All Posts for the ‘All News Posts’ Category

Converting HDCAM, Digi-Beta, & Beta SP to Quicktime Files

Friday, February 20th, 2015

With the ubiquitous Hi-Def Market what it currently is, and the rapid ascendence of UHF (Ultra Hi-Def) 4K emerging, the need and use for video tape, especally standard def video cassettes such as Digi-Beta and Beta SP are on their way to obsolescence. Bring us your broadcast video cassette tapes, for digitizing to file.
We will take your hi-def HDCAM SR, HDCAM or D5 tapes and ingest them into our computer system, and export a new computer file. We can make a self contained quicktime file, which is one file that contains all the video and audio files embedded into one .mov or other type of file for editing on Final Cut Pro, Avid, or Adobe Premiere
We can also cross convert the file to other timecodes such as 59.94, 23.98, 24, or 25. Aspect ratios conversions are also available in 16X9 for full frame, 2.35, 1.85 etc.

We also convert standard definition tapes to file, from Digital Betacam (digi beta) and Betacam SP
L.A Post specializes in digitizing standard def to file. We can also upconvert to hi-def, and cross convert
Between NTSC & PAL
Let us take care of all your television video archiving needs. Give us a call anytime for more Info.

Getting a Deliverables List Completed in Post Production

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

Film makers may be surprised when they are in the process of obtaining a sales agent for distribution of their movies. Often these agents will ask send a “Deliverables” list, which is a list of all the materials they will need in order to try to sell the movie. Sometimes unscrupulous agents will demand that this long list of work be done at their “approved” facility. Often these agents have deals in place with the biggest and most expensive post facilities so that the agent will get something in return for sending all this post work to their facility, the problem is that these deliverable are often so expensive that the film maker will end up with no money left after the work is done, even though they sold the film. If you are a film maker and you run across a sales agent like this, you might be best to continue looking.

If the sales agent is legitimate he will let the film maker pick his post facility, here at L.A. Post we work with such directors and help them to get the best prices on all the work so that the film can get distribution and not cost a fortune for Post Production.

A typical deliverables list (like the most recent one we are working on) will ask for some of the following.

  • A DCP copy of the movie: This is used for digital projection cinema; movie theatres can take a DCP file and use it to project the movie on a theatre sized screen. The DCP file is made from a DPX file which is then converted.
  • A Hi-Def Tape Master This will be a broadcast quality tape that can be played for Television / or studio viewing. Most TV networks today broadcast on Hi-Def tape, usually either a HDCAM SR, or HDCAM The master copy will be laid off from a quicktime file which contains the final edited version of the video and audio of the movie.  Often they will want a 16×9 Full Frame master which is what most movies are shot in, but sometimes they will want a different aspect ratio such as 2.35 letterbox which has narrower format from top to bottom but is wider then full frame so that the very edges of the film can be seen on the video.
  • Digi Beta Down Conversions: These are standard def tapes, usually done in both NTSC (USA broadcast) and PAL (European Broadcast) Formats,  and will include various aspect ratios such as 4X3 Full Frame (1.33), 1.85 Letterbox, 2.35 Letterbox
  • A Quality Control Report, either of the HD Master, or to all tapes created.
  • Blu Ray Masters and/or Dubs (Hi-Def)
  • DVD Masters and/or Dubs (Standard Def)
  • A CCSL Report:  Combined Continuity and Spotting List. This is a List of every action, title, graphic, text and line of dialogue spoken in a movie with In and out time codes for each individual entry.  This is used for various reasons such as dubbing into a new language, subtitling, or captioning.
  • Trailers: A theatrical trailer for the movie either at the end of the master tape, or on a separate tape
  • Audio Stems:  Stems are the building blocks of the final audio track, they contain Separate DM&E (dialogue, music & effects) audio files which are put together to make the audio mix that will be synced up to the Video  on the timeline before being laid off to Tape.

These are the types of requirements that a sales agent or distributor will require and the things that a post-production facility such as L.A. Post will be capable of providing for you.  These often take a significant amount of time to complete so film makers should keep that in mind when planning on the completion of a delivery list.

Sylvia Massy to Host ASSR Studio Training Event in San Francisco

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Sylvia Massy to Host ASSR Studio Training Event in San Francisco
On December 8, engineer and producer Sylvia Massy—whose credits include multi-Platinum and Grammy Award–winning artists including Tool, System Of A Down, Johny Cash, Prince, and others—will present the first Art & Science of Sound Recording training event at Studio Trilogy in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.

Batch Capture from Sony XDCAM deck

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Batch Capture from Sony XDCAM deck

We're trying  to capture video from a Sony XDCAM XDS-PDW1000 deck via deck control. The deck is controlling fine, we're getting picture but if you try and Batch Capture a selection of clips you get an UNKNOWN  COMMAND ERROR. The deck will digitise on the fly but not in Batch Capture. The Avid / XDCAM pdf suggests you set the deck settings on MC to a HDW1800 or HDWM2000 but this doesn't work. Because we get sports footage from an event on XDCAM and don't necessarily need to digitise all of it it would be really helpful for us to do this. AMA is a real pain and not very accurate when handling such large files. All our other Sony decks (digibeta, hdcam, beta sp) are happy being controlled this way.

Controlling Final Cut with an iPad

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Controlling Final Cut with an iPad
This video tutorial demonstrates how to set up an iPad with the AC-7 Core app to control Final Cut Pro.

Sencore Ups Thomas Stingley to President

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Sencore Ups Thomas Stingley to President
Current president and CEO, John Suranyi to become strategic…

Back9Network Tees Up New Web Site

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Back9Network Tees Up New Web Site
Will offer golf lifestyle, travel and news content in the run-up the launch of their linear…

‘¡Q’Viva!’ Heads to yap.TV
Will provide the Jennifer Lopez show with second screen content for viewers in Latin America and…