Understanding Current & Future Video Technologies and Workflows

This 4 day course gives an overview and understanding of all current video technologies, such as the varying frame sizes i.e PAL/NTSC through to 4K and beyond, varying frame rates, Interlaced vs Progessive scan and the benefits of each, various pixel aspect ratios and how each video format whether Tape or Tapeless records and stores this information. How to solve problems in or to change the above formats are also discussed.

The differences between computer and TV based delivery to the human eye is also covered. How the human eye perceives this information and how the manufacturers use this to compress the data contained in the image will be explained.

In the fast changing technologies and workflows involved in the Post Production world. All genres of TV and cinema are gradually moving over to file-based production from traditional methods using tape and film. The new technologies are still evolving, and fresh skills/knowledge are needed at many points in the production process. This course also gives an overview of tapeless technologies and processes from camera to distribution. Participants will be taken through the complete workflows from the various camera systems available such as Panasonic P2, Sony XDCAM and EX, RED with their pros and cons, tapeless back-up during shooting, capturing to your edit suite and gain hands-on experience of managing the file transfer process and preparing for the edit. Understanding how to keep the quality throughout your workflow is paramount and this is covered through each stage of the workflow.

The basics of legalizing your picture and sound will be covered as the editor is now the last point in the tapeless production chain.

An in-depth overview of how each format, whether tape based or tapeless affects your computer hardware, shared network and storage needs, including an overview on storage area networks and asset management systems.

Finally the course covers all aspects of compression from CoDec’s to Wrappers, their pros and cons, and all of the factors that effect the successful delivery of media on all platforms whether delivering to TV, Web (download or streaming), DVD, Blu-Ray, E-Commerce i.e VOD (Video On Demand), Interactive TV, Podcasting e.t.c. Simple quick and easy ways of delivering the correct format to the above multiplatform.

This Course assumes a basic level of competence on a Computer and a basic understanding of TV / Video.

Day 1

• Covering the Basics of TV: Picture Size, Viewable area in different formats, Interlacing, Progressive Scan, Pixel Aspect Ratio e.t.c
• Differences in what’s seen on a Computer compared to what’s seen on a TV.
• Getting the best picture and sound quality. The starting point is the key!
• How CoDec’s (MPEG, MP3, JPEG e.t.c) and Wrappers (Players) (QuickTime, WMV, RealPlayer, MXF, MPEG) work. How each affects quality of picture and sound.
• How Compression works. How the settings effect quality Vs Size of file.
• Quantization and sampling
• Lossy and Lossless compression
• Delivery formats, MPEG and GOPs, key frames
• Understanding the computer hardware needed with the various tape based or solid state formats both uncompressed and compressed. Understanding the limits of both.

Day 2

• General principles of file-based production
• Advantages and disadvantages, and cost implications
• Choice of file-based storage media, Hard Drive Basics, Interfaces, JBODs, RAIDs and SANs, NAS, SAN, Performance and Capacity.
• Image formats and frame rates for Tapeless SD and HD
• Metadata and ‘wrappers’ used by the manufacturers
• The solutions available from particular manufacturers such as Pansonic P2, Sony XDCAM and EX, Canon/Nikon SLR’s, RED.
• Secure procedures for dealing with data.
• Use of specific software for offload, backup, logging and general file-management

Day 3

• The evolution of IT-based tapeless working
• Importing your footage from various tape based or solid state formats both uncompressed and compressed. Understanding the limits of both. Transcoding to other CoDec’s on ingest including pro’s and Con’s. Backing up your tapeless media.
• Administrating Metadata, Maintaining Project Files, Transferring Projects, Streamlining Project Configuration, Capturing Media, Rendering Media, Removing Media, Reconnecting Media, Organizing Media Files.
• Choice of P2 recording media and file formats. Comparisons between Panasonic P2 camera range
• AVC-I vs AVCHD vs IMX codecs
• General principles of the RED camera
• Format of raw camera files
• Software useful for offloading, viewing and controlling the look
• Processing files for offline
• Reconforming from R3d files for grade in Color
• Color grading and getting the best from the footage
• Aspects of outputting to DPX, DCP and tape
• General principles of the Sony XDCAM and EX cameras
• Workflows for edit and finish using Final Cut Studio as an example
• Additional tapeless equipment needed for tapeless workflow
• Metadata
• Secure procedures for dealing with data.
• Camera metadata upload

Day 4

• Adjusting and checking for legal picture levels, audio levels and other issues with picture and sound. Basics of color correction and grading. The editor is the last port of call....
• Basics of film to video production i.e Digital Intermediate.
• Understanding aspect ratio correction / pan & scan. Mixing archive SD footage with HD footage.
• Exporting for compression to make VOD, Web Delivery, Podcasting, Mobile Phones e.t.c. Settings, adjustment of picture, watermarking, copyright issues e.t.c.
• Basics of DVD and Blu-ray production. Encoding requirements, Bit budgeting
• Encoding tools - Hardware versus Software & common encoding tools
• Hardware Overview System Requirements for your needs, Desktop vs. Portable, Processors, RAM, Graphics Cards, System Disks and Media Drives, Formatting Drives.
• Archiving/back up solutions.
• Transferring projects between systems, EDL’s, OMF’s, XML
• Understanding and Solving Problems throughout the workflow.