form of something like this: "I can make a playlist in WMP. Just gimme an AVI or WMP file."

You can spend $50 and get the export-enabled Flip4Mac.

bogiesan

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