Wanted: Newbie Checklist For Preparing Multiple Video Types For MEP

julesvern wrote on 12/28/2021, 12:05 PM

I've spent a while on this forum trying to figure out the errors I had in my first big export. Standard stuff...lack of sync in export, wildly differing video formats, different framerates, etc. Picked up a few things.

Is there a place to find a very basic checklist on prepping your video clips for use in MEP, before you even drop them in there? I do have Handbrake and am experimenting. But I can see there are quite a few experts in this forum with knowledge about preferred/standard frame rates, encoding clips to work in MEP, and so forth. I wondered if there was a list of ideal settings and procedures for beginners.

"First you get all your clips in a folder. Then run them through handbrake. Your settings ought to be ______. Then you etc etc etc."

For now I'm going to have to make do with a sadly lackluster New Year's Eve video that was made of video, audio, and picture salad, exported as AVI to great wonkiness, because of time restraints. But for the future, I'd like to do it right. I'd like to have the right habits or checklist going forward. (I'm a pilot; I like checklists.)

Comments

CubeAce wrote on 12/28/2021, 1:40 PM

@julesvern

Hi and welcome to the user to user forums.

You may get varied answers to this question as everyone has their own needs and preferences.

So, personally.

My checklist begins and ends with my cameras. I make sure they are all set to the same constant frame rate and resolution for any given project. That may vary from project to project depending on the shooting conditions and the type of content I'm shooting and the needs of capturing the best image I can for a given lighting condition and expected speed of the movement within each frame.

That then eliminates a lot of work, worry and checking during the editing process if I get the footage in the camera as correct as I can because it reduces the need for additional corrective post production.

That in turn reduces the need for a more powerful system build or allows for more creative choices regarding effects, transitions and the like as any additional steps within an editor increases the power needed for it to run smoothly and export more quickly.

As for checklists within the program I am using I don't have much of one as each project may need different settings to match the projects video content. If I am using music for the background I will edit that first with a rough idea of which clips will be used at which point or go hunting for an appropriate clip of sufficient duration. I will often prefer to cut to the music rather than the other way around but it can be flexible. Remember the sound track can make or break a video and should not be either under appreciated or ignored. Even without music sound is important and sometimes also needs additional treatment, but just as with the video image care should be taken to record at appropriate levels, avoid clipping or recording at too low a volume. Sometimes audio from the next clip may proceed the current clip as a way to introduce the next clip with a subconscious expectation from the viewer.

Most importantly, every part is as important as its neighbour and an art form in itself regardless of content.

If I am out for the day and know what I am going to see I will set my camera/s to a rough starting point settings wise.

But even unexpected events, if they an be captured in time, can benefit from having whatever is used for the recording in a state of readiness. Which for some may mean leaving it in full auto until such times as they know what they are doing.

Ray.

Former user wrote on 12/28/2021, 6:12 PM

@julesvern I just use my phone & have it set to 3840x2160 30fps, my project is the same, if i use media of different aspect ratio or fps, If i'm having problems with one event i might import that into the 3840x2160 30fps project, edit & export as 3840x2160 30fps, i know then when i re-import that clip it will match my project,

I have Handbrake, very rarely use it & pretty much never 'prep my video clips for use in MEP', whatever the footage is i just drag it into the timeline & deal with it there.