RobertAlbright

Hi Dave Video is new to me too but we're going to see much more of it in future in AV 'slide' shows. I've found there are certainly practical limitations in using a DSLR for video, such as needing a tripod for most work, let alone the use of other kit to optimise filming. Despite all that, it's HD video is happening (to my personal knowledge) in both the amateur and professional (stills studio) markets. Can you clarify what you mean by 'I have also inserted H.264 MPEG4 files created in PTE as a trial and these worked OK'. Do you mean you have shot files in this format and inserted them into PTE? It's the phrase 'created in PTE'which is confusing to me. I don't think mixing stils and video is a problem per se, it's the processing power needed for HD video which is the problem. I admit that my computer struggles badly with it which may be why Igor's been looking at lower resolution- but, for the reasons given earlier, I don't think that's the way forward. He and we need to crack Full HD video in combination with stills at the same standard size (1920x1080px). Your comment 'I can, however, give you my opinion that a 1920x1080 H.264 MPEG4 Video played through the Media Player of my HDTV is not as good as the corresponding EXE played from my laptop into my HDTV via an HDMI connection'. Have you incorporated the video into PTE? Surely, when saved as an exe. file in PTE, it plays as an exe? Or is it because it's running at 25fps? Not sure, perhaps someone more knowledgable can tell us? 'Like yourselves we adopted the 1920x1080 projector a few years ago in Wales and we haven't regretted it!' -This is not surprising - we have a lot of Welsh connections through Ian Bateman (who originally recommended 1920x1080px for stills in AV), Maureen and myself, all of whom were involved at the Lampeter Convention a few years ago when it was taken up by the necessary authorities in Wales. I don't know anyone, anywhere whose regretted adopting the Full HD ratio - it provides an overpowering cinematic experience which makes all the 4:3 and other square (in both senses of the word) aspect ratios look really old-fashioned- like those clips from old movies or American TV programmes you sometimes see on the TV. We seem to be having a semi-private discussion here. Either other forum users are video-savvy and think we're hopeless beginners or we're way ahead of them and they're still deciding if video is a good or a bad thing in AV.

Thanks, Dave, this note by Igor is helpful information. Do you use Full HD 1920x1080px? - I'm not convinced by Igor's use of 1280x720px, it's not standard format Full HD. 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio for TV, computer monitors, cinema films and as specified in the Canon 5D Mark 2 (the DSLR most used in professional film production). At Wantage we've been using 1920x1080px for several years in AV productions - still images + soundtrack. When mixing stills with video, please let's use the same format and aspect ratio. Do you actually edit your video files in PTE or in a video editing program? If the latter, what codec+file extension when inserting into PTE?- for example, there are several MPEG2 file extensions.

At 1920x1080 px resolution, the image quality of PTE exe.files on large screens (we've gone up to 16 feet wide) is superb. I'm using a Canon 5D Mark 2 shooting in the MOV format at 1920x1080px Full HD H.264, Audio is recorded as Linear PCM. The MOV files play OK dropped straight into PTE but, of course, unedited it's a mess. So I edit in Sony Vegas before inserting them into PTE and have already sent a sample to Igor. He is making changes to PTE Beta based on output('export') problems arising with some of the HD codecs used by Vegas. However in this enquiry I'm really wanting to know if there's an HD format which works well in PTE when combined with stills. Full HD is required as there is no drop-off in image quality when the production switches between stills and video. Is there a consensus about what HD video codec and file extension works best in PTE - in terms of image quality and ease of editing ? I know there will be many options, but can we settle on one as a default standard?

Hi Dave I'm using a Canon 5D Mark 2 shooting in the MOV format at 1920x1080px Full HD H.264, Audio is recorded as Linear PCM. I haven't tried inserting it without conversion - unedited it's a mess. So I edit in Sony Vegas and have already sent a sample to Igor. He is making changes to PTE Beta based on output problems arising from particular HD codecs used by Vegas. However in this enquiry I'm really wanting to know if there's a proven HD format which works well in PTE when combined with stills. My stuff is projected on big screens at UK and international festivals so HD is required - ie there is no drop off in image quality when the production switches between film and video.In video there are hundreds of codecs and file extensions, I just want to know about one that works in PTE and is widely in operation. I know it's early days but some members of the forum have considerable previous video experience, unlike me who has been a stills photographer for 35 years and an AV producer since 1982 with first film and then digital.

This discussion strand is very helpful for those of us who are experienced digital slide producers but novices in combining stills with videos. I totally agree with Dave's last comment - even the latest HD projectors normally have a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (often used in combination with laptops at 1920x1200 pixels). At 1920x1080 px resolution, the image quality of PTE exe.files on large screens (we've gone up to 12 feet wide) is superb. What I'm getting round to is a question: is there a consensus about what HD video codec (and file ending) works best with PTE exe files? Tell me about one which is proven to work (including sound) and I'll try to produce it from my editing programme. I know there will be other options which may also work on some people's computers, but can we settle for one as a default standard?

Thanks, Igor, I'm glad the file arrived with you OK. Good to see you are adding .m2v and .m2t formats to future beta versions; also a very good idea to look at Sony Vegas - it is a well regarded editing programme for video. (There is also a much more expensive Professional version). Sony, of course, invented Blu-ray - which may be the future for HD users of PTE. I did experience the audio problem you mention. I was able to get round it by adding sound to the .m2v video file from my original Adobe Audition sound editing software.

Thanks Lin and Igor I have sent Igor by YouSendIt the first 30 seconds of the video .m2v. Since Sony Vegas Platinum is a popular video editing program (£25 only in UK), it might be worth Igor considering buying it to see how files are used and saved for output.

Hey, Lin, that's clever. PTE now recognises the file. The renaming of the file has fooled PTE into thinking that an HD .m2v file is a low resolution .mpg file. I think this should be considered a bug. PTE doesn't seem to recognise common file formats for Blu-ray. All the Blu-ray codecs in Sony Vegas Platinum (for MPEG-2) specify .m2v. There are 6 listed in Vegas Platinum at 1440x1080 and 3 at 1920x1080 - 3 each at 24p,50i and 60i. (I would welcome expert comment on whether this reflects industry standards). Why my concern about Blu-ray? The purpose in using PTE with video is to be able to mix still and moving images with no diminution of quality when the production switches between movie and stills. This is successfully achieved operating all content at 1920x1080 progressive (movie) and 1920x1080 px (stills). It projected superbly (from the video file) on a 12' widescreen last night in Wantage. So Igor has cracked the technology but it seems to me that the identification of file formats needs revision. Do you agree ?

Hello Dave and Igor, The movie was edited in Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10.0. I have now downloaded PTE Beta 9 but it still does not recognise the file type - saved as an MPEG-2.m2t. The Save options given by Sony Vegas for MPEG-2 are all in one bracket (.mpg,.m2v,.m2t,.mpa). Ian Bateman was also unable to put the file into PTE using his laptop, although the movie file projected OK to our club. I would much prefer to present it, not as a Nero movie file, but from PTE.

I have made my first edited video, all of two minutes long (1'56). The idea was to drop it into PTE De Luxe 7.0 Beta 1 and play it as an exe. file inserted between the usual still images. For some reason when I use PTE to go to find my video (which is stored currently both on the desk top and on an external drive), PTE will recognise either still images and the original movie clips but not the saved video file (MPEG 2 as recommended by Lin). Can anyone tell me why this is and how to find and insert the video file?