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Was asked for 16×9 SX… WTF?
Forgive me, I feel really stupid for asking this question, but my google efforts and other searches have turned up nothing. Perhaps I am not wording this right…
I have a client who is asking me for elements for a weekly show. The format specified is:
SD, 16×9, BetaCamSX
He SWEARS to me that they are using this format. I have Final Cut Studio along with an M2000 DigiBeta deck, and BetaCamSP deck.
Two questions:
1) What would be the appropriate sequence settings to achieve what he is asking for? My best guess was to do the Sequence settings as ProRes NTSC, then tick the “Anamorphic 16:9” check box.2) Is it even possible for me to deliver this format to him with my SD decks? Do I need a special option board for this?
Thanks in advance for any help.
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8 Replies
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[Phil Smith] “2) Is it even possible for me to deliver this format to him with my SD decks? Do I need a special option board for this?”
Edit Prores NTSC 720-486 Lower First Anamorphic and print to BetacamSP.
The Betacam_SX desks should be able to play BetaSP tapes.
rafael -
If they want BetaSX, you need to rent a BetaSX deck. It is a format, it does exist. You can ask if Digibeta or betaSP would work. But if not, then you need to rent the deck.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Shane Ross] “If they want BetaSX, you need to rent a BetaSX deck. It is a format, it does exist. You can ask if Digibeta or betaSP would work. But if not, then you need to rent the deck.”
And you have to use BetacamSX tape. If you use SP tape, it won’t be recording SX.
Scott Sheriff
Director
https://www.sstdigitalmedia.comI have a system, it has stuff in it, and stuff hooked to it. I have a camera, it can record stuff. I read the manuals, and know how to use this stuff and lots of other stuff too.
You should be suitably impressed… -
Yeah, BetaSX used to be quite common in newsgathering. And in the UK Big Brother was archived on Beta SX as you can get 3 hours onto a tape.
Although your M2000 will play back Beta SX you’ll need a different deck to record to. The tape case is bright yellow – unmissable.
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FCP and Avid Technical Support
Air Post Production
Shoreditch – London -
Thanks to all of you for the very fast responses.
Turns out that they can accept the DigiBeta as well, the piece that I was missing was that they simply needed “Anamorphic 16:9” in an SD frame size. My client was adamant that the 16:9 was a normal SD format.
I’ve only really dealt with 4:3 SD video, so this request seemed bonkers to me.
Kudos given – Dave, especially helpful tip on scaling down the HD stuff… I’m sure I will need that eventually for this client.
Thanks again all!
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When you shoot 16:9 with an SD camera, that’s what you get. Anamorphic SD. With everyone buying widescreens and wanting DVDs, that’s pretty much the footage I was getting for a few years until I started getting HD footage. But I’m still outputting the end product as 16:9 SD to DVD. I kinda thought anyone in corporate was doing that because everyone is shooting 16:9 HD, but nobody has blu-ray, so the final product is a 16:9 widescreen DVD.
If you’re working in HD and have to downconvert, don’t mess with compressor unless you have to. Take your final video into AE if you have it and scale it to 720×486 pro res. Then bring it back to FCP and output.
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Just for the record you CAN record SX on standard BetaSP tapes – have been doing it for 10 years or more.
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Isn’t betaSX really just mpeg2 on a betasp tape cassette?
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