Capturing footage using an analogue to digital converter

Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

Capturing footage using an analogue to digital converter

Posted by Dave Vickers on October 19, 2006 at 4:14 pm

Hi

I’ve recently edited a 2 hour mutli-camera show from Digi Beta. We captured
the footage via firewire, cut the programme and mastered it to DVD for
duplication. We’ve now been asked to online the programme for broadcast.
Presumably this should be a simple task:

* capture the footage from Digi Beta with an analogue to digital converter
* Export the current programmes as an EDL into a DigiBeta (PAL)
version.
* Render anything necessary
* Import the online audio
* Output to DigiBeta with the Digital to analogue converter.

Please can someone recommend a suitable D-A converter? We were thinking of
getting an AJA Kona LH/ LHe.

Also, is there anything else we may have missed in the process / potential
pitfalls?

We usually offline on FCP 5.1.2 and give and EDL to a post-production
facility but figure doing it ourselves will be a cheaper option.

Current kit spec:

Mac OS X version 10.4.8

Processor 4 x 2.5 GHz Power PC G5

Memory 4.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM

Thanks

Walter Biscardi replied 19 years, 6 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
5 Replies

Jerry Hofmann
October 19, 2006 at 5:01 pm

Are you shooting in PAL or do you need to transfer from NTSC to PAL? The Kona LHe is a winner for sure…

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer

Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here

Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
John Steventon
October 20, 2006 at 8:55 am

Can I just ask why you need a D/A?

Seems completely redundant when DigiBeta already is digial. Get a Decklink card, hook in the DigiBeta, and you’re sorted – in and out.

Am I missing something mad here? Why are you using analogue outputs from the Digibeta? Why are you using analogue inputs BACK to the Digibeta? If it’s for broadcast, keep it all digital – 10 bit uncompressed – don’t mash it down if you don’t have to.

Or AM I missing something?

John
Dave Vickers
October 20, 2006 at 12:06 pm

We are shooting in Pal yes

Thanks for the help. Quite a few people have recommended the Kona LHe so I guess I’ll be purchasing that!
Dave Vickers
November 1, 2006 at 10:31 am

Hi,

Sorry I meant to put I/O instead of D/A, you are right

thanks
Walter Biscardi
November 1, 2006 at 11:03 am

[kilamunkyz] “Thanks for the help. Quite a few people have recommended the Kona LHe so I guess I’ll be purchasing that!”

I’ll second Jerry’s recommendation of the Kona product line. AJA really sets the standard as their products are used in a ton of broadcast projects and they just work. We run the Kona 2 and two Kona 3 suites here.

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

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