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Activity Forums AJA Video Systems best way to transfer DigiBeta SD to ProRes 422 ?

  • best way to transfer DigiBeta SD to ProRes 422 ?

    Posted by Tc Yamada on September 22, 2010 at 2:33 am

    Hello, I am new to the AJA IO world, new to the machine room all together. screwed? help me Cows!!

    The network dumped a huge pile of SD DigiBeta tapes on us and we need to get them into our ProRes workflow.
    I am renting equipment and realize I am probably missing something big.
    Any help from you Cow heroes (you are heroes of the universe btw) is much needed/appreciated.
    Here’s what I have come up with:

    DVW a500 Digi Deck >> AJA IO HD >>> MBP >>> SATA (express card slot) >>> G-Drives

    Here’s my Question(s):
    The DigiBeta tapes are all SD, the AJA box will convert them to ProRes 422?
    is this upres going to look alright?
    is the setup of the Deck>>AJA IO especially complex or can I figure it out with manuals and forums?
    am I supposed to run this through FCP?
    I want to use my MBP (2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB 667MHz) –keeping the newer towers for editing is this gonna work??

    Thanks guys!

    Tc Yamada replied 15 years, 11 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Michael Sacci

    September 22, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    [Chip Yamada] “The DigiBeta tapes are all SD”
    That is kind of redundant, there is nothing but SD DigiBeta tapes.

    [Chip Yamada] “ProRes 422”
    That is just a codec, what are you looking to go to, SD, 720p or 1080i or p?

    If up-converting you need to set the correct cropping if you source material is 4:3, if it is anamophic 16:9 it is an easier path.

  • Jeremy Garchow

    September 22, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    Have you ever hooked up a capture card and deck before? You said you have a machine room?

  • Tc Yamada

    September 28, 2010 at 12:24 am

    For anyone who needs to go from DigiBeta to ProRes 422 on a MacBook Pro, here’s the deal:

    Digibeta deck (Sony DVW A500) via SDI/BNC (audio follows video) to AJA IO HD box (hardware conversion to HD–firewire800 to MBP), Final Cut Pro will recognize the AJA and you can choose the in/out codec of your dreams, Log and Capture, Sonnet Tempo Express 34 SATA card to external drive (or express card firewire 800 if you like).

    *Don’t forget to install the drivers and updates for the AJA and Sonnet express card.
    *you need to use the express slot because the AJA going into the 800 port maxes the firewire bus, and USB 2 not recommended for HD throughput.

    So I answered my own question and just did selects off a troughful of digibetas with fine results. I hope this helps someone someday.

    Peace.

  • Nick Price

    September 28, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    HI chip,
    what were the results like? Did the quality look acceptable, considering its never going to look like filmed HD? Would be interested to know if this would make a difference if a digibeta shot film would look better as HD if an HD projector were available for screening.

    thanks
    nick

  • Tc Yamada

    September 28, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    I was impressed by the upres quality, but I am no expert. The IO HD hardware conversion was definitely better than FCP rendering.

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