1024 x 768 projector - best workflow

dxdy wrote on 1/13/2012, 12:49 PM
I am working on 2 videos that will be projected on a large screen with an Epson projector, 1024 x 768 resolution. My source material is 1080P AVCHD from a Canon and a Panasonic.

I have 2 questions;

1. What workflow would you follow to get from the 1920 x 1080 to 1024 x 768? I wonder if the resizing workflow discussed on this forum for HD to SD utilizing Lagarith for resizing might be best.

2, What delivery format is best, and at what bitrate does a 1024 x 768 projector max out? (This last part of the question may be nonsensical). I am debating between MP4 and WMV, so that most laptops can play the final output.

Any suggestions, hints, or comments are very welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Fred

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 1/13/2012, 1:18 PM
The frame size will probably be 1024x576 if you want to preserve the widescreen aspect. You may want to try rendering two different test snippets: one at 1024x576, and one at 1024x768 with 96 pixel black bars on the top and bottom. Some players won't handle frame shapes that don't match the output device very well.

You are correct about the bitrate for the projector being nonsensical. The video is already uncompressed by the time the computer sends it to the projector. The bitrate only matters between the storage medium and the player software, so you might have to consider it if you're playing the video from a CD or DVD or an external drive on a slow connection. If you're playing it directly from hard drive then you can pretty much use any bitrate you want.

MP4 is probably the best choice for quality vs. file size. WMV may give you broader compatibility but you'll need a higher bitrate to match MP4 quality. MPEG1 can give you nearly universal playback compatibility with the least CPU load on an older laptop but you'll need extremely high bitrates to match what the other formats will delivery, probably 15Mbps minimum whereas you could probably get away with 8 for MP4 or 12 for WMV.

One other reason i might consider MPEG1 is that Vegas' MPEG1 codec includes one of the nicest de-interlacers i've ever seen. That could be important for large screen projection if the player software doesn't handle interlaced well.
R0cky wrote on 1/13/2012, 2:50 PM
Many projectors have high quality hardware scaling. You may be fine just rendering at your native resolution. Since you have progressive footage deinterlacing is not an issue.

If you can just try it as is.

Rocky
musicvid10 wrote on 1/13/2012, 7:38 PM
To be safe render to 1280x720p. That way the laptop and projector won't be overwhelmed.