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Up convert on Capture
Hi, I posted this on the Blackmagic Forum without much feedback:-
I have a Decklink HD Pro Dual link card. Is it possible to digitise from a Digibeta machine into an HD codec? In other words can I expect the card to do the upconversion to HD for me while I capture??
If it does do this, how would the quality compare to doing the same procedure but using an HDW-2000 to up convert the digibeta footage from the deck?
I am in PAL land so all my conversions would be 25 to 25 fps – if that helps!
Paul
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10 Replies
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I really don’t know, but if you contact the Decklink’s tech support, they will give you a quick response.
Martial
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I’d compare the two if possible. I’m not sure about the decklink card, but do know that the Kona 2 does this… but don’t expect miracles… SD upconverted isn’t going to knock your socks off… it’s soft.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
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Might consider a dub thru a teranex box… I’ll wager this is as good as it gets.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
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[Jerry Hofmann] “I’d compare the two if possible. I’m not sure about the decklink card, but do know that the Kona 2 does this… but don’t expect miracles… SD upconverted isn’t going to knock your socks off… it’s soft.”
Kona 2’s upconvert has gotten cleaner with the new 1.1.2 driver released yesterday. Still not perfect, but cleaner.
A Terranex does the cleanest upconvert right now. It’s a perfect upconvert.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Creative Genius, Biscardi Creative Media
https://www.biscardicreative.comNow in Production, “The Rough Cut,” https://www.theroughcutmovie.com
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Walter, I’ve not had to do this at all… HD projects have been all HD shot or created… but how does the terranex box look? Is the material still a bit soft? I can’t wait until this box is less than 20k… I might be a player… but they don’t come very cheap these days. ya know? There aught to be a service bureau out there doing this…
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
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Hi,
I am mastering to PAL SD but i want the ability to pan and scan around HD footage so i’m working in an HD timeline as most of my footage will be HD.
I knew the Kona could do this conversion, but i’m still lost as to whether the Decklink Pro can. Guess I will try tech support.
Paul
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[Jerry Hofmann] “but how does the terranex box look? Is the material still a bit soft? I can’t wait until this box is less than 20k… I might be a player..”
The upconvert through a terranex looks perfect, not soft at all. Looks like the project was shot in HD.
You need to go to a facility to perform the upconvert for you as the terranex is over $100k. Here in Atlanta we have a superb facility, CineFilm, which handles accounts from all over the world. They do film to tape, tape to film and upconvert / downconvert.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Creative Genius, Biscardi Creative Media
https://www.biscardicreative.comNow in Production, “The Rough Cut,” https://www.theroughcutmovie.com
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Paul, are you doing upconvert or downconvert ? You started your post saying you want to upconvert your Digibeta to HD but then later say that most of your materials are in HD and you want to do a pan & scan for PAL SD mastering, which, to me, is downconversion.
Anyway, if you want something that can do both up and downconversion, go with the Kona2. Also, it can function as a standalone up/down converter via its control panel, meaning you can feed a HD signal into it and it will downconvert immediately and vice versa. No need to digitize and go through FCP.
-chrispy
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Chrispy,
I’m doing both – hopefully. I am doing a project that is shot HD with some SD footage that needs cutting into it. they are shooting HD because they want to pan and scan around the HD frame with the intention of getting an SD output. So I want to edit my content together in HD (both HD and SD sources) but ultimately end up mastering to SD.
I already have the BMD decklink card so Kona is a no go.
It seems difficult to get an answer on this on – i’ll test it on the job but for safety i’m getting an M2000 deck which will upconvert the digi to HD for capture.
Thanks,
Paul
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Hi Paul,
In this case, your only option is to upconvert the digibeta materials via the HD VTR and then cut everything in HD, do the pan&scan and then use the Decklink downconversion to output your SD master. This way you don’t have to spend anything more.
The only question I guess is whether the HD VTR’s upconversion quality is good enough for you.
-chrispy
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