Avid DVCPRO HD

Avid Media Composer

Avid DVCPRO HD

Posted by Daniel Kullman on May 6, 2009 at 9:11 pm

System:

Model Name: Power Mac G5 Quad
Model Identifier: PowerMac11,2
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (1.1)
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 4
L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 6 GB
Bus Speed: 1.25 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.7f1

OS:
10.5.5

Graphics Card:
Chipset Model: GeForce 6600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
Slot: SLOT-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Hard drives:
All Files on G-tech Q-drives attached via eSATA.

Quicktime:
7.6

Avid:
Media Composer: 3.1.2

Okay,

Long time video person with my own small company, and we’re new to HD. I’ve looked around the forum and seen a few things, but not found something that makes sense to me.

The project is shot on the HVX200 at 720p24N. Imported and edited in Avid.

Export Issues:

1) I export a file with the Settings as: Same as Source.
The video plays back with audio but not picture. The Format under quicktime properties: “DVCPRO HD vout 720p60 imdc”

2) I export the file with the Setting as : Same as Source with Avid DV Codec
The video plays back choppy.

3) I export the file with the Setting as : Same as Source with Avid DV Codec then compress to 1280×720 H264
The video plays back out of sync.

I want to export the file as 1280×720, for playback from a computer to a projector.

Export Questions:

1) Display Aspect Ratio: Which should I select? Why? (Is this the Raster issue I read about. Not sure what “raster” is).

General Question:

1) Is the Matrox MXO2 compatible with Avid or do I need to get the MOJO DX for $3,000 more. Advantages? Disadvantages?

Thanks all!

Terence Curren replied 17 years ago 5 Members · 4 Replies
4 Replies

Mike Drew
May 7, 2009 at 12:21 am

I think you may have the wrong version of quicktime. MC 3.12 needs QT 7.5.5 as per the version matrix.

https://avidtechnology.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/avidtechnology.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=75147&p_created=1202760115&p_sid=YwlTF9xj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD03MTQyJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9Mw**&p_li=&p_topview=1

HTH

Mike

Mike Drew

Avid AE Shake Flame
James Beattie
May 7, 2009 at 12:28 am

Big questions here, let me dissect a bit and try to help.

First of all, you say you are shooting at 720p24. I would say overall this is not a good idea. Stick with a broadcast standard, with is 1080i or 720p59.94. My preference would be 1080i because it is the most friendly with 30i NTSC.

Let’s take a moment and think about aspect ratio. HD video is 16×9, which is a rectangle. Typical video is 4×3, which is a square. Squeezing your 16×9 footage into a 4×3 picture is called anamorphic. To be displayed properly it either needs to be stretched by your tv set, or you have to add a reformat effect on it. You have to be careful to always consider this when mixing 16×9 and 4×3 material. Something always has to be adjusted.

Under the format tab in the project window, there is our frame size and raster. Frame size is fairly self explanatory. The most important thing to note is that a 1080i59.94 project can mix with 30i ntsc footage. But 720p59.954 will not mix with Ntsc.

Think of raster as similar to aspect, only top and bottom. Formats these days are designated by camera manufacturers, and they are variations. For example, DVCPRO HD at 720p is actually 960×720 instead of 1280×720. What this means is that the Avid has to stretch the 960×720 frame into a 1280×720 when you have the raster set to the 1280×720 mode. In other words the Avid has to work harder to translate it. This steals real time resources, so Avid made the option to work using it natively. Think of this like anamorphic, only top and bottom.

Exporting same as source should be a functional option. You should choose the 16×9 frame size, so you don’t get squeezed video. When in doubt, choose to export using DNxHD. Using the dv, you could have sync issues, particularly if you are using 24p. Try importing your footage into a 720p29.97 project, then export using dv.

The Matrox Mx02 will not work as a capture device in the Avid. Avid has always had the model of specifically supported devices. Seems binding in some arenas. But if you look at the scenarios Avid works in, a guranteed capture solution, with guranteed computers makes a guaranteed editing system they can make work. Playing with a controlled set of variables makes success easier.

To generate the final output properly, you need to:
Click on your sequence in your bin and choose Clip->Consolidate/Transcode. Transcode your final material to DNX145. Then select your new sequence and Export same as source. Then send your file into sorenson and create an HD quicktime (h.264). then you will be able to playback your footage on a laptop without skipping. Using the DNxHD quicktime will not work you have to convert it.
Kris Anderson
May 7, 2009 at 3:15 am

Quicktime 7.6 is the most likely culprit. Especially if it’s messing with a Source export. I have seen this before. Re-install quicktime to 7.5.5 and then turn off software updates.
Terence Curren
May 7, 2009 at 2:32 pm

[Daniel Kullman] “Is the Matrox MXO2 compatible with Avid or do I need to get the MOJO DX for $3,000 more. Advantages? Disadvantages? “

The MXO 2 is not compatible, but the MXO is. This is for output only. If you need to ingest HD, then it’s the Mojo DX.

Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca

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