Inclusively HD – We Survived the Move!

Posted on February 25, 2010

We Survived the Move from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD)

Midway through our 2008 wedding season I decided to make the move from SD to HD.  I’ll have to be honest, it wasn’t the easiest or cheapest move I’ve ever made, but it was by far the smartest!  I basically had to purchase all new equipment.  Everything from new HD cameras to computers and software that was able to handle editing ProRes 422 High-Quality HD.

Nothing is free, there’s always a cost!

Shooting, editing, and mastering everything in HD and then delivering the content to both SD DVDs and HD Blu-ray disc not only involved additional finances, but an additional investment in time.  Initially there was a steep learning curve required perfect the best workflow. Additionally,  it takes twice as much time to transcode HD video footage for delivery to both SD DVDs and HD Blu-ray disc. However, the resulting quality is breathtaking and now that the transition is over, it was well worth the move.

SD Delivery of your HD mastered video

I understand that everyone doesn’t yet have a Blu-ray disc player.  Therefore,  once mastered to HD, the footage must be transcoded down, or down-converted to the standard definition (SD) widescreen format which will enable our clients to watch their videos on their standard DVD player. It’s important to note that even though your video will be in the widescreen format, it will still look just fine on a standard 4:3 television set. However, it will be displayed in a letterbox format which means you will see some black space at the top and bottom of the screen just as you do when watching a widescreen Hollywood movie on a standard TV set.

Viewing SD on an HDTV:

If you’ll be viewing your standard definition (SD) DVD’s on a widescreen HDTV, you’ll see a noticeable benefit in picture quality if playing your videos on an up-scale (or up-converter) DVD player or a Blu-ray disk player since it will up-convert your SD DVD’s for a more enjoyable viewing experience on a large widescreen TV. Now don’t misunderstand me, an up-convert DVD player will not make your SD DVD’s play back in HD, that’s not possible, but it will enhance the SD playback to give you a sharper picture on a widescreen LCD TV screen.

How does all of this benefit the client that doesn’t want HD?

You may be wondering; What are the benefit’s of shooting, editing and mastering in HD if the client is not asking for final delivery in HD?  First of all, your video will be of a much higher quality when shot and mastered in HD versus SD. In other words, SD originating from footage of a higher resolution source (HD camera) is better than SD from a SD source (SD camera) because it doesn’t loose any quality in postproduction.  Another benefit to shooting your wedding in HD is the fact that it allows us to re-author your wedding video at a later date to HD Blu-ray disc when your ready.   In other words, If it’s not shot in HD now, it CAN’T be delivered in HD later, so there’s no turning back.

HD delivery on Blu-ray disc and in the Apple TV format.

Since all of our weddings are now shot, edited and mastered in HD, you can now have your cake and eat it too!  In other words, we can deliver your video in full HD on Blu-ray disc and you’ll also receive your wedding videos in SD delivered on standard DVDs to watch using a standard DVD player, so no worries there!  If you purchase a Silver or better package, HD Delivery on Blu-ray disc is included in the package at no additional cost.  Also, it makes no difference if your getting the Blu-ray disc upgrade or not, you still receive digital copy files which can be played back on your Apple TV via itunes, or you can sync the files to playback on your iPhone or iPod touch, all of which is free no matter which package you purchase!   Oh and just one more program note: You’ll receive digital copy files for all of the same videos contained on your DVD’s.

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