Post Production Workflow - Media GOP

Workflow – Originals Media

Classic simplest scheme : Working with only one software with the natif media (Without any transcode)

Workflow n°1 – 1 Software – Native Media. Clic ➧ Enlarge

A little bit more complex scheme :  2 softwares that exchange Timeline and the links to media throat an XML file.

Workflow n°2 – 2 Softwares – Native Media. Clic ➧ Enlarge

Advantages

no Transcode ➧ save timeNative Media doesn’t need huge storage ➧ 1  simple Hard Drive is enoughNative Media have a low Bandwidth ➧ 1  simple Hard Drive is enoughXML file allows to keep track to the media from one software to another

Disadvantage

Big part if not all of the workstation’s CPU power is used to decode the media while just playing

Workflow – Optimised Media

Workflows with lossless Transcode of all the native Media

Workflow n°3 – 1 Software – Optimised Media. Clic ➧ Enlarge

A little bit more complex scheme :  2 softwares that exchange Timeline and the links to media throat an XML file.

Workflow n°4 – 2 Softwares – Optimised Media. Clic ➧ Enlarge

Advantages

1. Lossless Transcode ➧ Optimised Media are identical to Native Media

2. Optimised Media have a low decode complexity ➧ Less CPU power is used for the playback (crucial for RealTime Softwares)

3. XML file allows to keep track to the media from one software to another

Disadvantages

1. Transcode ➧ Take a lot of time

2. Optimised Media take a huge space ➧ Need for a big RAID storage

3. Optimised Media have a high bandwidth ➧ Need for a fast RAID storage

Workflow – proxy and optimised Media

Several diagrams for each step of this complexe workflow with many advantages

Workflow n°5 : Proxy Transcode of Media. Clic ➧ Enlarge

Thus Editing can take place on less powerful workstation than with the Originals.

Workflow n°5 : Optimise Transcode of timeline’s clips. Clic ➧ Enlarge

Thanks to the XML file (and a conformation) only trimmed Media in the timeline are transcoded in Optimised media.

Workflow n°5 : Trimmed Optimised Media allow to finish the workflow. Clic ➧ Enlarge

One more time the XML file and a conformation with trimmed Optimised Media are enough for Color Grading.

Advantages

1. Lossless Transcode ➧ Optimised Media are identical to Native Media

2. Proxy & Optimised Media have a low decode complexity ➧ Less CPU power is used for the playback (crucial for RealTime Softwares)

Disadvantages

1. Transcode ➧ Take a lot of time

2. Optimised Media have a high bandwidth ➧ Need for a fast RAID storage2 conformations.

Workflow – internal Proxy & Original

Since several years editing softwares can Proxy transcode all  imported native Media. It makes things simpler.

Workflow n°6a : Editing Software does the Proxy Transcoding. Clic ➧ Enlarge

The key benefits is that each timeline’s clips has 2 sources : Proxy Media & Native Media.

Workflow n°6b : Native Media are only used for final Export. Clic ➧ Enlarge

With 2 software, it has no interest, too unbalanced between the CPU horsepower needed for Editing and Color grading.

Workflow n°6c : balanced issue: no go. Clic ➧ Enlarge

Advantages

1. Transcoding happens during classify & review the clips

2. Media doesn’t need huge storage ➧ 1  simple Hard Drive is enough

3. Media have a low Bandwidth ➧ 1  simple Hard Drive is enough

4. Native Media (complex) are ONLY used for final Export

Disadvantage

1. Color grading on Proxys media is a nonsense

Source: editfast.fr