Codecs, Codecs, Everywhere, and Nary a Lip to Synch...

Ever wonder what kind of codec the pros use when working with video. Well, first of all, they work with raw uncompressed video for all their production needs. Only when they're finished do they convert, compress, and otherwise create the format required (and only then does it matter). So actually, the first thing a video pro does not think about is the codec. She thinks "what do I have to do to create a professional-looking video". Codecs and formats are technical specifications for viewing using specific tools. They're not the only thing or even the most important thing for an enjoyable viewing experience.

So what if a pro has to go back and fix up a problem, like a synch error in a sound effect? Well, if she needs to go back, she'll go back to the raw video she's carefully saved in state, and do her work rapidly and well.

But what if you're not a video pro? Then this little sad saga of video woe from a Microsoft consultant and Cisco engineer is a good warning of what happens when you don't do what the pros do...or pay a professional service like MinutePitch by Valux to handle it all for you.

Here's what he wrote: "So I am a Microsoft consultant, Cisco Engineer, but I can not for the life of me, figure out how to edit a home DVD movie.. this just blows. I had two 8m tapes ripped to DVD. My thought was to take the two DVD's and edit them and reburn them to one dvd with music and pictures, and blah blah for the family for christmas.... I did one last year with phots and Movie Maker and it came out great. This year, I am going up one step, or 18 backwards at this rate. Can anyone give me some tips? Here is what I got so far figured out:
- rip the DVD to MPEG-2 (to edit)
- tried to use Ulead VideoStudio 8, cant figure out. I do not get audio when I clip or attempt to clip.
- Tried Roxio Media, cant figure out how to clip, but I do get audio..
- I can make DVD's out of MPEG, AVI, i just don't know how to edit or what software I SHOULD use. What do I have trade? I can either pay you (nothing huge) or what do you help with? Server problems? (All MS server products) Treo to Exchange? VPN? home network? Wireless? I have quite a few skills but video! Do I need different software, something easier, etc.".

Well, I don't really need a lot of tech help, but I am willing to guide this poor guy - but the news won't be so good. We've spent a great deal of time in our production software handling these issues. He's got a codec conflict. He downconverted to 44kHz probably and didn't upconvert, so it drops the audio, or maybe mono vs stereo....

As to software... Yep, Ulead is awful. Roxio is also awful. And editing is always annoying after the fact.

This is a bad situation. He can try virtualdub for avi's but this won't work for mpeg2 (like vob).

And what's worse - he'll still get artifacts - for example, synch errors creep in because decompress / compress creates skew, not compensated for other edit / compress tools. It's really tricky after a while. Rate distortion rules otherwise. Key framing issues are also important if using mpeg2.

The moral - stay uncompressed (like Avid does for their high-end systems) until your final work. Yes, that means big demands on processor / memory. At ExecProducer we work entirely this mode until final format form, and that means our customers get top-quality every time with a push of a button. It costs memory and cycles, plus the costs of making sure we're the experts on codecs, skew, video rates, quality issues, and so forth, but that's what makes a video pro a real "video pro".

If our poor engineer has the original content from his prior work, even if that means redoing all his edits, he should use it. But he shouldn't use the stuff he's already compressed / created - it's too late.

And yes, we could recover it even at this stage, but now you really have to be a software video pro and know all the secrets... And really, wouldn't you rather just get your family movie and watch it and not think about applying to film school?