720x480 vs 720x486

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Level 2

154 points

720x480 vs 720x486

Hello: I'm guessing when creating an SD small Res Video Project from Scratch I should use 720x480 (over 720x486). Other than working on a Project that a Client wants SD 720x486, under what situations should I Export 720x486 ? Or do I have it wrong, is SD 720x486 more popular/compatible than SD 720x480. I'm under the impression HD 720x486 doesn't exist, so 720x480 has the better option of being Exported as SD or HD 720x480. Thanx, MLR

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz 2GB RAM 100GB Drive 7200rpm 256MB Graphics, Mac OS X (10.4.6), FinalCutStudio5.1, LogicPro7.2, 12" G4 PowerBook 867MHz 640MB RAM

Posted on May 30, 2006 2:16 PM

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Answer 1

May 30, 2006 2:34 PM in response to MLR

720X480 is the frame size of NTSC DV video. (as in mini DV, DVCAM etc.)
720X486 is the frame size of uncompressed 8 and 10 bit NTSC.

When you refer to an SD small Res Video Project, what are you going to deliver? a web stream? or?

Jerry

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Answer 2

MLR Author

Level 2

154 points

May 30, 2006 3:32 PM in response to Jerry Hofmann

Thanks Jerry: It would be for medium quality SD Projects to be played on Home DVD Players. It sounds like 720x480 is the size (?). Thanks again, MLR

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Answer 3

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

May 30, 2006 3:47 PM in response to MLR

Keep in mind - current technology DVD's are 720x480 in either 4:3 or 16:9 (anamorphic) aspect ratios. No matter how the material starts, it is going to end up at that size.

I guess I'm confused by the term 'medium quality'. Since it is a qualitative adjective, the issue is 'medium' compared to what - 70mm IMAX film, somewhat boring subjects, your best editing efforts? 😉

cheerios,
x

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Answer 4

May 31, 2006 7:14 AM in response to MLR

If you use the DV codec, you're frame size will be 720X480 in the sequence but the MPEG files that you'll end up with with will be a bit smaller actually. But that's normal. DV isn't the best quality, but it's OK for many projects. The frame size has less to do with this than the codec you use to compress the video files with. But it will take some fairly fast disk drives to play other than DV files. 8 bit uncompressed would be better, and will play on dedicated internal SATA drives, so that might be a way to preserve some quality if you don't have a fast array of disks to play better.

Another thought.... if you use the DVCPRO HD codecs, you'll have a 16:9 aspect ratio and higher quality than DV in the end (the MPEG you'll make to burn the DVD's. If that works for you, it's better than DV by a long ways.

Jerry

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