When you upload a film to you will have to compress the file containing your film so that it can play on FourDocs. This can be a bit fiddly as each editing application has its own way of doing it and there are a few settings to check before you export your file. The Compression Clinic will help you with this stuff.
We need your film compressed as:
- MPEG 4, 3000kbits/sec FOR FOURDOCS (3-5 minutes), or 6400kbits/sec FOR MICRODOCS (59 seconds)
- Quicktime or Windows Media file
- 48khz audio, 16bit stereo
- 25fps video frame rate (DV PAL default)- NB You need to specify this as the frame rate, don't just assume it's right!
- Default DV resolution ie 720x576 pixels for both 16:9 and 4:3
For full instructions, look here
The most common compression solutions can be found in the General Tips page
There is a guide below for each of the main editing applications - select yours, and you'll be taken through the compression process step by step. REMEMBER! You can use these instructions for both FourDocs (between 3 and 5 minutes) and Microdocs (under 59 seconds) with the only difference being that when you compress your Microdoc, you can leave the video rate at 6400 kilobits/sec. For your FourDocs, you'll be reducing the rate to 3000 kilobits/sec
Don't worry if you find you're still having problems, or your problem isn't covered. Please let us know! We
can be reached at fourdocs@channel4.com. Please make sure you tell us:
- what editing or compression package you are using, and which version (on a Mac this can be found by clicking About in the application menu; on a PC
by clicking About in the help menu).
- which version of QuickTime or Windows Media you're using.
- Which operating system and browser you are using.
This will make it much
easier for us to help you. And don't worry, if we really can't help you upload yourself, we'll get you to send us your film file on a disc in the post. Good Luck!
