-
BetaSP into DV project color problem head ache.
Posted this question on the BlackMagic Deck link forum as well…
Awrite. Was on a 3 camera shoot (all Sony DVCams, DSR300’s & my DSR500) when my tape transport wonked out. Told director could be back up and running real quick and record component out to BetaSP, and then capture and give to him and should be better than DV anyway.
(Note: don’t get hung on this part. Belkin makes a 23 pin component break out cable that’ll go from the 23 pin on back of the camera to component in on a deck with that capability WITHOUT being recorded to DV or compressed)
So, set up, recorded bars and checked play back, looked good, and record last 20 minutes of shoot to BetaSP. Brand new tape, low hrs on deck. Play back looks good on set.
But—digged using BM NTSC DV codec, and dropped the drive off to him and he calls and says it’s ‘blocky in solid color areas’, (specifically blue) and looks ‘noisy’ and not quite right. He’s editing on same FCP G5 set up I have. Sequence is DV NTSC.
Went and had a look, and while I think he’s being a bit picky, yeah, it’s there. Side by sided with same shot from native DV and is noticable if you look really hard. He’s wanting me to pay for a component dub from BetaSP to DVCam so it’ll match the other footage. Nahh, that ain’t right, I’m thinkin’.
So, back I race, do a test of same shot, captured with every codec, BM 8 bit, BM 10 bit, BM DV NTSC, and BM JPEG. Zoomed in 400% and sorta surprised nothing really made any difference except JPEG looked really bad.
So, any suggestions? Would field dominance have anything to do with it? I’m running OSX 10.4.7 with latest BM drivers on Dual G5 2.5 if it matters and FCP 5.0.4.
Thanks for any ideas.
-
4 Replies
-
1- Can you study the tape on a vectorscope to see how the dots line up. Being you are capturing analog did you capture useing scopes? How do your color bars look on the fcp scopes during capture? Remember capturing digital is basically transfering data from tape to hdd but capturing analog involves a lot of slip, slop, and slide that needs adjustment for each device depending on phase of the moon, season, temperature etc.
2- Blue is traditionaly a difficult color for ccd’s. You could check the camera on a vectorscope. It could be an encoder level is out of adjustment on the camera if all other colors are good.
What is the cost of a beta sp to dvcam component dub in your neck of the woods? (I’m just curious)
-
Good thoughts.
I did check the scopes on capture, and were dead on the dots.
But, tho weighty and technical, think I’ve found a clue if you’re interested:
https://www.nattress.com/Chroma_Investigation/chromasampling.htm
Just feeling like gonna have to suck it up and figure some way out of this as it looks like nothing else to do…
ah well, spose I was due.As far as BetaSP to DVCam dub, I’ve got the ways and means in my little suite to do component dub like that. Don’t really offer that service or get calls for it much any more, so not sure if there’s really a going rate. Not a lot of production here in sleepy little Monterey, Calf on the central
coast. Seems a few years ago I was charging $60 – $70 per hr plus tape. But not sure.Thanks for the input.
p2
-
Good thoughts.
I did check the scopes on capture, and were dead on the dots.
But, tho weighty and technical, think I’ve found a clue if you’re interested:
https://www.nattress.com/Chroma_Investigation/chromasampling.htm
Just feeling like gonna have to suck it up and figure some way out of this as it looks like nothing else to do…
ah well, spose I was due.As far as BetaSP to DVCam dub, I’ve got the ways and means in my little suite to do component dub like that. Don’t really offer that service or get calls for it much any more, so not sure if there’s really a going rate. Not a lot of production here in sleepy little Monterey, Calf on the central
coast. Seems a few years ago I was charging $60 – $70 per hr plus tape. But not sure.Thanks for the input.
p2
-
Thanks for the Natress link. I hadn’t seen the article. I’ll look at it tonite.
I was down in Monterey once, about 30 years ago. Nice place. I’m in a small town here and I have hourly rates for each deck I use for a dub. Beta sp to component dvcam is $120.00 (60/60) per hr and I’m told my rates are really good compared to other locals who do it. There’s not much call for it here either, actually it’s usually the other way around, dvcam to beta sp. Always good to compare, thanks for the info.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up