Best route for HDV/DVCProHD to ProRes

[Walter Biscardi]

[Liz Smith] “Is there any reason to get the M25U? I read that some folks really appreciated the on-board LCD screen b/c of lag time on the computer window viewer – but perhaps that was just a problem with firewire capture.”

That’s a huge issues with HDV Firewire capture. In my case, the decks aren’t even in the same room as the editors so the LCD screen is a waste of money for us. I actually never considered it anyway because I really didn’t see a need for it.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Liz Smith]

Hi folks,

I thought this might be handy for others, too – I just priced out some HDV decks and options for capture (using BHPhoto as a price leveler). I laid out several different routes just to see the kinds of price differences between firewire, HDMI, and HD-SDI capture. I obviously can’t include every piece of hardware or every option, but it’s something. Let me know if I’m missing something major or if my math is off. 🙂

Liz

HARDWARE

HVR-M15U (firewire) – $1750
HVR-M25U (firewire/HDMI) – $2900
HVR-M35U (firewire/HD-SDI) – $4800

AJA HD10A (Composite to HDSDI) – $900
HDMI to HD-SDI Converter – $570

Kona Lhe Card (HD-SDI into FCP) – $1500
BlackMagic Pro Intensity (HDMI into FCP) – $330

OPTIONS

HVR-M15U via firewire – $1750
(just a deck)

HVR-M25U via firewire – $2900
(just a deck)

HVR-M25U via HDMI – $3230
(deck, HDMI capture card)

HVR-M15U via HDSDI – $4150
(deck, AJA HD10A, Kona card)

HVR-M25U via HDMI then HDSDI – $4970
(deck, HDMI to HDSDI converter, Kona card)

HVR-M35U via HDSDI – $6300
(deck and Kona card)

[Liz Smith]

Hey – If I’m going from a HVR-M15U deck to an AJA converter to a Kona LHe card…

All I need is an HD-SDI to HD-SDI cable to get from the converter to the Kona – All the rest of my cabling needs come with the HD10AVA converter… right?

[Liz Smith]

Can you check my math?

Config:
HVR-M15U deck to an AJA HD10AVA converter to a Kona LHe card…

Need:
1 HD-SDI to HD-SDI cable to get from the converter to the Kona
2 RCA to XLR cables to get the audio from the deck to the converter break-out cable

Is that right? And… looking at the breakout cable for the Kona card – why can’t I go straight from the Deck Component to the Kona? Does the HDV footage need to come in straight through the Kona’s HD-SDI in to get the full raster benefits?

I’m much better with cables when all the darn things are sitting in front of me. 🙂

[Erik Naso]

The Kona 3 has SDI inputs only. The LH and LHe have both Analog and SDI ins and outs. I have the LH card on a G5 and couldn’t be happier. You just have to know what you need in the card before you buy one. For now the LH is all I need. Aja website is pretty good. Look at both cards features and see if the LH version has what you need. The price difference is high so If you can justify the cost of the Kona 3. Go for it.

Erik