When we first sat down to write about the benefits of High Definition as opposed to Standard for video projects, we could come up with good arguments for both. That was more than six months ago and since then our thoughts have changed.
If your project is ultimately going to be delivered via the web or DVD, Standard Definition can still be a good choice for several reasons. First, in most cases it is less expensive. The cost-savings isn’t dramatic, but it does cost less just the same. Second, in some instances High Definition can almost look too good. Here’s what we mean… some Clients want quality videos, but without the big-budget look. Just recently, Fireside Production was working on a project that involved both Standard and High Definition footage. The HD footage was certainly of better quality, but truth be told the SD material gave the event a very authentic feel. Both worked in the video and shot-by-shot, we’re not convinced the average viewer would notice a significant difference between an HD shot and an SD shot in that piece.
It is much easier to argue for High Definition. HD has that crystal clear, sparkling quality about it. It now looks amazing on the web. Such online platforms as YouTube are offering true HD viewing and with faster internet speeds these days, loading and view-time are generally problems of the past. As HD-TVs become the norm for both business and personal viewing, High Definition footage looks considerably better on your home or conference room big screen – particularly when delivered on Blu-Ray, a service Fireside Production now provides.
If your project is intended for broadcast, High Definition is an absolute must. So, if the footage we are capturing is specifically for or could be repurposed for a commercial spot, PSA or media b-roll for a television broadcast, you will want to budget for HD. It not only looks better, but many networks and cable outlets require HD format. For archiving purposes, it is easy to store footage on an external hard drive. In our case, the footage is typically formatted for MAC-compatibility and is then, very easy to access by our two editing platforms, Final Cut Studio or Adobe Production Suite when you are ready to move into post-production.
Again, with Fireside Production, the cost for High Definition is not vastly higher than Standard Def. Just ask us to price out both options for you to compare… and when thinking about incorporating your footage into pieces down the road, HD gives you more longevity. High Definition is not just the format of the future anymore… it *is* the future of video and Fireside Production makes it affordable and accessible, today.
