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4-3 to 16-9
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Unfortunately its not letterbox final output.Its an odd situation,it seems I cant use my digibeta 790,as the editing place doesnt have a player,but they have a betasp player,I have my old betasp camera,so they said use that.Edit is in another country.
Is it that expensive to hire a digibeta player? I wouldnt think more than a day or two to digitise tapes,only 15min program.Then the whole problem would be solved!!! -
[Robin Probyn] “Unfortunately its not letterbox final output.Its an odd situation,i”
Then you can’t crop the 4:3 to get a 16:9 output. Ben is right, that will involve scaling up the video and you will get a much less than desirable output. You must shoot anamorphic for a true 16:9 widescreen output.
[Robin Probyn] “Is it that expensive to hire a digibeta player? I wouldnt think more than a day or two to digitise tapes,only 15min program.Then the whole problem would be solved!!!”
Locally it’s between $400 and $650/day. Only major metropolitan areas generally have them. If you go to a local Post House that has a digibeta player, you generally have to pay for the edit suite too.
I would probably go ahead and shoot DigiBeta so you have the originals in digital and just make a BetaSP clone of everything for the edit.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR
The new Color Training DVD now available from the Creative Cow! -
I’d explain the situation to them regarding quality – see if that sways them regarding hire/transfers. Get a price for getting your own transfers done locally (maybe a little bit in this for you!) versus their hire costs.
I’d also find out if you can get hold of an anamorphic setup for your SP, it might not be so easy or cheap these days.
You have my sympathies for an awkward situation – but at least now you know the consequences of shooting letterboxed16:9 for an SP edit, so I really would try to talk them out of it. I just can’t emphasise enough how unhappy they will be with cropped/zoomed footage. I’ve seen plenty rejected and re-shot, even when the budget was tight, and that’s in situations where a Digibeta cameraman has accidentally shot 4:3 – and obviously that looks better than it would on an SP shoot.
Also I’ve re-read your original post, and see you can’t use a monitor. That makes an anamorphic shoot even more awkward. Shoot it on digi.
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live broadcast.
OB Server 1 HD – Mobile FCP editing done right.
https://www.editecuk.com/OBServer2.html -
Hi Ben and Walter
Thanks again for both of your time and advice.Its a mad situation thats for sure.So it seems it would be better to shoot with a Z1 !!!! than the Betasp.
Its crazy as they would be getting the digibeta at a very good rate,its just the useless posthouse that doesnt even have a digibeta deck… rant rant!!
Probably shouldnt have taken the job.. could spend the time drinking a large gin and tonic….
Your servant
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Solution: Find a friendly facility for doing your own transfers. Share large drink with them after passing on cost to client! Don’t forget many digi decks will play SP as well, so this isn’t an expensive proposition (depending on your circumstances).
Gin and Tonics all round! Make mine a Bombay Sapphire!
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live broadcast.
OB Server 1 HD – Mobile FCP editing done right.
https://www.editecuk.com/OBServer2.html -
Trouble is PAL to PAL very expensive in non PAL land.
They either have to rent a digibeta deck,most straight forward idea,or maybe I have to shoot with a Z1.Ive tried really hard to get out of this job,but seems impossible!!!
Maybe DVCAM NTSC is another out,at least using a real camera? DSR450.
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[Robin Probyn] “Trouble is PAL to PAL very expensive in non PAL land.”
Not really, at least not in Atlanta where I’m based. A number of facilities in the area can do this and the price is about equal to SD to HD upconvert. Not all that bad.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR
The new Color Training DVD now available from the Creative Cow! -
Logic has prevailed and we will shoot with my digibeta 16-9… much rejoicing in the kingdom!
It would have been totally mad to shoot betasp(for the same rate) !!! and then change to 16-9,because there isnt a player at the posthouse.Like throwing away a Bentley for a Toyota Corolla because it fits the parking space better!!
Anyway thanks for your help!
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