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uncompressed DVCAM in PrPro
I have a system that works well for DV. I typically use my Sony DSR200 and capture from the camera via firewire. This has worked well in the past, but I’m ready to take a step up in quality and I’m not sure where to go.
Most of my past projects have been cable commercials, DVD videos for trade shows and events and CD-ROM projects. I’m very happy with Premiere, but I am not happy with the quality of my camera. I either want to take one step up and buy a Sony DSR-390, or take 2 steps up and buy a DSR-500ws.
1. If I buy a DSR-500ws cam, can I capture via firewire in 4:2:2 color? Or, will I have to buy a Decklink card?
2. Will my system handle the higher data rate? I’ve listed my current config below.
Asus P4C800E Deluxe mobo
P4 3.2HT
2 GB DDR400
40 GB WD 7200rpm system drive (OS and Progs)
400 GB Serial ATA RAID (2 Maxtor 200’s)
Win XP SP2
PrPro 1.5
Radeon 9000 Pro Graphics Card
Pyro PCI Firewire
Audigy Platinum Audio card3. Is it worth the expense? If I buy a DSR-500 and can’t master my projects with 4:2:2 color, then I should just buy a DSR-390 which records 4:1:1.
I know I’m asking a lot, but I have a lot to consider.
I hope some of you can advise me.Thanks for your time,
Jason -
9 Replies
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[Jason] “1. If I buy a DSR-500ws cam, can I capture via firewire in 4:2:2 color? Or, will I have to buy a Decklink card? “
That camera can only record DV25 4:1:1 to tape. Although I’ve read that it does have an uncompressed component output from which you could potentially capture (only live) 4:2:2 uncompressed video into a capture card . If your ultimate goal is to be in the 4:2:2 color world you are going to have to spend substantially more money than you would on a similar DV25 camera (unless you wait a few months…see below). I believe Panasonic has a cam that will record and transfer DV50 4:2:2 over firewire. Apple FCP and Avid can handle DV50 over firewire but it is unclear whether Premiere can do it. Someone has mentioned Mainconcept having a DV50 codec plug-in thingy for Premiere, but its not clear whether its 4:1:1 or 4:2:2.
On top of that most every other 4:2:2 cameras have no DV50 firewire output and therefore require at least the addition of a tape deck (expensive) and in some cases a capture card (nowadays inexpensvie). In place of a capture card a Convergent Design box or AJA IO (for Mac and FCP only) is possible. What I’m trying to say is it gets a little complicated and expensive once your leave the DV25 world.
[Jason] “2. Will my system handle the higher data rate? I’ve listed my current config below. “
Assuming you get setup with all the previously mentioned hardware…two SATA drives with RAID such as yours should be sufficient for 10 bit uncompressed standard definition video. However your motherboard needs to have a PCI-X slot for capture card or PCI-express slot for Black Magic Multibridge.
Again, you could use a Convergent Design box or AJA IO box in place of a capture card.Now for the good news. Panasonic should be releasing the HVX200 high definition camera which records dv25,dv50 and (dv100 in HD) all in 4:2:2 and all over firewire. Price is 6K without p2 cards.
Although I don’t know if Premiere will be supporting it. If not, thats too bad for Premiere users.
FCP, AVID and Canopus have all announced support. Adobe if you are listening, many of us are going to want to have support for this camera!!! -
[Julie Marzac] “HVX200 high definition camera which records dv25,dv50 and (dv100 in HD) all in 4:2:2 and all over firewire.”
Correction DV25 is always 4:1:1 not 4:2:2.
Also although I haven’t mentioned it, Apparently Sony has some cameras that record to disc instead of tape that might be of interest. I don’t know their system requirements, compression or color space though. -
Well, maybe I should forget about DV50 for now and go with the DSR-500 or DSR-570 cam. At least until I’m ready for HDV.
Do you know if I can firewire in and out of these 2 cameras with PrPro 1.5?
Do you have any other suggestions for me? I want to upgrade my gear, I’m just not sure which direction to go.
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[Jason] “Do you know if I can firewire in and out of these 2 cameras with PrPro 1.5? “
I assume you would have no problems. It’s standard DV. I haven’t heard of any problems with Premiere and these cameras.
[Jason] “Do you have any other suggestions for me? I want to upgrade my gear, I’m just not sure which direction to go.”
Well those particular cameras (DSR-390, DSR-500, DSR-570) get good reviews
and produce nice pictures for standard definition cameras. I just might question whether they will be losing value over the next few years, since low cost HDV, and DVCPRO HD cameras are coming on the scene. I can’t really say what you should do, but the highly likely choice for our next camera purchase will be one or more of the DVCPRO HD (HVX200) cameras. Shooting in HD will allow us the option to create both SD and HD products. I expect the HD to SD downcoversion, as well as straight to HD will look great from these cameras. -
I’m just not sure if we’re ready to tackle HD yet. A lot of people still can’t playback HD. And, all the bugs haven’t been worked out…as far as editing and distributing.
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I don’t know if you are correct about the new camera outputting to firewire. I think you have to record the HD to the P2 card first then dump that to the pc.
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[tom] “I don’t know if you are correct about the new camera outputting to firewire. I think you have to record the HD to the P2 card first then dump that to the pc. “
There are several forums on the net discussing the HVX200 camera and every indication is that this camera will output live DV,DV50 and DV100 (aka DVCPRO HD) over firewire, with or without P2 cards. It will also output prerecorded video over firewire or USB from the p2 cards. Problem is PPRO still might not be compatible with these codecs by then.
https://www.creativecow.net/forum/read_post.php?postid=111487286093490&forumid=193
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Julie –
MainConcept’s DVCPRO50 plug-in works just fine for PPro. There is a totally unsubstantiated rumor floating about that they have a DVCPRO HD (aka DVCPRO 100) plug-in in development. I’m not sure why Adobe hasn’t added native support for these formats.
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This is interesting.
From the Main Concept website: “DVCPro 50: 4:2:2 Color Space, 8 Bit Quantization, data reduction of 5:1, data rate of 50 MBit/s.”
Isn’t the Panasonic DVCPRO 50 codec 4:2:2, 3.3:1, 50MB/sec?
That is 3.3:1 compression and not 5:1 compression. Maybe its a misprint at Main Concept?Anyway, can you capture from a DV50 firewire source into PPRO with the Main Concept DV50 codec ? Or does the video source have to be SDI? And with which capture card?
[Ralph Keyser] “I’m not sure why Adobe hasn’t added native support for these formats. “
I’d guess it has something to do with avoiding a licensing fee to Panasonic?
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