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DVCPRO HD vs. XDCAM EX Workflow – Who Wins?
Hello, I just finished doing searches for each of these codecs on this forum. There seems to be a HUGE problem with using DVCPRO HD footage in a AE CS3/FCP 6 workflow. Frankly, it sounds like a nightmare of gamma-shifting hell.
I’m considering purchasing a new HD camera (sub-$10K). I’m looking at Sony XDCAM EX (EX1 or EX3) and Panasonic DVCPRO HD (HVX200A or HPX170). I’m interested in any feedback from folks that have used both DVCPRO HD and XDCAM EX workflows in AE CS3 and FCP 6. What are your thoughts on each format/codec/workflow? I’m used to uncompressed 8 and 10 bit QTs and DV captured from tape via a Kona LHe or Firewire. Sometimes HDCAM captured HD SDI through the Kona. These tapeless HD cameras seem sweet, but if the workflow sucks then what’s the point? I NEED my footage to work WELL in AE, it’s my favorite program.
As far as editing in FCP goes, I’ve heard more positive feedback regarding DVCPRO HD than XDCAM EX. How well do these formats work in the AE world? The lengthy post I just read about the gamma shifting of DVCPRO HD sounds like a deal-breaker, but it seems crazy that such a popular format could be such a giant pain to work with.
Any insight is greatly appreciated. It seems all 4 cameras I’m considering are great for their price. Now I’m trying to think through the entire workflow to hopefully avoid unforeseen problems. Thanks a lot, Brian
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1 Reply
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All gamma shifts, colorspace errors that you heard about are quite real, as I suffer from these on a daily basis. BUT : don’t consider these HD formats cause troubles, because they don’t.
I have no XDCAM experience, but I worked with DVCProHD, to shoot & edit a 55′ 1080p program, 18 monthes ago. At that time, everything was running quite smooth, and no broken workflow was to report.
Things came bad because of Apple & Adobe. They’ve been working together for 30 years, and still can’t talk to each other…So many new features added by Apple to QT (needed to handle new HD formats, gamma values, colorspaces…) were misinterpreted or ignored by Adobe. Then Apple ran into numerous QT updates, introducing from time to time new bugs, breaking some codecs…So HD codecs are not responsible for the way some software vendors pretend to support them…
The fact is DVCProHD and XDCAM are probably WAY BETTER than Apple & Adobe.
Also, P2 doesn’t mean DVCProHD, and vice-versa. Digital storage has nothing to do with data format.
And workflows are broken not because of P2, or even DVCProHD, but really because of Apple & Adobe.Note that DVCProHD inside FCP6 is just fine. No gamma shift, no wrong colorspace, nothing.
Troubles only occur when relying onto Quicktime to handle media transfer from Apple to Adobe, and Adobe to Apple back…Get your P2 cam, Panasonic is way better than Sony.
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