Resolve & Sony A7S workflow / webidodes content

[Gabriel Rude]

Hi guys, this is my first time in this forum. I have a workflow question about  sony A7s with Resolve.

 

I’ll be doing 10 webisodes color correction/grading. I will receive all the 10 episodes at once and I have 3 weeks to do it.  Shot in 4K with Sony A7S. The footage is XAVC (I’ve never worked with this footage before).  Normally I work with Raw RD3, Raw DNG files or ProRess.

Destination is internet but they want to have it corrected for TV too just in case as the webisodes are for a broadcaster website.

I’ll ask the editor for XMLs of each episode and footage. Romantic Drama. There are some digital speed ramps in the footage so I’ll ask for the footage without the speed ramp because it doesn’t read in the XML.  I’ll ask for FX (if there’s FX) to be render prep and done.

Question 1… Do I open one new project for each episode or within the same project, I’ll have timeline 1 (episode one), then import XML 2 – Timeline 2 (episode 2) etc,.

I’ll save stills to apply same look to the other episodes. Of course, I must do shot matching first.

2- Broadcaster specs… I’ll send back everything to the editor so he can do the final online with sound.  If the footage is 8bit, do I work in 10 bit in resolve? Because the broadcaster wants Bit rate: 10 bits

I’m planning to give the editor back ProRess 422  then he can compress it for broadcaster right?

3. Still I didn’t speak with the editor yet so I’m not sure if the footage is Slog 2. Any recommendation with this codec? 

4 Project settings: Finally, in the project settings/color management… what type timeline color space do you recommend for this. Thanks guys and sorry for all the dumb questions.

 

Thanks

 

Gabe

 

Broadcaster specs below

4k UDH

XAVC

Wrapper: MXF

Format profile: PO- 1a

Video format: AVC

Video codec: H.264

Video profile: XAVC 4k -intra

Video compression Method: VBR not CBG

Bit rate 200= Mb

Bit rate Depth: 10 bits

[Remco Hekker]

Hi Gabriel, 

Don't worry about the Bitdepth within Resolve you will always be working in 32bit (the dropdown menu allowing you to choose affects the signal send to your external monitor) 

You will run into the 8bit problem, especially when the footage is shot in s-log. It just gets very flat and lacks realism after you've done any kind of normalization. But hey, that decision has been made and you'll have to deal with it. 
 

The broadcaster may turn it down if their specifications dictates that the source footage is at least 10bit for x% of the show. But again, there's nothing you can do about that. Of course you can export your work in a 10bit codec (and you should), but if the editor is doing the final master, you don't have to worry about the rest of the specs from the broadcaster, you'll just hand over the 10bit exports to the editor. 

I personally don't have a real preference regarding the colorscience when working with a7s footage. Usually I select a couple of hero shots and try 3 or 4 different normalizations. LGG, offset contrast pivot, and some powergrades I have saved based on some luts that my clients have told me they like. After that, I'll put the project in Resolve Colormanaged and ACES to see if I like any of them better. 
Until now, I didn't decide on RCM that much. Because it would sometimes over expose (especially s-log) and I'd need to take care of that manually. There is a new function in R14 that should take care of this, but I haven't tested it jet.

Then, how to setup the project. There's a couple options there. I would refrain from doing all episodes in 1 project. Every time I have done something of the like in Resolve, I have come to regret it. (Haven't tried it in R14 ) So depending on your level of OCD you can choose to:

A. Setup a new database specifically for this project. And make a new project for each episode. (turn on dynamic project switching and it will feel as of every episode is I  1 project.)

B. Just create a new folder in your current database project manager, and add new projects for each episode.  This may suffice since there are only 10 episodes.

You'll be able to exchange powergrades and reference stills between the projects in the expanded gallery. 
 

I hope this is of any help to you. 
Obviously, the things I wrote here are based on my personal opinion. Other people may think differently. 
 

Good luck,