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Nature Documentaries

Parc national de la Yamaska - Parc national de la Yamaska - 2025-10-11
Parc national de la Yamaska - 2025-10-11

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Workflows and Checklists

A selection of workflows and checklists I use myself for making sure that all critical steps are taken while recording or in post-production.

Last changed on 2025-10-27

Production - Videos

These lists serve as quick reminders to achieve the best recording quality for all publications. For every recording session, I add a note in MEL (MEL - Muuuh Event Logger) to log the exact location. In case of a soundscape recording I also create a short video proof of setup and location with my iPhone.

Soundscapes

Reminder to self: Once audio recording starts, move at least 20 m away from the mics — or you’ll hate yourself later in post-production.

Audio

  • iPhone in airplane mode, screen off?
  • Anker battery placed max cable length away?
  • No nearby high-level sound sources?
  • ORTF WS correctly aligned (cables exit left)?
  • Minimum 15 minutes of continuous recording?

Video

  • Format set to 29.97 fps 4.1K?
  • Polarizing filter mounted?
  • Manual focus set correctly?
  • Rode Videomic NTG sound level checked?
  • Multiple angles and focal lengths captured?

Note that an active iPhone may cause electrical crackling in the sound recording. It’s very important to keep the iPhone turned off or far away from the Behringer C-2 microphones.

Animals Close-Up

  • Format set to 29.97 fps 4.1K?
  • Camera mounted on tripod?
  • Rode Videomic NTG sound level checked?
  • Shutter speed and aperture optimized?

Note that the frame rate may be set to a multiple of 29.97 fps when slow-motion adjustments are anticipated during post-production.

Post-Production - Videos

I use DaVinci Resolve Studio for all video and audio editing.

Soundscapes

I need four rendered versions: 4k EN (@muuuh), 4k FR (@quebecsauvage), 1080p EN (@muuuh Broadcast) and audio only export for QS Spotify channel.

  • Resolution 3840×2160?
  • FPS 29.97fps?
  • Full length 1hr?
  • Correct location tag and indent of 100?
  • Credits date & location correct?
  • Sound normalized ITU-R BS.1770-4 min -30LKFS and max -2 dBTP?
  • Saturation, highlights, contrast reviewed?
  • All cuts, video and audio, reviewed?

Settings Render 4K → YouTube

  • Container: QuickTime
  • Codec: H.265
  • Resolution: 3840×2160
  • Framerate: Match timeline (29.97 fps)
  • Bitrate: Restrict to 45Mbps
  • Encoding Profile: Main10
  • Key Frames: Automatic
  • Audio: AAC, 320 kbps, 48 kHz stereo

Settings Render 1080p → Broadcast (OBS)

  • Container: QuickTime
  • Codec: H.264
  • Resolution: 1920×1080
  • Framerate: Match timeline (29.97 fps)
  • Bitrate: Restrict to 10Mbps
  • Encoding Profile: Main
  • Entropy Mode: CABAC
  • Key Frames: Every 60 frames
  • Audio: AAC, 320 kbps, 48 kHz stereo

Settings Render Audio Only

  • Format: Wave
  • Codec: Linear PCM
  • Sample rate: 48k
  • Bit depth: 24

Animal Behavior

Timeline settings are the same as for soundscapes, except that the resolution is 2160×3840.

Settings Render 4K → YouTube

  • Container: QuickTime
  • Codec: H.265
  • Resolution: 2160x3840
  • Framerate: Match timeline (29.97 fps)
  • Bitrate: Restrict to 20Mbps
  • Encoding Profile: Main10
  • Key Frames: Automatic
  • Audio: AAC, 320 kbps, 48 kHz stereo

The same rendered video file is used for publishing on Facebook Reels and TikTok.

Species in Focus

These are podcasts with and without video. Rendered twice, audio and video (1080p) and audio only.

  • Timeline 29.97fps?
  • Full length 30min?
  • Intro in blue and green?
  • Correct species name label?
  • Saturation, highlights, contrast reviewed?
  • All cuts, video and audio, reviewed?

Post-Production - Photos

I use Affinity Photo for photo editing and try to keep as few destructive steps as possible, since they can’t be changed later in the editing process.