Do you list accepted or preferred video formats in your tech specs packets? If so, what are they? This will give me a reference point to go off of for the rest of my issues.
At my venue we host a monthly forum for local filmmakers. They have the opportunity to screen trailers, clips, and short films of their projects. The problem arises that there are multiple films in multiple formats, and some are not compatible with the equipment/software that we have (1-2 video events aren't ever a problem). Experience tells me that filmmakers will use the best resolution and newest technology they can get their hands on. The students especially go this route and I'm not sure they have a handle on all the various compression techniques (neither do I). I know the quality of equipment I have in the theatre is less than their "standards." I like being able to put the videos on a computer and run them in a playlist. Via DVDs require changing discs, cables, and aspect ratios manually through the projector menu--doing everything from a computer is whats stumping me.
This is what I work with:
VLC player as it can play VOB files transferred off a DVD
Quicktime for the videos that VLC doesn't support
5 yr old windows laptop with VGA out
VGA to DVI converter cable
DVI in on the projector (Sanyo PLCXF31N)
I tend to have an issue with .mov files. I think I've narrowed it down to some proprietary codec used by Macintosh for compression within Final Cut Pro (anyone have specifics on this or dealt with it before?). I don't have any experience with or access to this program in order to test. Also, I often have an issue due to poor processing capabilities. I ask them to bring in multiple formats a few days in advance to work out these issues, but most of the time that doesn't happen.
Any suggestions on the best file type for high quality but lower processing capabilities? Maybe, what was the standard five years ago? What would be the lowest cost professional player with support for ALL .mov files and VOB capability? Or perhaps just a professional file converter program?
I'd like to get to the point where I can upload everything onto a computer, convert files if need be, burn to a blu-ray, and then play one blu-ray disk--I'll eventually get there.
At my venue we host a monthly forum for local filmmakers. They have the opportunity to screen trailers, clips, and short films of their projects. The problem arises that there are multiple films in multiple formats, and some are not compatible with the equipment/software that we have (1-2 video events aren't ever a problem). Experience tells me that filmmakers will use the best resolution and newest technology they can get their hands on. The students especially go this route and I'm not sure they have a handle on all the various compression techniques (neither do I). I know the quality of equipment I have in the theatre is less than their "standards." I like being able to put the videos on a computer and run them in a playlist. Via DVDs require changing discs, cables, and aspect ratios manually through the projector menu--doing everything from a computer is whats stumping me.
This is what I work with:
VLC player as it can play VOB files transferred off a DVD
Quicktime for the videos that VLC doesn't support
5 yr old windows laptop with VGA out
VGA to DVI converter cable
DVI in on the projector (Sanyo PLCXF31N)
I tend to have an issue with .mov files. I think I've narrowed it down to some proprietary codec used by Macintosh for compression within Final Cut Pro (anyone have specifics on this or dealt with it before?). I don't have any experience with or access to this program in order to test. Also, I often have an issue due to poor processing capabilities. I ask them to bring in multiple formats a few days in advance to work out these issues, but most of the time that doesn't happen.
Any suggestions on the best file type for high quality but lower processing capabilities? Maybe, what was the standard five years ago? What would be the lowest cost professional player with support for ALL .mov files and VOB capability? Or perhaps just a professional file converter program?
I'd like to get to the point where I can upload everything onto a computer, convert files if need be, burn to a blu-ray, and then play one blu-ray disk--I'll eventually get there.