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best practice & settings for 1080i DVCPro HD footage
Hi guys,
Im currently working in the 1080i 29.97 DVCProHD codec. The original material was shot that way, then captured using that codec and edited into sequences using that setting. Then I ouput back to DVCProHD tapes which are dubbed to SonyHDCam for delivery. Everything is run through HD-SDI cables between the deck and a Kona 2 card. Although this is working fine I am wondering if there is anything I should or could do to improve quality.
1. – Is there any benefit in capturing to 10bit uncompressed from DVCProHD original tapes? The quality isnt there to begin with so I’m not gaining anything right?(I probably dont have the drive space anyway to capture the necessary 20 hours of footage anyways)
2. – Is there any benefit in using a 10bit uncompressed sequence for footage that was captured as DVCProHD? I assume the only advantage would be to preserve the integrity of graphics files and/or footage that has any filters applied. (Its not a graphics intense program but I do put the ‘broadcast safe’ filter over the entire nested timeline as a last step in the process)
3. It seems like I have to render any DVCProHD footage that I drop into a 10bit uncompressed timeline. Is that supposed to be that way? I have heard conflicting reports.
I am using a dual 2ghz G5 with 5gb ram , Kona2 card, OS10.4.2 and FCP 5.0.2
Thanks for any info here. As I said, things are working fine the way it is now….just fishing for perhaps an even better way to use the system I have.
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1 Reply
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[GlobeRider] “s there any benefit in capturing to 10bit uncompressed from DVCProHD original tapes? The quality isnt there to begin with so I’m not gaining anything right?”
Answered your own question there. but maybe think 8bit UC – 8 bit is all that is on the tape – it will at least help in the color correction phase.
[GlobeRider] “Is there any benefit in using a 10bit uncompressed sequence for footage that was captured as DVCProHD? I assume the only advantage would be to preserve the integrity of graphics files and/or footage that has any filters applied. (Its not a graphics intense program but I do put the ‘broadcast safe’ filter over the entire nested timeline as a last step in the process)”
It does not really sound like it is necessary to work in UC in your workflow- without heavy compositing or large amounts of graphics the DVCPROHD codec really does hold up well for editing this type of content — ‘ask walter!’
Thats not to say that many of the fixes you may need to do at the final finish stages will most certainly hold together better when you are working with out having to re-compress, a compressed file.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
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