Deliverables and QC in Videomontage: From Timeline to Broadcast/Web
Finishing is where professional videomontage proves itself. Anyone can export a file; pros deliver the right file, on time, with no surprises. A consistent deliverables and quality control (QC) process saves you from failed uploads, broadcast rejections, and frantic last‑minute fixes. Here’s a practical path from picture lock to confident delivery.
Lock the timeline for real
Before you “finish,” finish. Confirm picture lock with stakeholders in writing. Freeze edit decisions: no more shot swaps. Collect final graphics, spell-checked titles, cleared music, and approved VO. Duplicate the project as “_FINISH” so you can always revert to the locked creative version if a fix breaks something.
Color management and exports
Know your color pipeline. If you graded in a managed space (ACES or DaVinci YRGB Color Managed), choose the correct output transform for your target: SDR Rec.709 (web/broadcast SDR) or HDR if specified. Beware platform gamma shifts; view your export in sRGB-looking conditions and test on multiple screens. Export a high-bitrate mezzanine master (e.g., ProRes 422 HQ/DNxHR HQX) even if the final deliverable is H.264—this becomes your archive and transcode source.
Audio loudness and channel layout
Match loudness standards:
- Web/streaming: around −16 to −14 LUFS integrated, true peak −1 dBTP.
- Broadcast (typical): −24 LKFS ±2, true peak −2 dBTP (region dependent).
Deliver the channel layout requested: stereo, dual mono, or 5.1. For 5.1, verify center for dialogue, LFE usage, and downmix compatibility. Print a stereo fold-down to catch issues like too-loud music when collapsed. Name tracks clearly in stems: DX, MX, FX, and M&E (music and effects without dialogue) if required for localization.
Captions and subtitles
Generate captions from your final locked audio to avoid drift. Use standards like .srt for web and .scc/.itt for broadcast or platforms that require them. Check reading speed (no more than ~20 cps for average content), line length, and timing against scene changes to avoid distracting pops. Spot-check special characters, names, and any on-screen text that needs [bracketed] descriptions for accessibility.
Titles, graphics, and safe areas
Verify title safety (typically 5–10% margins) for broadcast and platforms that auto-crop or overlay UI. Inspect for typos, kerning issues, and brand color accuracy. If you used vector titles, check for flicker or aliasing on movement; add a slight blur (0.2–0.4 px) or motion blur to stabilize.
Legal checks: flashes, profanity, rights
Some broadcasters require Harding FPA or equivalent flash/strobing analysis. Remove or mitigate sequences that may trigger photosensitive epilepsy. Deliver clean versions if profanity has to be replaced with bleeps or mutes. Ensure all footage, fonts, and music are licensed for the intended distribution and territories; keep documentation in your delivery pack.
QC pass routine
Run a two-pass QC: technical and creative. Technical pass checks:
- No black frames or duplicate frames at cuts.
- No offline media, wrong frame rates, or unintended resizes.
- Consistent white balance and exposure after color.
- No clipped audio; meters and ears confirm.
- Captions in sync; no orphan lines.
Creative pass checks:
- Pacing still feels right with final mix and grade.
- Intended emphasis lands; temp tracks replaced.
- Graphics read quickly on laptop and phone.
Watch once without stopping, jot notes, then do surgical fixes.
File naming and metadata
Name files predictably: CLIENT_PROJECT_VERSION_ASPECT_FRAMERATE_COLORSPACE_DATE.ext. Embed metadata when supported (title, description, copyright) so assets are searchable later. Create a delivery README with specs, a change log, and contact info for questions.
Platform specifics and tests
For YouTube/Vimeo: upload the mezzanine or a high-bitrate H.264/H.265; avoid double compression by letting the platform transcode from quality. For social: export per aspect ratio and bitrate recommendations, with burned-in captions only if required. For broadcast: follow the network’s PDF exactly—slate content, bars/tone, 2-pop, and leaders are not optional. Always upload a short private test: 10–30 seconds that includes graphics, motion, and dialogue to evaluate platform compression before sending the full piece.
Archival and handoff
Archive the project logically: project files, masters, delivery encodes, stems, captions, LUTs, and fonts. Include a checksum manifest (MD5 or similar) for long-term integrity. If you hand off to a client or post house, zip the delivery pack and provide a share link that won’t expire. Document how to reconstruct the project if future revisions are needed.
Final checklist
- Picture lock confirmed and documented.
- Mezzanine master exported; viewing tests passed.
- Loudness and true peak within spec; stems labeled.
- Captions validated; safe areas respected.
- Legal: rights cleared, flashes checked, clean versions prepared.
- QC technical and creative passes completed.
- Files named, metadata embedded, README included.
- Archive organized with checksums and dependencies.
Finishing isn’t glamorous, but it’s the difference between “uploaded” and “delivered.” With a disciplined QC routine and a clear deliverables pack, your videomontage leaves the timeline ready for anything—broadcast, web, or whatever comes next.