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Re: XDCAM EX Quality seems low
My next question is what is what is the highest quality way to bring in the EX1 XDcam files. The XDCam mov’s and the ProResHQ playback in FCP do seem to be less noisy than the XDCam or even the DNxHD 220 conversions in the MC5. It seems to be picking up noise on the conversion. This is a stage performance where the noise is easliy seen in the dark areas. The Avid test was done with the XDcam wrapped as a .MOV with XDcam Transfer by Sony first. I don’t think this compresses further as it shows up as a 35mb/sec VBR file with a .mov extension. It was converted on import to the bin to DNxHD 220X. Is 220X the highest quality available? Is there a way to bring it in directly from the BPAV folder the camera creates, or do you have to use AMA? Why not just edit the XDCam files directly and then conform at the end, other than the usual long GOP problems, especially if you are doing say a cuts only doc? Finally, is the EX1 XDCam codec the same in the Avid as in FCP 7, assuming the latest from Sony?
Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 1.5.1, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi Avid MC, Macbook Pro Core2Duo, G5 Quadcore PCIe, Media 100i/XR -
6 Replies
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My bet is that you’re seeing lowered blacks in FCP compared to Avid. No noise will be added, but you might see a different color displaying, which may show you noise you on one system that is hidden on the other.
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Perhaps, but it seems very general. Definitely seeing the difference in the low to mid luminance levels. BTW I have no predisposition about Avid. I was their dealer here in Hawaii for six years. I am just seeing a difference in noise levels that I would like to account for. The XDcam just looks better in FCP and Media 100 Suite, at least here. BTW, where are the scopes on the MC5?
Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 1.5.1, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi Avid MC, Macbook Pro Core2Duo, G5 Quadcore PCIe, Media 100i/XR -
Open the color correction tool. Then for instance select to display the Y-Waveform in the left monitor.
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“Perhaps, but it seems very general.”
This is exactly why I think it may be a monitor calibration issue. -
By general, I mean more noise on the Avid through all low to mid-range luminance/chrominance video. Same monitor, same calibration. Naturally, noise is not visibly different in the high luma ranges. That is why I want to be sure I am doing the XDCam import at the best possible quality. I must admit, I am very picky. I’ve been looking at video quality for almost 40 years professionally, as an engineer and producer, and many wouldn’t notice the difference. Love the Avid interface, BTW. Far superior. Any way to export XML timelines?
Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 1.5.1, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi Avid MC, Macbook Pro Core2Duo, G5 Quadcore PCIe, Media 100i/XR -
you have the timeline quality set to green or yellow/green? you’ll see a big difference in visual quality if you’re in draft mode in Avid. We edit EX1 footage on both FCP and Avid MC4 and I have not seen noise in avid that is not showing up in FCP.
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