avid transcoding

[Jeff Greenberg]

Are you trying to finish in DS or finish in MC?

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
————
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[Riaz Khan]

thnx for the prompt reply jeff, we conforms in DS, thats the only reason we are working with MC.

[Hector Berrebi]

Ok… So you are conforming in DS, editing in MC and shooting HDV…

Just as a side note, potentially, you could offline on anything you want and still be able to finish on DS.

As for your workflow:

Option 1. (best one in my opinion)

Capture HDV via proper hardware (AjA io express would be your cheapest option) using a deck that can output SDI or Y Pb Pr. Capture to DNXHD 36 if storage is a concern (this is the right HD offline resolution in Avid).
if storage is not an issue capture to DNXHD 120 or higher. This will later be your online material for grading. DNXHD 120+ is mastering quality and you will not need to recapture. It will take 15 MBs of storage.

If you capture DNX36 then you will have to recapture your sequence to higher DNX in DS.

Option 2. ( less favorable)

Capture HDV via FireWire, set your project to HDV 1440 and capture HDV1080 MXF.
This will take the least HD space. But might be more render intensive.
It will require recapture on DS to high DNXHD but as it was first captured via FireWire it might reconform incorrectly (issues with HDV’s TC) on some/all of your shots

Run a test first!!

Option 3. (might be interesting didn’t try it)

Capture FireWire to FCP (yes… I know it’s an avid question)
in FCP you can FW captur HDV straight to ProRes HQ.
Avid should be able to link to these files via AMA even on a PC.
ProRes files are just as good quality as a high DNX but they don’t require expensive hardware to be captured.
If you don’t count the Mac 🙂
ProRes HQ is 27.5 MBs on your drive. And is definitely good enough for mastering…

your real problem BTW is HDV… It’s not a good format.

Hope this helps

Hector

Hector Berrebi
prePost Consulting

[Riaz Khan]

hi hector, thankyou verymuch for the guidance,

Capture FireWire to FCP (yes… I know it’s an avid question)
in FCP you can FW captur HDV straight to ProRes HQ.
Avid should be able to link to these files via AMA even on a PC.
ProRes files are just as good quality as a high DNX but they don’t require expensive hardware to be captured.
If you don’t count the Mac 🙂
ProRes HQ is 27.5 MBs on your drive. And is definitely good enough for mastering…

your real problem BTW is HDV… It’s not a good format.

after gone through all the pros & cons, from three given option ideally thought of settling down to above mentioned,
again my queries is
what would be the better way to transcode prores HQ files for offline edit?, which we send it through ftp(for the offline edit)
is that any stand alone third party application for capture & Transcode?
eventually HDV is just for timebeing,

cheers
riaz khan

[Hector Berrebi]

hi riaz

ok… you picked the one i never tried 🙂

this will require testing prior to crunch time

i would do this.

1. capture in FCP to highest prores available in HDV capture
2. these files are now your masters. keep them safe
3. ingest to Avid via AMA link. depending on the strength of your station and
storage Avid will behave better or worse.
don’t link from an external USB/FW HDD. if your station works well enough
with Prores, edit your offline and online with it. that will probably not be
the case
4. in Avid, you will have to select all your files, and transcode to DNXHD36
5. put the prores masters on the side for now and edit smoothly with DNX 36
6. at the end, relink sequence to original AMA files to send to DS, or make
some image sequence export.

AGAIN… i did not tested this workflow. and it is not an official Avid workflow in any way, i suggested it as a third, curious option that might work well for you. you MUST test it on several files before you chose it.

BTW… what do you mean by: “HDV is just for timebeing,”

once you’ve shot it… that’s what it will stay

hector

Hector Berrebi
prePost Consulting