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720P footage from FCP to mini-dv/DSR-11 via firewire or AJA Kona 3?
I know this is tedious. sorry.
I’m looking for the highest quality method to get 720p footage down converted to a mini-dv deck (DSR-11). I’d like to accomplish this using what I’ve got at my disposal today.
What I’ve got to work with.
FCP 6
quad G5
AJA Kona 3 with breakout box
Sony DSR-11 mini dv deck (composite and “S” video in only).The Kona 3 card will out put component or composite (the DSR-11 only has composite and “S” video in)… NO component.
I tried the AJA composite to DSR-11 and although the image was decent I felt it was a little soft. Apparently if I go from the AJA component using a special (component to S video adapter) then the image will be better. Apparently “S” video is higher quality than composite? i thought they were the same.
Unfortunately that special adapter will take a couple days to get here and I have to deliver a down convert later today.
Are there any work arounds? Does anyone have an idea?
Is firewire higher quality than composite? Could I go from a 720p timeline in FCP 6 to a DSR-11 via firewire? Or would Final Cut Pro/ quicktime/compressor have to down convert the footage to DV first before laying off to DSR-11?? What would quality be like then?
The reason I’m in this backwards situation is because the client originally wanted mini-dv (dvx-100) because that’s what all the other footage they’re working with is shot on. They’ve been cutting for about six months now and do not want to introduce another format into there project.
However it looks like their documentary might go theatrical now and the footage in question they’ve literally been trying to get for almost two years. I told them that we should shoot with Varicam and HVX and step up the quality (why shoot on mini-dv).
My reasoning is we could always down convert the footage to mini-dv and it would LOOK AS GOOD if it were shot natively on the DVX-100…. but if it went theatrical they’d have a much better image on the big screen.
Unfortunately this hasn’t been what I’ve seen so far. Although the in camera down convert the HVX-200 does to mini dv is pretty damn good (that’s not a problem).
It’s the Varicam footage to mini dv that’s giving me the headache.
How do I get this done?Naturally there is no money to accomplish this. So I can’t go out and rent some fancy deck.
Some guidance please!
: ) thanks
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7 Replies
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Michael,
Put your 720p timeline into a D1 timeline, crop or letterbox it, render and play in realtime via Firewire to your DSR11.
FireWire is way better than composite or S video.
This is the best way.
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[Michael Pierre] “Apparently “S” video is higher quality than composite? i thought they were the same.”
S is practically the same quality as Component. This would be the easiest way to do this as the Kona will output in realtime. I had one of those cables at one time for my old CineWave system and it really did work well and looked outstanding.
Short of that, simply put your 720p timeline into a DV timeline, render, then play out to the deck via Firewire.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html
Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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Thanks guys.
Firewire it is.
It’s weird that I’m using firewire when I have a Kona 3.. but I guess it’s not a limitation of the Kona 3, it’s a limitation of the DSR-11.Caught in the middle.
Yeah I’ll probably get one of the component to “S” Video adapters for the future.Chris, I didn’t even know there was a D-1 codec in FCP 6.
Are you joking?
thanks again. -
Sorry.
I’m confused.
What is D1?
Maybe I’m mixing it up with D5? -
[Michael Pierre] “Chris, I didn’t even know there was a D-1 codec in FCP 6.
Are you joking?”It’s the uncompressed 10bit SD preset. You really don’t want to use that, you need to use Firewire DV codec to lay off to the DSR-11.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html
Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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[Michael Pierre] “It’s weird that I’m using firewire when I have a Kona 3.. but I guess it’s not a limitation of the Kona 3, it’s a limitation of the DSR-11. “
“Use the proper tool for the proper job”. Walter’s advice of the dv timeline is what I’d do here too. DV over Firewire is component video albeit DV component video. It is perfect for what you are doing.
The Kona 3 combined with FCP is a top class video toolset capable of uncompressed video editing (Chris isn’t joking). DV is really the bottom of the barrel in the toolset.
The S-video capabilities of the kona cards are great for ingesting and outputting to analog sources and for sd monitoring. The adapter cables are worth having around.
“everything is broken”
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Opps! Typo, I meant to say DV.
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