What will be the final master delivery formats?

How will the final project be delivered? Digital file, HDCam, HDV, DVCProHD, Digital Beta, Beta-SP, DVCam, DVD, online video? The answer to this question can be as simple as whatever the standard procedure is for a particular client. On the other hand, some clients don’t have a clue about what mastering format they should be finishing to. And it isn’t always the same format as what was shot.

You should be the expert opinion about how the final master should be delivered based on how the master will be used. For example, you may online a master sequence in HD 1080 23.98p, but the delivery specs require only to deliver on Digital Beta, not HDCam. You may also be called upon to speak with an engineer at a facility to discuss what the delivery specs should be and be able to understand the options based on your material.

I suggest you become familiar with all of the formats in current use, and under what circumstances they are primarily used. You should know, for example, that digital formats are better master tapes as a source for dubbing than analog, that component formats are better than composite, and that wide screen does not necessarily mean HD.

For web video, I can assure you that if you ask the client or producer what online video format do they want for use on their website, they won’t have a clue. Worse, if you speak with the client’s webmaster, there a good chance they won’t know either. Without a clear answer, my policy is that I render out the final master in Flash Video, WMV, and QuickTime h.264, in at least two different bitrates. Given six different options, one is likely to work without a hitch. Also, videos are often used in PowerPoint presentations, which requires WMV files, so you can cover that base too with the same batch of renders.