Workflows and Checklists

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.

Soundscapes

I need the following rendered versions: 4K (@muuuh VOD), 1080p (@quebecsauvage Broadcast) and optionally an audio only export for Spotify channel. In DR, I render though only the MASTER. Final render for publishing are generated with ffmpeg from the MASTER.

Checklist before Render:

• Resolution 3840×2160?
• FPS 29.97fps?
• Full length 1hr? (-4sec)
• Sound normalized ITU-R BS.1770-4 min -28LKFS and max -2 dBTP?
• Double-checked saturation, highlights and contrast?
• Double-checked all cuts, video and audio?

Settings DR Render → MASTER:

• Container: QuickTime
• Codec: Apple ProRes
• Type: Apple ProRes 422 LT
• Resolution: 3840×2160
• Frame rate: 29.97 fps
• Audio: Linear PCM, 48k, 24bit

Settings DR Render → Audio Only:

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

Render MASTER → 4K YT VOD & 4K Stream:

Main render. This version is generated on a second computer, allowing my main workstation to remain available for video editing or for rendering a new MASTER.

ffmpeg -i FILENAME-MASTER.mov \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium \
  -b:v 25000k -maxrate 25000k -bufsize 50000k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -profile:v high -level 5.2 \
  -g 60 -keyint_min 60 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 256k \
  FILENAME-4K.mp4

Render MASTER → 1080p STREAM:

Quick render (30min) used in my UHD broadcasts.

ffmpeg -i FILENAME-MASTER.mov \
  -vf "scale=-1:1080" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast \
  -b:v 6800k -maxrate 6800k -bufsize 13600k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -g 60 -keyint_min 60 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 256k \
  FILENAME-1080p.mp4

Render MASTER → 4K:

ffmpeg -i FILENAME-MASTER.mov \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium \
  -b:v 40M -maxrate 40M -bufsize 80M \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -profile:v high -level 5.2 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k \
  -movflags +faststart \
  FILENAME-4K.mp4

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?