AJA + DVCPro HD Varicam Presets

[Walter Biscardi]

[rex205] “Varicam captures at 1280×720 so why does Varicam require a smaller sequence frame size to onspeed material?”

Actually it doesn’t. DVCPro HD is an anamorphic format with actual capture size of 960×720. The video is stretched out to 1280 during playback by the camera, the decks and by FCP. So the preset of 960 is absolutely correct. Do not go in and change any DVCPro HD 720 presets to 1280 or you’ll have problems with your captures and editing.

If you set up to work in 8 or 10bit 720, then you can go ahead and capture 1280 via HD-SDI. But if you’re going to work in native DVCPro HD, just stay with 960.

HDV is another example of an anamorphic format that’s stretched back out during playback.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Tony]

This used to be a dirty little secret but it is well known today.

Varicam on board compressed dvcproHD recorder is 960×720. No it is a full raster recording instead it is anamorphic. If you record to hard drive or HDCAM SR tape directly out of the Varicam you can get full raster 1280×720.

FYI HDCAM does the same anamorphic recording except in this case it is 1440×1080.

HDCAM SR is full raster 1920×1080.

So if you are really concerned about all those pixels then step up and go full raster with HDCAM SR or direct to hard drive via the Kona but be willing to pay the price.

Tony Salgado

[Rich Harrison]

Huge thanks guys.
I thought this was the case, but needed to check to be able to convince a third party that alll was well with the project.

best wishes