Optimising and Compressing

In this recession editors increasingly need to be more flexible with their skills, work faster, more efficiently and ensure the output of their work is to the highest standard. Professionals working in film and TV know that the quality of their content is dependent on optimising and compressing their footage effectively for internet, mobile phone and broadcast distribution.

Here we have Simon Walker's Essential Tips on how to compress your footage effectively for internet, mobile and broadcast. Simon teaches on our Optimising and Compressing Course taking place on 21-22 July at 01zero-one in Soho. Our two day course will show you the best methods to ensure you keep the quality of your work, quickly and professionally.

Your 5 Essential Tips on how to compress your footage effectively

• Use proper compression software. Lots of software on your computer will export video, but there's a reason that Apple includes Compressor in the Final Cut Studio suite. Compressor has many more options than Final Cut Pro when exporting and there are settings that can really help make your final files look great. Also, once you've got your settings organised, Compressor does a great job of speeding up your workflow.
• Export once. Wait until the end of your project before exporting. Every time your save your video into another format, it's being re-compressed, a bit like making a photocopy of a photocopy. Some web videos look poor because they've been compressed several times. Compression is designed to make the file size smaller, but you can still make it look better by compressing from the highest resolution you're working with.
• Use the right codecs. Edit in ProRes I frame rather than H.264 IBP frame, as it's more accurate and will speed up your renders. Erm ,what? Don't worry, we go through some of the technical aspects in the course (I frame, IBP frame, 10-bit, colour space, resolution, data-rate, keyframes), and how to set these up so you can use them as templates. We also go through workflows that included different frame-rates (for example, how to edit that lovely footage you recorded on your shiny new Canon EOS 5D Mark II).
• Test as you go along. Final Cut Pro has technology to leverage the hardware in your Mac to make multiple formats look great in the Canvas Window. But the real test is what it looks like after it's been exported. So test this out on short clips as you are working, before the deadline. This will help you identify any problems, and avoid last-minute headaches.
• Set your Mac up to render faster. By default, Compressor doesn't use all the processors in your super-fast MacPro. But once you set up the Qmaster in system preferences (don't worry, this isn't complicated to do, and we show you how to do it), your videos will compress faster using Distributed Processing, leaving you with extra time for...well, more work!

Simon teaches on our Optimising and Compressing Course taking place on 21-22 July at 01zero-one in Soho. This course will give editors and post production staff the ability to utilise content to its maximum benefit across different platforms and to different briefs. It covers technical information about the best exporting methods (codecs and compression). As well as Creative issues about Multipurposing content for different platforms. Delegate Prerequisites: Existing editors that are required to increase their skill-set to complement their main editing tasks

For full details about the skills you would develop visit http://www.01zero-one.co.uk/course_multiplatform_edit.htm

• To book your place please call Annabella on 020 7025 1985 or email lydia.manu@westking.ac.uk
• 21st and 22nd July 2009
• Cost: £350 or £300 concessions
• 01zero-one in Soho

Tutor Biography: Simon Walker

Simon is an Apple Certified Trainer in video editing, motion graphics and colour grading (Final Cut Pro, Motion & Color). He has been Filming, Editing, Designing & Animating short-films, adverts, interactive programs and motion graphics sequences for 15 years. He has a post-production studio with capabilities to film and edit, shoot and composite green/blue screen footage and design 2D & 3D animations.  Simon writes, edits and produces training packages for the media industry (including Video Optimising & Compression, Internet Film Making, & Motion graphics for FCP users). He has also written and produced two award-winning interactive training packages for Somerfield PLC through his production company.