Tranquilli.org

My workflow for HD video editing and distribution

1. shoot using the Vado HD set to HD+ quality
2. copy all files to a Mac Book Pro
3. edit in Final Cut Pro, which is part of the Final Cut Studio suite. I use a sequence preset with these settings:
   - frame size: 1280 x 720
   - editing timebase: 30
   - timecode rate: same as editing timebase
   - field dominance: none
   - pixel aspect ratio: square
   - anamorphic 16:9 : off
   - compressor: HDV 720p30 , 24 bit, quality: 100 (leave the default for any advanced settings)
   - audio: 48Khz, 16bit, stereo
   - video processing: RGB Only, Motion filter quality: Normal

   Yes, source footage have to be rendered and edited in HDV not H.264 (which is a distribution format not an editing format!)
   I usually nest items in new sequences for each video in a project, group clips in different bins, edit and …

4. export from FCP using Compressor. I created a new Compressor preset using these settings:
   - file format: QuickTime Movie
   - video settings:
   . compression type: H.264
   . frame rate: Current fps (ie.30)
   . key Frames: every 30
   . frame reordering: On
   . compressor quality: High, encoding: Best quality (Multi Pass)
   . data rate: restricted to 5Mbps, optmized for Download
   - Audio Settings:
   . format: AAC
   . channels: Stereo (L R)
   . rate: 44.100 kHz
   . quality: normal
   . target bit rate: 128kbps
   - Streaming: None
   - Frame Controls: Automatic (source is progressive, no need to deinterlace!)

   The final H.264 video will be in a .MOV (qt) container, compressed at 5Mbps

5. submit to Vimeo, Flickr, Facebook or YouTube!

For video embedding I use a Vimeo Plus account ($60/year): it lets me hide private videos from the Vimeo website, choose the domains where it can appear as well as many other privacy and embedding settings… and I don’t need any youtube trick (that could stop working at anytime) to preserve HD quality.

Example video: my son Andrea learning to ski

Suggested readings

• Using Compressor to Encode HD Content for Vimeo
• How to Upload HD Videos to Youtube and embed High-definition Youtube Videos
• Vimeo HD faq
• Best video formats for YouTube
• Guidelines for compressing videos for Vimeo
• HD For Real or Not?
• Which HD video Web service is the best?

Screenshots