Export and Delivery - Help and Info

What is the best, most universal way (format/codec/file type) to deliver files to consumer level users. I have recently for some reason had lots of issues upon delivery of files to my customers. I never had issues with this in the past so I am doing some re-evaluation. So my questions are basically as follows:

1. What Share setting should one use when giving an hour length Full HD (1920 x 1080) lets say 24p file to a consumer level customer. When I say "consumer level" I mean some one who doesn't have particular knowledge of video files, who just knows to click open and play. Someone with unknown hardware (i.e. laptop, desktop, tv, media player, mac, pc, etc...)

Whats the best way to deliver out of FCPX?

.m4v file will be about the most universal for both Macs, PCs, mobile devices, web.

I think .mp4 is a bit more universal, but it's pretty much the same thing.

Yeah, So here is an example of a file that I gave. I also gave them copies of VLC Media Player links.

and they say the file skips.

I don't see any of this, even on my old laptop.


I'm very fedup with this, because this situation is adding more time of work for me - that I won't be paid for...

Have you guys ever had these types of problems. I mean we can't guarantee that it will work everywhere. What do I have to do sell them a laptop with the file? Where can the line be drawn?

waternyc wrote: ... and they say the file skips. ..

You're settings, imho, are on a very low level of 'demanding' ... 720p with 7Mbit/sec ... even a 10y old XP PC should playback that without worries ...

skipping often indicates a 'bottleneck' in delivery. Playback your file from an old usb2-mem-stick can create skips. Watching your clip on a 'crowded WLAN' can make it skip. Playback your file on a workstation which actually renders some Hollywood stuff can create skips. /list to be continued/

Finally, what does the client mean with 'skip'? Missing frames, or lack of motion blur ....?

For comparison, you could show them the 'recommended formtas' from YouTube, as a popular distributer. If your file fullfills that standards (and if I remind correctly, it does) the prob isn't yours but theirs....

I told the client to copy and paste it to their desktop, download VLC, and play it with VLC. They claim it still skips, pauses, at a specific time.

I tried it on my mac, my old dell laptop - it works everywhere... :sick: :silly: :blink:

waternyc wrote: I …They claim it still skips, pauses, at a specific time.…

Aaand?
If the skip happens repeatable at a specific TC, that's a start to analyze: What is there? A (hidden) chapter marker? In your project: any cut/formta change/....

Now that I solved my other problems I can come back to this.

The answer is that; at that specific timecode there is nothing, of what you mentioned, or anything else. It is the middle of a multicam clip.

waternyc wrote: ....at that specific timecode there is nothing, ...

just stabbing into the dark and foggy night :huh:

But, if that 'skipping' is a repeatable issue, it should have a 'cause' ....
Aside real skipping = missing frames making the playback jump, what about content? high shutter speed + action close to cam = 'stutter' by lack of motion-blur....

... very hard to make any diagnosis from remote .... But that 'at a specific time' is ... suspicious...

Karsten,

I completely agree. I am also trying to make ends meet remotely because my client is far. And everything I have works perfectly on about 6 computers that I have tried it on, with various exports and various media.

Just to kind of clean up the atmosphere, I think it is safe to say that these people are not technically proficient in any way and they need "to have things spoon fed". I have even found inconsistencies in things they are saying to me, so things have recently become doubtful.

It now seems that the client doesn't even know how to write the TC correctly. They wrote 40 and 10 and as per the description of the video its actually 41.

So my job is now to convince them that the file is fine.

I'll Skype them the video playing on my 3 computers perfectly...hahahahaha...although I do love my clients!

waternyc wrote: .....I'll Skype them the video playing on my 3 computers perfectly...hahahahaha...although I do love my clients!

Smart ... :lol:
And an excellent attitude reg. your clients...

But I guess, it is mainly useless, trying to help them technically... demoing on Skype, mentioning 'other' sources ("... our bureau in Oslo has to trouble with it....")... It is all about, the technically challenged client should feel 'save' ... and when your IT, and your IT in Moscow/Paris/London, and your independently working expert in Munich say "The file is fine, skips could be locally initiated!" ... they shouldn't leave their comfort zone .....

and fourty-ten should be read as fourt-yone ... hmmmmmmmm :woohoo:
or, is this a kinda 'Marines Lingo', reminding me on title 'Zero Dark Thiety' .... ???

Thanks Karsten!