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Mixing SD into 1080i final–which way?
I’ve looked thru many posts, some quite old, and would LOVE an updated answer to this scenario.
I have a 1080i 29.97 project that will mix footage from both 1080i 29.97 HDCAM and also SD from Digi at 29.97. So, no frame rate conversion.
The final output is going to be the same HD format, but there will be a lot of these SD shots mixed in. I seem to have several choices for making the SD Digi footage fit into 1080i. But which one is best, and which options am I missing?
–The simplest way is to just scale the SD footage in the Motion tab up to around 300%. But, the image quality is wanting. I assume there is a better way.
–Is it better to go thru a deck, such as an HDCAM deck, and have the deck up-res the Digi to 1080i and capture it that way? (We don’t have an HDCAM deck in-house, so I’m not sure if this is possible.) If so, does it just “center-cut” the SD footage, or do you have positioning options to get more of the top or bottom of the frame?
–I could use some box out there that will up-res from SDI from the Digi to HD-SDI into FCP. Can these be rented? Ideas on good brands/models?
–I could use a plug-in like Instant HD and such (others?). Is the quality significantly better than just scaling? Again, there’s no frame rate conversion, just scaling up. Since so much of this show will be in SD, do render times knock this option out?
I’d love to keep it within FCP and not need to rent a deck or box, but if that’s the best way than so be it.
I apologize if this has been “asked and answered, your honor,” but I’ve been round and round and still can’t find the clearest answer.
Thanks for your help,
Clark -
5 Replies
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Hi Clark,
If you want to get something that you can show, forget about doing that in FC.
Compressor will do it.
Long rendering so.
Shane Ross have a little tutorial about.
Rafael -
What are you using to capture video? Some of the better capture devices have upscaling technology built in, so you can feed it SD and it will upscale nicely to 1080.
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I’m using a KONA LHe card, so no KONA 3 up-rezing built in or anything.
We have just a standard Digi Beta deck and will be bringing in an HDCAM (not SR) deck in for the HD capture.
I’ve seen a couple of places that rent the “Teranex Mini.” Anyone have experiences with that box?
Thanks to all.
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If the HDCAM has the DigiBeta playback option card, it’ll do an awesome upconvert. I have an SR machine with that card. I don’t know if the non-SR machines had the option, but it would not hurt to ask your rental facility. The upconvert options on the SR have the anamorphic, crop letterbox, and edge-crop (pillarbox), as well as all sorts of image enhancing things to mess with.
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AJA Kona 3 or even the new Kona products can do this much better than anything you’ll be able to do in FCP or Compressor. Nothing beats hardware upconversion.
Short of that, try to rent an HDCAM deck that can also playback and up-convert the DigiBeta.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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