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Kona 3 and HVX200 help
I’m trying to figure out whether a card like the Kona 3 is necessary for my video editing setup. I get the idea that I can do without it – but – that ultimately I need it.
Currently I’m capturing HD to the FS-100 and I’ll be editing in FCP on the Mac Pro I have discussed.
I’m gathering that it’s best to capture in HD even if the final product is going to be DV as long as a card like the Kona 2, 3 or LH is used for the Downconvert after editing.
What if one of the cameras I used for shooting was Standard def DV. Could I use the Kona 3 to Upconvert to HD and then use the Kona 3 to Downconvert after editing and actually improve the quality?
Thanks.
Mike
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8 Replies
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You do not need the Kona cards for capturing or editing. However, for upconverting DV to DVCPRO HD, yes, a Kona 3 does the job nicely by either giving you a center extraction (cropping off the top and bottom) or giving you a pillarbox image..full 4:3 with black on the sides that you can then push in on and frame yourself (with slight loss of quality).
And the cards most definately will help in downconverting on final output.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Hi mike,
we bought the Kona LH and we are very happy with it. The best part about it is that they got great support and for us that is the main thing.
felipe
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The other thing to keep in mind is that the Kona 3 and LH have no firewire input or output. The Kona 3 is really valuable if you are using HDSDI and SDI devices. If you do not have these, then you can output analog component through the monitor outputs and analog audio monitors as well. Otherwise you will need a SDI to analog converter or SDI to firewire converter. The Kona LH has better component analog in and out, but no upconvert or cross convert. And, upconverting DV to HD and then downconverting will not improve the quality.
Aloha,
Ken
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“The other thing to keep in mind is that the Kona 3 and LH have no firewire input or output”
don’t you use the computer firewire input/ouput?
f
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Sure, ingesting via firewire is not a problem, but upconverting DV or downconverting HD to DV thru the Kona 3 card has to go in via HDSDI/SDI and out via SDI or component, unless I’m missing some additional magic that our Kona 3 can do (that would be great if it could do files on the fly, but I don’t think it can). If you are rendering the project from HD to DV then you don’t really need the Kona card as far as I understand it.
Aloha,
Ken
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OK – I’m glad I’m asking for help on this.
I currently have one HVX200 and a GL2. In a few months I’ll have a second HVX200 and I’ll retire the GL2.
I’m producing training videos for the office and these videos need to be on DVD. In addition, I have a dream of a business that produces training and family videos.
Since the current technology is moving quickly to HD, I want to be in a position to begin producing in HD as soon as there is a reliable method to output HD to a DVD style media.
I guess I’m really unclear on what the cards do.
I don’t have a deck like the AHJ-HD1400 and I don’t use a monitor other than the Dell 24″.
Thanks.
Mike
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Aloha Mike,
These cards do a few important things for some folks, but they aren’t a necessity for everyone. So depending on what you do, they may just be expensive overkill. The long and short of it is that if you don’t have SDI or HDSDI enabled gear, and are using firewire and a computer screen to monitor, then you may not need one of these cards. Here’s a list of stuff a Kona card can do:
1 Digitize material coming in via HDSDI/SDI or analog component (LH only).
2.Upconvert or Crossconvert (720 to 1080 or reverse) during digitizing.
3.Digitized material can be captured in a bunch of codecs, including DVCPRO HD or uncompressed.
4.Some acceleration during editing (the card does some of the work)
5.Monitor output on professional grade monitors using analog or HDSDI during editing so you can do accurate color correction and monitoring of levels.
6.Output via HDSDI/SDI or analog to a variety of professional decks or other devices.
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OK – Thanks Ken. Your post if very helpful.
Mike
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